Seth joined us for what became one of our favorite chats to date. We dig into his horror origins as a child, the complicated beauty of Texas as both a place and a culture, subverting tired stereotypes to create exciting new representations, spoiler-free tidbits about the “Amid The Vastness of All Else” saga, and a ton more. What makes Seth so endlessly entertaining is his ability to dazzle with anecdotes that would fit easily around the Algonquin Round Table, while cracking us up with the affable charm that seems innate in almost every Texan we’ve ever met. Enjoy this introduction to a stellar author, and get used to it, as Seth will be returning later this summer to discuss his groundbreaking work further. For now, sit back, have a listen, and enjoy!

You can purchase all of C.S. Humble’s novels here.

You can follow C.S. Humble on Instagram here.

Be sure to check out cshumble.wordpress.com

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Daniel joined us to talk about his amazing new novel, “The Sixth Nik,” a deep-space, misfits-on-a-mission, body-mod, biomatter, acid-trip of a story that’s as audacious as it is appealing. This is the closest you’ll ever come to the most perfect issue of “Heavy Metal” never made. This book is a departure from what Daniel has done previously, or maybe it would be best to say what he just hadn’t gotten around to yet. The highest praise we can give it, other than it’s spectacular, is that we’re rabid to get back to this beautifully bizarre world he’s created. We had a blast talking to Daniel, and as always, he was amazing. Have a listen and enjoy!

You can purchase “The Sixth Nik” here.

You can follow Daniel Kraus on Instagram here.

Be sure to check out danielkraus.com.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Jennifer has been chilling and thrilling readers for years with novels like “The Invited,” “Children on the Hill,” “Don’t Breathe a Word,” and “The Drowning Kind.” We couldn’t think of anyone better suited to help choose the line-up for this year's incredible offerings.

Jennifer joined us to share her joy at being chosen as this year's Spokesperson and to take us through exactly how the books are picked. We’ll let you all know right now: we’re glad she’s the one who has to do all that hard work, because we have no idea how we’d get the list down to nine from the dozens the panel has to choose from. Along the way, we talk about how great and inclusive the horror community is, the magic of a library, and some stellar books and films to put on your radar. Jennifer became an instant bestie, and once you listen to this episode, you’ll know exactly why. She’s simply amazing. Enjoy!

You can purchase all of Jennifer McMahon’s amazing books here.

You can follow Jennifer McMahon on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Together with his fellow contributor Michelle Delgado, we reached out to some of our favorite queer authors to help us instigate a Pride Month takeover of the Paper Cuts Podcast. Joined by Avery Curran, Sarah van Os, and Luke Dumas, we were so excited to dive into the topic of queer horror literature.

These authors were so generous with their time and lived experiences, sharing how their queer identities influence their writing. We also dug into some of the reasons behind the recent explosion of queer horror writing, and the foundational question of why the horror genre is so intrinsically queer. 

Follow Avery Curran, Sara van Os, and Luke Dumas on Instagram to support them and learn more about their work.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

You can subscribe to the “Horrorverse Newsletter” here.

You can follow Sarah Stubbs on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Jabore made the brave decision at 17 to graduate early from high school, grab her backpack, and travel the world. It’s a choice that she told us changed her and helped her grow in ways that she will always treasure. It also taught her that the world can be frightening and dangerous. We were on the edge of our seats as she retold us a story about hiking to the top of a mountain and not realizing until halfway down that she’d lost her car keys!

But we are nothing if not professional (sometimes) here at Macabre Daily, and we did get around to chatting about “Backstabbers,” which is an equally compelling tale. We talked about how her personal experiences inspired parts of the novel, her exploration of female friendships, and our fascination with true crime. We hope you’ll check out our interview below and be sure to keep “Backstabbers” at the top of your TBR pile as the weather warms up. It is the perfect Summer read for horror fans. 

“Backstabbers” was released by Bantam Books on June 2, 2026. Click here to purchase. 

Follow Eliza Jabore here to check out her current and future work. 

Cynthia was kind enough to join the PAPER CUTS Podcast to discuss what inspired her fascinating new interpretation of the Barrie classic, the terror that can lurk behind the curtain of charisma, presenting Wendy as a traumatic heroine who feels real on every page, and her remarkable writing process. During our chat, we talked about some very real and timely issues, such as prioritizing your mental health, finding your people, and the inherent beauty of the horror community’s support. We know you’ll enjoy this chat just as much as we did, and walk away with “It Came From Neverland” at the top of your TBR!

You can purchase “It Came From Neverland” here.

You can follow Cynthia Pelayo on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Bill joined us again to talk about all things slashy. We get into the importance of maintaining the dynamic he built with his fantastic crew of misfits in the first novel, while expanding on their individual stories, all while ramping up the terror to a fever pitch that never lets up until the breathtaking climax. As always, Bill is a delight. We would have him back every day if he let us. Have a listen and enjoy this great chat.

You can purchase “Be Right Back” here.

You can follow Bill Wood on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Stephanie joined us so we could put the spotlight on her for a change and give her the credit she so richly deserves for giving her guests a platform to tell us about themselves, their craft, and the phenomenal literature they create. What Stephanie does to put books and authors on people’s radar is nothing short of spectacular, and she does it all with such effortless style and ease. We’re floored by how easy she makes all her hard work look. Be sure to have a listen to this great conversation, and do yourself a favor: immediately follow “Books in the Freezer” if you’re not already. You don’t want to miss out on one of the best horror hotspots out there.

You can listen to “Books in the Freezer” on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

You can follow Stephanie Gagnon on Instagram here.

Aimee joined us to talk about the essentials of a cracking good Haunted House story, the delight of creating an atmosphere steeped in dread, how domesticity is its own haunting, and so much more. Aimee is a newfound favorite, and “Accumulation” is one of the best Haunted House novels we’ve read since Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves.” You’ll be both amused and amazed by this conversation with Aimee. She’s one of the nicest people we’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting with, and we’re still tickled that someone so genuinely nice can create such atmospheric terror, but boy howdy does she!

You can purchase “Accumulation” here.

You can follow Aimee Pokwatka on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Courtney joined us to talk about her book, which is a remarkably entertaining and thrilling mix of John Hughes crossed with George A. Romero, with a dash of Danny Boyle sprinkled on for good measure. We have the best time talking about her horror origins, when she realized horror was a direction she felt she’d explore, and some of her favorite books and films. Courtney immediately became one of our all-time favorites to chat with. Her enthusiasm for the genre and her love for creating thoroughly engrossing tales of terror are infectious. We could have talked for hours. Have a listen and see for yourself why Courtney Summers is the new face of fear!

You can purchase “This Is Not A Test” here.

You can follow Courtney Summers on Instagram here.

Stay up to date by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!

Caroline was kind enough to join Paper Cuts to discuss the fateful phone call she received from King, four years after becoming the Stephen E. King Chair at UMaine, that set her on the path to writing the book. The stories she has of her time at the King household are amazing, and you’ll get a deeper appreciation of both King’s work and of the man himself. Caroline is a fantastic storyteller, and we could have talked for hours (if not days). You’ll be amazed at how much fun this conversation turned out to be.

We were overjoyed to have creators and organizers Becky Spratford, Allison Nellis, and Kate Federiconi join us to discuss the fascinating process of choosing which books will be included for that given year, the astounding amount of work that goes into the program to provide a varied array of literary choices, and the phenomenal teamwork that happens to roll the reading program out everywhere. We’re not kidding when we call these amazing people superstars. Their tireless efforts not only put books in hand but also open new worlds to readers worldwide. After you listen to this interview, we’re sure you’ll have a newfound respect for the work that goes into this fantastic reading program.

You can check out the ‘SUMMER SCARES” programming guide here.

You can listen to Konrad Stump and Jennifer McMahon talk about the “SUMMER SCARES” program on “Books in the Freezer” here.

NYPL’s “Best New Horror for Adults 2025” can be found here.

Contact libraries@horror.org if you’re interested in the “SUMMER SCARES” reading program.

Carter joined us to talk about their real-life work experience that was the catalyst for the book, the toxic destruction of corporate America, and even worse, Hustle Culture, and the Appalachian folklore at the heart of the story. Carter is fascinating, genuine, and fun as hell. We had the best time chatting, and couldn’t get enough of our new “must-read” author. Have a listen to our conversation, and enjoy!

You can purchase “Morsel” here.

You can follow Carter Keane on Instagram here.