Lithub
The Dead Girl and the Survivor Trope
.
When I first picked up crime thrillers as a teenager, I remember being fascinated by how many plots begin with the discovery of a dead girl. What was it…
How Unlikeable Characters Freed Me From Perfectionism
.
I’m hardly the first author to call herself a perfectionist. In fact, I’m sure many of us were once described as “a pleasure to have in class”—which, for me,…
Confessions of a Serial Anthology Editor
.
My parents moved to Paris in France for work when I was only three years old. As a result, not only did I become bilingual (and was once capable…
Monster, Survivor, Villain, Victim: The Many Faces of Queer Horror
.
Believe it or not, the first time many young queers feel seen in media isn’t in some sweet romcom, it’s in horror. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a…
What Are Thriller Authors Truly Afraid Of?
.
At Halloween, fear is an emotion that is universally celebrated, but for me, terror has been an ever-present source of inspiration for fiction. My fears are vast, ever-encroaching, sensual….
Spooky Shenanigans for Halloween
.
I’m such a sucker for holidays. I love to completely immerse myself in a theme: holiday decorations, holiday meals, holiday baking. As soon as the leaves start to turn…
Setting a Gothic Thriller in the World of Nonprofits
.
When we worked together in the fundraising office of a third-rate law school in San Diego, my friend Melissa and I used to joke that we should write a…