Holidays are Here! Let's Talk Hauntings.
On scary houses and horror writers who are afraid of everything.
I’m a huge weenie, and have been for a long time. When I was a kid, my overactive imagination placed murderers outside my window, and evil goblins beneath the bed. I’d spend nights with my head under the blankets, believing that the creatures would get me if I dared poke my eyes out.
My parents didn’t let me read scary books, because they knew it would be a whole thing. I read them anyways, but kept the resulting freak outs to myself. The only things scarier than ghosts—discipline and accountability.
These days, my short stories tend to tilt toward horror. It’s kind of ridiculous, because I’m such a goof in real life. I won’t do any of those Halloween haunted walkthroughs. I haven’t watched Hereditary (everyone who has seen it comes across as slightly traumatized, and I don’t think I’m up for that). But, when I sit down at the keyboard, all this weird, frightening stuff comes out. Even my Christmas stories are demented! (Are there any other weenies out there writing horror? I’d love to hear your perspective on this.)
Personally, I think it’s because comedy pairs so beautifully with horror. Giggles and gasps are next door neighbors.
I’ve been reading a few haunted house stories recently to see how different writers build tension and atmosphere, while also spinning the histories of their individual haunted houses. Here are the stories, if you’d like to follow in my quaking footsteps:
A House With Good Bones, by T. Kingfisher
She is a Haunting, by Tran Thanh Tran
How to Sell a Haunted House, by Grady Hendrix
They’re all solid novels offering genuinely interesting houses, though the Grady Hendrix story was the only one that truly scared me. The stakes were higher, and there was something unhinged about Hendrix’s premise that made it seem like anything could happen at any moment. (Please feel free to add any of your haunted house recommendations in the comments.)
Substack writer Kyrie also has a funny take on the subject in her Medium piece, Tips to Sell Your Haunted House (not an ungated link)
While we’re here, I must recommend Shirley Jackson’s gorgeous novel, The Haunting of Hill House. Not only did it get me into the whole haunted house vibe, but it’s probably one of my all-time favorite books. The prose is divine. If you haven’t read it, stop what you’re doing, and find yourself a copy.
Yes, we’re in the middle of the holiday season. Yes, things are supposed to be festive, and not terrifying. I’d argue they can be both. So, jingle some bells, light some candles, and maybe read a spooky story or two.
Have a wonderful month, and thank you for reading,
~Sarah
Stuff I Wrote
(ungated links)
Don’t Break the Chain
We seem to have moved past the era of traditional chain mail letters, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t fascinating. This short story is epistolary, told through a series of rapidly evolving (devolving?) chain letters. It’s also ridiculous. Enjoy.
Wake Up, Precious Starlight
I’m thrilled to have a short story in the excellent Wrong Publishing anthology, You Took the Wrong Turn. My tale draws from one of my favorite weird ballets, Giselle, and explores what could have been going on in the minds of those murderous wilis.