Sley House Presents

Author and actor Leanna Renee Hieber joins the show for a second time, this time to talk about her novel The Eterna Files and her work as a Gothic historian in America's Most Gothic. She breaks down what is most important to her in her work, how the Gothic shapes our perception of history, and why it's important to remember the spiritual alongside the modern in history and literature both.You can find Leanna at her website www.leannareneehieber.com, and you can get her novels at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Award-winning author Bethany C. Morrow joins Trevor to talk about her new book The Body. Along the way, they talk about what fiction can address, why it is important to diversify your reading and expose yourself to new perspectives and media, and how media literacy contributes to the way we are able to address wrongs and deprogram away from the corruptive influences that trap us in cycles of violence (plus much, much more).You can find more from Bethany C. Morrow at her website, www.bethanycmorrow.com, and you can find The Body available now from Tor Nightfire at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

Author Saratoga Schaefer is back on the show to talk about their sophomore novel, Trad Wife (now available from Crooked Lane Press in the U.S.). With host Trevor, they talk about the novel, about trad wifing as a social media trend, about cognitive mapping, and how social media contributes or detracts from our happiness.You can find more about Saratoga Schaefer at their website, saratogaschaefer.com, and you can get Trad Wife from Crooked Lane Press on February 10 from your local library or your favorite book retailer.

In this interview, author L.M. Chilton joins with show host Trevor to talk about his new novel, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, available now from Gallery/Scout Press. They talk about classical detection novels, about how Everyone in the Group Chat Dies addresses new digital spaces and how they can fit into traditional detective novels, as well as broader issues of how to discern the fidelity of information in a digital world and how novels of detection accentuate our need for a connection to and relationship with the truth.You can find L.M. Chilton at lmchilton.com, and you can get Everyone in the Group Chat Dies and his other work at your favorite book retailer or your local library.

Johnny Compton, Bram Stoker award-winning author of The Spite House and Devils Kill Devils, visits the show to talk about his new book Dead First, available February 10, 2026 from Putnam. Alongside host Trevor, he talks about Texas lore, about private investigators and code-switching, about the need for cultural literacy, and a whole lot more.You can catch more from Johnny at his website, johnnycompton.com. Dead First is available for pre-order or for purchase from your favorite book retailer, or you can request a copy at your local library.

Author C.J. Cooke joins the show to talk about her latest novel, The Last Witch, available now from publisher Berkley. With Trevor, she talks about the origins of her novel in the 15th century, about authenticity in writing fiction, and about how fiction serves to assist us in clarifying the historic record while preserving what remains important to the context of its moment and ours. You can find more about C.J. Cooke online at carolynjesscooke.com, and you can find her novels at your local library or at your favorite book retailer.

In this episode, best-selling author Simone St. James comes to talk about her new book, A Box Full of Darkness, available January 20 in the US through publisher Berkley. She talks with Trevor about her Gothic stories, about writing complicated characters, and the effect of trauma on personal relationships.You can find more Simone St. James at simonestjames.com, and you can find A Box Full of Darkness and her other novels at your local library or your favorite book retailer.

In this episode, author Ryan James Black visits to talk about his book The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham, which is now available in the U.S. and other countries. Together with Trevor, he talks about the craft of hope in fiction for children, and about the craft of hope as an exercise in looking at the world.You can find more about Ryan James Black at ryanjamesblack.com and you can get his novel at your favorite book retailer or your local library.

Author P. Djèlí Clark visits to celebrate the paperback release of Ring Shout, now available from Tor Nightfire. He breaks down the importance of the Shout to culture and Black heritage, the evolution and importance of media and its messaging for good and for bad, and the natures of hate and justice.You can find more from P. Djèlí Clark at his website, pdjeliclark.com, and you can find Ring Shout and his other fictions at your local library or your favorite book retailer.