She Wore Black

Mar 06 2025 165 ep. 44 mins 71

She Wore Black Podcast artwork

A gothic, mystery and horror podcast.

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E158: True Crime and the Real Hester Prynne with Kate Winkler Dawson

Mar 06 2025 51 mins

Today I welcome journalist, professor and true crime podcaster, Kate Winkler Dawson, to the show to discuss her new historical true crime book, ALL THE SINNERS BOW: TWO AUTHORS, ONE MURDER, AND THE REAL HESTER PRYNNE. We discuss the 1832 murder of Sarah Maria Cornell and how that murder inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write The Scarlett Letter, as well as the research into both the

E157: Emily Wilde and the Fairies of Heather Fawcett

Feb 27 2025 33 mins

Today I welcome Heather Fawcett to the show to talk about her Emily Wilde series. These beloved books are about a Cambridge professor who specializes in the study of fairies. This cozy fantasy trilogy has been at the forefront of this subgenre since the first novel, “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries,” came out a few years ago. The third book, “Emily Wilde's Comp

E156: Cottagecore Movies with Liz Parker

Feb 18 2025 55 mins

Today I welcome Liz Parker back to the show to talk about Cottagecore Movies. I really needed a break from the world, so I wanted to do an episode that felt like a warm hug. This also came just in time for Liz’s upcoming book, THE OTHER MARCH SISTERS, which she co-wrote with Linda Epstein and Ally Malinenko, from the point of view of the other March sisters in LITTLE WOMEN. It co

E155: Spicy Cozy SciFi and Fantasy Books by Kimberly Lemming

Feb 13 2025 21 mins

Today I welcome Kimberly Lemming to the show to talk about her work, including a new science fiction romcom series that begins with I GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND NOW I’M TRAPPED IN A ROMCOM. We also discuss her previous cozy fantasy romcom series that began with THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON. We chat about maintaining her voice across genre, and what folks are seeking wh

E154: Gothic Fantasy with Hailey Piper

Jan 29 2025 67 mins

Today I welcome Hailey Piper to the show to discuss Gothic Fantasy. Hailey knows this genre blend well, as the author of several books that do this work, including her new book ALL THE HEARTS YOU EAT, and her upcoming 2025 release, A GAME IN YELLOW. We chat about elements that define this subgenre, our earliest interest in Gothic Fantasy, and we give some recommendations. All title

E153: Grady Hendrix and WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS

Jan 16 2025 59 mins

Today I welcome Grady Hendrix back to the show to discuss his new book, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, a story about the homes for pregnant teenage girls that were largely used in the years before Roe v Wade. We chat about everything from the inspiration of this story, to the food, and the human monsters in the book. The story has a lot of depth and I enjoyed breaking down even the

E152: Poe, Ghosts and Mystery with Christa Carmen

Jan 10 2025 36 mins

Today I welcome Christa Carmen, winner of the Bram Stoker award for her debut novel DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND. I have her on the show today to discuss her new book, BENEATH THE POET’S HOUSE, a contemporary story that takes place in the home of famous transcendentalist, Sarah Whitman, a romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe’s. We discuss Poe and how she connected her plot to his

E151: LITERARY WITCHES and a New Year with Taisia Kitaiskaia

Dec 31 2024 35 mins

Today I welcome Taisia Kitaiskaia to the show for a chat about her book of illustrated poetry and her oracle deck, both titled LITERARY WITCHES. Taisia lives here in Austin, and worked with another Austin artist, Katy Horan, to create a gorgeous collection of poetry and art, as well as an inspiring oracle deck. Though they came out years ago, I hoped Taisia could bring in 2025 with

E150: Favorite Books of 2024 with Megan Bannen and Brian McAuley

Dec 26 2024 77 mins

Today I welcome both Megan Bannen and Brian McAuley to the show for a chat about our favorite books of 2024. These two authors inspired me a lot this year, and they make me laugh, so I wanted to end a wild year with folks who are like a balm to my soul. Megan is the author of THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY, and THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK. These are some of the most creat

E149: Gothic meets Cozy with Sharon Lynn Fisher

Dec 19 2024 33 mins

Today I welcome Sharon Lynn Fisher to the show to discuss two of her books I read this year. SALT AND BROOM is a witch retelling of Jane Eyre, and her new book, GRIMM CURIOUSITIES, is a perfect Yuletide ghost story that explores Krampus while using the Dickensian atmosphere of a Victorian curiosity shop. Both books manage to honor their Gothic inspiration while offering a cozy atmo