Another week is upon us and I have a new set of books ready to go.

Last week I was able to finish out Accumulation, Trad Wife, Nowhere, and As Told Under The Moon.

This week I'm diving into...

Home Sick by Rhiannon Grist

Tamsin starts over in a remote cottage far away from her old life. But the cottage of her dreams is actually a split house with a very thin wall separating her from her neighbor. Her very odd neighbor...

Going To The Six by A.C. Hessenauer

A found footage horror book following a documentary crew investigating the wreck of a ship in Lake Superior.

What Hunger by Catherine Dang

A coming of age story about the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant as she faces loss, generational trauma, and feminine rage.

What are you reading this week?

I've been diving deep into some urban legends for research on something special. Most times, urban legends start from a truth before embellishment and fabrication make the tale more sinister than it originated. But let's be real, as horror fans, we live for the scary details that are added in. We chase that thrill of possibly summoning Bloody Mary in front of a mirror, or exploring a supposedly haunted house.

Below, you can find some urban legend horror books that will hopefully scratch that urban legend itch you have. Next week I will feature some Cryptic/Creature Feature Urban Legends :D

The graphic novels Bad Dreams In The Night and Let Me In Your Window by Adam Ellis both feature beautiful artwork with amazing, scary stories. Many of these stories feature urban legends and tales of folklore.

Jack O' Dander by Priya Sharma

This short story follows a family are not only impacted by their choices, but also by a mysterious urban legend.

Killer on The Road/The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones

Both of these novels play on common urban legends. Killer on The Road deals with the legend of a serial killer on the road picking up hitchhikers. The Babysitter Lives centers around the babysitter receives a call/knock on the door urban legend. Both are great books and I love that they are featured together.

Daphne by Josh Malerman

Did you ever play "The Game" back in school. Oops... sorry just made you lose it. This book is very similar to The Game. The urban legend named Daphne comes to life when you think of her. The more you think of her, the higher chance she will come and kill you...better stop thinking of her or else...you may be next.

Schrader's Chord by Scott Leeds

Ahh the good ole cursed object. Schrader's Chord follows a man who inherits a supposed cursed record from his recently deceased father. Legend has it that all four records are played at the same time, the listener will open a gate to the land of the dead...

Narcissus by Adam Godfrey

After hearing about a subterranean pool that's rumored to be the one by which Narcissus once wasted away by, a group of college kids learn the hard way that legends can be true.

A few on my tbr

Books Of Blood by Clive Barker

Scanlines by Todd Keisling

Maggie's Grave by David Sodergren

The House On Abigail Lane by Kealan Patrick Burke

What are some of your favorite Urban Legends?

It's time to wrap up The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight and kick off Go Eat Worms.

WRAP UP

The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight had some creepy scarecrows that came to life. I loved the building dread showcased in this one. I actually don't remember this one as a kid and don't think I read it, so getting to read it now was a pure delight.

In case you missed it, here are some readalikes that feature some farms and creepy scarecrows.

1. Do scarecrows scare you?

2. What part of farm life would you love? Hate?

KICK OFF

And now on to book #21 Go Eat Worms

My fourth grade class went and saw How To Eat Fried Worms in theater, so I'm surprised I never read this one! Worms are gross. They're slimy and squirmy. I'm sure this book grossed out a ton of kids back in the day.

Synopsis:

Obsessed with worms? That's putting it mildly. Todd is so fascinated with worms, he keeps a worm farm in his basement! Most of all, Todd loves torturing his sister and her best friend with worms. Dropping them in their hair. Down their backs.
Until one day, after cutting a worm in half, Todd notices something strange. The rest of the worms seems to be staring at him! Suddenly worms start showing up in the worst places for Todd. In his bed. In his homework. Even in his spaghetti!
What's a worm lover to do when his own worms are starting to gross him out?

Hi everyone and welcome back to another author interview! This week I'm joined by the Hash Slinger Slasher... oops I mean the AMAZING Brian McAuley. McAuley is a super talented author who loves exploring horror through slashers. He's written Curse Of The Reaper, Candy Cain Kills, Candy Cain Kills Again, and Breathe In, Bleed Out.

Let's dive in and AXE some questions. (Sorry, my slasher puns will be the death of me.)

1. I always like to use my first question as a chance for you to introduce yourself! Tell us as little or as much as you want.

Oh hello! Brian McAuley here. I'm a USA Today Bestselling author of horror novels and a WGA screenwriter who has written everything from Lifetime movies to sitcom reboots. Born and raised in the Garden State, but now slowly melting in the Arizona desert, where I'm screenwriting professor at ASU.

2. You're the author of several books, i.e Curse Of The Reaper and Breathe In, Bleed Out, and I love that all your books are slashers in their own unique way. What keeps drawing you back to the slasher genre?

There's something about the structure and tropes of a slasher that just feels like a warm blanket to me. As a writer, I have a lot of fun crafting those elaborate death set pieces where you know a character is about to die, but you're not quite sure how it's going to unfold. 

3. To follow up question two, are there any other subgenres of horror that you want to dabble in one day? Or does the slasher genre forever hold your heart?

So far, I've been most interested in exploring different subgenres through a slasher lens. CURSE OF THE REAPER is rooted in psychological horror, CANDY CAIN KILLS and its sequel are religious horror, BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT dips a toe into cults and folk legends, and my upcoming book FAIRLY BAD WAYS TO DIE plays with the fantasy genre by virtue of being set at a Renaissance Faire.

4. Out of all your books, do you have a favorite? What about one that was harder to write? 

CURSE OF THE REAPER was the hardest to write because it was my first attempt at writing a novel, ever. For that same reason, it remains my favorite. I lived with those characters for years in screenplay form before I adapted the story into a book, so I'll always be grateful to Howard Browning for helping me expand my artistic horizons.

5. I saw your most recent announcement about your newest work, Fairly Bad Ways to Die, which is a slasher involving a plague doctor at a renaissance festival (HELL YEAH! I absolutely love Plague Doctors so this makes my day). Care to tell us a little more about it? 

This book focuses on a band of college students who have been performing at their local Renaissance Faire for years, waiting for their big break. Unfortunately, that opportunity arrives the same year as a mysterious killer who's dispatching patrons with medieval brutality. It was incredibly fun to write because of the world building and large cast of colorful characters. One thing I can promise is that the title is no false promise.

6. Are you working on/plotting anything else at the moment?

I'm presently doing a final polish on what I hope will be my first YA horror novel. You'll be shocked to hear that it's a slasher, but I can't say anything more at the moment, so stay tuned!

7. What have been some of your favorite horror reads from this year? 

Speaking of slashers, I loved FATALLY YOURS by Jessica Lacy. On the non-slasher front, BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker blew me away. I got a sneak peek at Hailey Piper's upcoming THIS MOVIE DOESN'T END THE WAY WE WANT and had such a fun time with it.

8. Any backlist titles you've been loving lately?

I've been catching up on David Sodergren's catalog of absolute mayhem. GUILLOTINE by Delilah S. Dawson recently left me hungry to read more of her work.  

9. Have you seen any good horror movies lately? I swear there are so many coming out soon that I'm dying to see (Obsession, Hokum, The Backrooms, Passenger)

I'm still thinking about OBSESSION nearly a week later. That one really got under my skin in the best way. I just rewatched KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE for an upcoming Instagram Live with Point Horror Book Club. That movie only gets better with age.

10. Do you have any writing rituals or routines that help you get in the writing headspace?

I'm primarily a morning writer, so a big pot of black coffee is absolutely necessary. If I've still got energy after my teaching day, I'll bring my laptop to my favorite local brewery, pop a movie soundtrack playlist into my ears, and have an IPA-fueled writing session in the evening.

Use the below space to list any socials and author websites you would like to share.

@BrianMcWriter / www.brianmcwriter.com

Thank you again, Brian, for your amazing answers and time!

Horror is booming! But do you ever feel like the same books get recommended all the time? There's nothing wrong with loving the popular books. They are popular for a good reason!

Today I want to talk about some Indie Horror Books that left a lasting impression on me!

Child Of Dark Water by E.G. Rand

This horror novella is perfect for people who love small town secrets and revenge horror with a supernatural twist.

Powder & Poison by Julia Jackson

A historical horror novel following Marie Antoinette's arrival to Versailles. This one features haunting ghosts and an almost slasher vibe.

Something Dead by Andrea Mckenzie

A mysterious invitation invites two friends to come and compete in a scavenger hunt in a mysterious mansion for a large sum of money. But when contestants start to go missing, the game quickly turns into a fight for survival.

The House That Held Her by Adam Ellis

A book that follows a woman who moves into an old house with her husband in hopes that a fresh start will fix their marriage. But when she discovers a clue to a bigger puzzle, Margo quickly finds herself on a deadly scavenger hunt that endangers her and everyone around her. Perfect for fans of Ghost Mother. This one is more of a thriller with horror elements.

Pocket Full Of Teeth by Aimee Hardy

An ode to House Of Leaves. The book is narrated by three different women over several time periods. It has found footage elements and footnotes.

What are some of your favorite Indie Horror Books?

The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight follows a brother and sister whose annual summer visit to their grandparent's farm turns dark. Scarecrows are walking around...

This one was fun and I definitely have a few book recs!

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Small Spaces follows an 11-year-old girl who takes a school field trip and gets stuck on a farm with "The Smiling Man" and his scarecrow minions. For a middle grade book this one is super spooky and will definitely give you the vibes of The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight.

Statues by Junji Ito (specifically the story titled "Scarecrow")

In this story, townsfolk begin putting scarecrows on top of their loved one's grave. After a few days the scarecrow will begin to resemble their loved one.

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

Every year The October boy rises from the cornfields on Halloween and must make it to the church to win. Meanwhile, all the kids in town are hunting The October Boy.

The Nightmare Man by J.H. Market

A small town killer begins killing people and stitching their bodies in corn husks. The crime become known as the "Scarecrow Crimes."

Welcome back to another author interview! Today I'm joined by author Mikayla Randolph as we talk about her debut novel, Not Your Final Girl.

1. I always use this first question as a chance for you to introduce yourself. Say as much or as little as you want.

Hello! I’m an author based out of California who writes horror, fantasy, and thrillers. My favorite stories blend genres, invert tropes, and feature complicated characters, all while being a bloody good time. Beyond writing, I love adding too many books to my TBR pile, reading while cuddling with my dogs, and waffling between wanting to travel the world and wanting to never leave the house. 

2. Your debut book Not Your Final Girl released May 5th. How have you been feeling? Excited? Overwhelmed? Everything in between?

Yes! Absolutely everything, and it changes by the second. I’m frazzled, but mostly I’m feeling incredibly grateful. It’s a lifelong dream coming true, and I’m blown away by the support I’ve received. Close friends, family, former teachers, authors I've never even met, and so many members of the horror community, like you, have been so kind. The generosity and camaraderie have been astounding, and I appreciate it all so much.

3. What made you choose a slasher for your debut novel?

A slasher has been on my bucket list for a long time. My first stab at it was in college, and I think it frightened my poor roommate, who was not a horror fan. Since then, I’ve written a few other novels, from a post-apocalyptic story to a western, but once this idea clicked, there was no turning back. It was such a smooth writing process, too; it bled right out of me. 

4. Any specific films or media that helped influence your novel?

There were so many influences, and most don't seem like they belong together. Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’urbervilles was a primary inspiration, with this being a partial retelling. Beyond that, Scream, Heathers, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Men, Women, and Chainsaws by Carol J. Clover. Plus every slasher novel, movie, show, or game that I’ve enjoyed since I was far too young for them to be appropriate. 

5. What was your favorite scene to write? The hardest? 

Oh, that is difficult to answer and remain spoiler-free! For my favorite, I’ll say there is a scene with a shed, a wheelbarrow, and a surprise that was a lot of fun to write. The hardest was most likely the opening pages because I wanted to immerse the readers in that epic Final Girl climactic moment while introducing new characters.

6. Who was your favorite character to get inside the mind of? 

I loved them all, and bouncing between them was such a fun experience. It felt like I got to write five books in one! If I had to choose, I'd say Ashley because she challenged me the most. She is so confident and unrelenting that writing her perspective made me question how I phrase things and second-guess myself. I hope a bit of her spirit has stuck with me.  

7. Are you currently working on any other projects at the moment? If so, can you drop us any hints?

I’m currently querying my next novel, which I think of as a witchy X-Men horror noir. I'm also revising an "Eat the Rich" haunted house novella. 

8. Tell us what you've been reading lately? Your favorite 2026 book? What books are on your backlist?

I finally caught up on Something is Killing the Children and am enjoying Look What You Made Me Do, the Taylor Swift inspired horror anthology from Sobelo Books. My favorite book thus far is probably King Sorrow by Joe Hill. Sadly, I have far too many on my backlist, like Little Eve by Catriona Ward, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, and Writhe by Abby Vail. I'm a terribly slow reader and can't seem to stop buying more books. But I refuse to feel bad about it because even if I can never read them all, they look pretty on my shelf, and I’m supporting those authors and publishers. 

9. What books are you looking forward to releasing this year? How about movies?

I’m so excited for Worry Box by Chris Panatier, Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle, and, of course, Kiss Slay Replay from Rachel Harrison, who is an autobuy author for me. Movie wise my most anticipated was Ready or Not 2 and I loved it! I’m also looking forward to Supergirl though Woman of Tomorrow wrecked me at times. 

10. Did you have a playlist that you listened to when writing your book?

Yes, and I have a Spotify playlist available for it here. In particular, Chvrches’ Screen Violence album features a lot. 

Thank you again, Mikayla, for allowing me to do this interview! You can follow Mikayla on Instagram at mik_randolph.

Another week and it's time for an update on what I'm reading/plan to read this week!

I plan to pick up Trad Wife by Sarah Langdan. I have an E-Arc of this one and I have been obsessed with Trad Wife culture here of late!

I'm currently listening to Nowhere by Allison Gunn. It's a book about a small town where the kids are definitely not alright!

I'm currently reading Accumulation by Aimee Pokwatka and loving it. I love me a good haunted house book.

And lastly, I'm reading As Told Under The Moon, a collection of horror stories written by emerging writers. I'm LOVING this collection so far.

What are you reading this week?

It's time to wrap up Deep Trouble and Kick off The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight!

WRAP UP

This is one that I remember reading back in sixth grade. I obviously forgot most of the details but remembered some things here and there! I definitely enjoyed this one.

Questions:

1. What was your favorite part?

2. Would you ever swim with any kind of sea creature?

KICK OFF

Now it's time to kick off THE SCARECROW WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

Synopsis:

Jodie loves visiting her grandparents' farm. Okay, so it's not the most exciting place in the world. Still, Grandpa tells great scary stories. And Grandma's chocolate chip cookies are the best.But this summer the farm has really changed. The cornfields are sparse. Grandma and Grandpa seem worn out. And the single scarecrow has been replaced by twelve evil-looking ones.Then one night Jodie sees something really odd. The scarecrows seem to be moving. Twitching on their stakes. Coming alive . .