Who am I…

Hi! My name is Shana and I’m utterly smitten with all things horror.

What are some of my goals?

First and foremost, I seek to seek out and highlight horror from marginalized voices.

Some background context… While active duty I was stationed in Japan and fell in love with Japanese literature in translation. It was a window into another culture which helped me be a better visitor.

Then, during a class in grad school I stumbled across an author interview where they espoused reading novels published during a particular time period as part of their research process to better understand the period they were going to write about. (Note, I’ve since forgotten the author and a google search tells me it is not a unique concept or process to one author.)

It took far too long for my synapses to make the connection (duh shana!) where I can become a better literary citizen and ally by prioritizing marginalized voices in the stories I consume.

Why horror?

Horror has always been my safe place. Books, movies, TV, the more the better. I always went straight to the horror aisles (back when those were a thing in bookstores and video rental places) to browse for my next gems.

I’m of the mind horror is cathartic and reflective of society in a way general literary fiction falls short for me.

Beyond the front tables.

Yes, upon entering a bookstore the front tables often catch our eye. The new, shiny objects conveniently placed right in our path. But what about the books whose publishers can’t afford a place on the front tables? Or the authors not carried in bookstores?

I’ll read all the horror I can get my grubby hands on, for sure!, but I will specifically seek out titles from small and indie presses.

Rating systems.

Yeah, no thank you.

If a synopsis/jacket copy, appeals to me, I’m going to pick it up. If an author or reviewer with similar tastes recommends a title, I’m going to add it to my TBR list. If I enjoyed it or am excited for it, I’m going to share it.

Ratings and rating systems are so subjective and arbitrary. One reviewer might say the loved everything about a book and give it three stars while someone else might feel the same title fell short in some areas but enjoyed it enough to give it four stars.

I’ll include tags for aspects and moods I feel reflect the story to help my fellow mood readers find the right fit for the moment.