Bestselling author Rachel Harrison was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel for The Return. She is also the author of Black Sheep, Such Sharp Teeth, and Cackle. Her next novel, So Thirsty (Berkley), is forthcoming this September. She talks with LJ about vampires, centering women in stories, her appreciation for libraries and librarians, and the inspiration for her writing.

Your next book, So Thirsty, is part of a resurgence of the vampire novel. What drew you to vampires for this particular story?

I was looking in the mirror one day, lamenting the signs of aging in my face, and I thought about how vampires a) never age, and b) can’t see themselves in the mirror. It sparked this mix of envy and terror, and that’s what inspired me to work on a vampire novel. That initial spark evolved during the writing process. Vampires were a vehicle to explore not only how it feels to be a woman aging—a blessing and a curse—but also desire. In my life, I’ve experienced so much shame and torment over my desire, especially as a woman. Slut-shaming and calorie-counting and all that. With vampires, their desire is key to their survival. They want blood, they need it to survive. That line between want and need gets blurred. This story and the vampires in it offered me the opportunity to confront what it really means to commit to living.

You have caught the attention of both critics and readers for your unique brand of horror, with a focus on the terror and fear of being a woman in her 20s or 30s in the 21st century. What drew you down this road of storytelling, and why is horror your preferred genre for telling your woman-centered stories?

They say write what you know! I’m a woman in my 30s in the 21st century, and I write a lot from experience. I write to understand myself better, my relationships better, the world better. I’m personally, emotionally invested in these stories, and my hope is because of that, the reader will meet me there and be able to connect and relate. Horror is the perfect playground for me because it’s high stakes, but it can be fun, and messy, and the rules of reality don’t apply. In horror, my characters can gnash their teeth and rip things apart and ride into the sunset bloody and battered but persevering. I need that. Women need it. It’s cathartic.

Who has inspired your writing?

Shirley Jackson is definitely a huge inspiration. I love and admire Diablo Cody; Jennifer’s Body is a film about women by women, and it’s horror but it’s fun and it’s a nuanced exploration of female friendship. I remember when Alma Katsu came out with The Hunger. I was working on my debut novel, and it was really incredible to see her much-deserved success, to see a woman kicking down doors the way she did. She’s an epic talent and just so, so cool. I’m constantly inspired by women in the genre. I’m currently reading Sara Gran’s Come Closer, which came out in 2003, and it’s blowing my mind, and also An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson, which is out in September, and it’s totally brilliant. My cup overflows with inspiration from women in horror.

Your werewolf-themed novel Such Sharp Teeth is a 2024 Summer Scares selection, and you’re a LibraryReads Hall of Fame author. Clearly, the library world loves your books. What have you learned during your conversations with library workers and patrons about the reception of your books and the increased popularity of horror with mainstream audiences?

I’d love to take this opportunity to convey how crucial libraries and librarians have been in my career. My debut came out in March 2020, so I had a tough start. But The Return was in libraries, so more people had access to it. My first big event as an author was at the Henrietta Public Library in Henrietta, NY. It was for Cackle. The librarians decorated the entire library, there were spiderwebs and creepy pictures and headless dolls. It was October 2021, and the librarians made sure it was COVID-safe. I was really moved by the turnout, that people showed up even though it was pouring rain. That event was so special, and the librarians put in so much effort to make it special. My first big conference was ALA in 2022. To be supported in that way early in my career, it’s helped me continue to write and publish books. And now Such Sharp Teeth is a Summer Scares pick! The passion of librarians is incredible. I have to give a special shoutout to the Summer Scares committee for all they do to promote horror as well. I’m very humbled by the reception of my books and the very healthy appetite for horror in libraries. But I think the appetite is there because of the hard work and enthusiasm of librarians that has helped push horror into the mainstream.

What upcoming books do you want to make sure library workers know about?

There is truly an embarrassment of riches! I’d love to shout out American Rapture by CJ Leede. It’s a beautiful, terrifying, epic adventure that pulls no punches; it really resonated with me. Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle is utterly brilliant. This Cursed House by Del Sandeen is an atmospheric Southern gothic debut that’s out this fall, with ghosts and mysteries and family secrets. House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias is a bloody, suspenseful, heartfelt revenge tale. And for a super fun, smart nonfiction book, Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need To Know About the Films You’re Too Scared To Watch by Emily C. Hughes is a must; it’s an absolute delight.