Mary Kay McBrayer

Mary Kay is a belly-dancer, horror enthusiast, sideshow lover, prose writer, Christian, and literature professor from south of Atlanta. Her true crime novel, America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster is available for pre-order, and you can hear her analysis (and jokes) about scary movies on the podcast she co-founded, Everything Trying to Kill You. She can be reached at mary.kay.mcbrayer@gmail.com.

Read Harder: A Fairytale Retelling by an Author of Color

Read Harder Challenge participants, we've got your recommendations for the fairy tale retellings by authors of color task.

New Masters of Horror: Off the Primrose Path

You know the big names in horror and have all the books, but have you checked out the new masters of horror? Get in the know here.

10 Compelling Books About Villains

Whether their shadowy status is textbook or complicated, the characters and their circumstances in these books about villains are shudder-worthy.

Who and What Done it? Sleuth out the Culprit based on Your Favorite YA Books

Was it the kid with the Dutch oven? Was it supernatural forces or the landlady? Get on the case and find the culprit by taking this YA mystery quiz.

17 Signs That Your Tinder Date Might Be Edgar Allan Poe

Hold up! Don't swipe right on the man with the seemingly ironic mustache and poetic profile just yet. Check out this list to make sure it's not Edgar.

7 of the Best Books for MINDHUNTER Fans

The dynamic between criminals and those who work with them is fascinating and unusual. Want to know more? Check out these books for MINDHUNTER fans.

Noir by Women, Not Just Femme Fatales

The femme fatale is a popular character in noir, but women inhabit the genre beyond those characters. Explore the world of noir by women.

8 Creepy Short Stories to Keep You Up at Night

These are some of the best creepy short stories that I've assigned (or WOULD assign) to keep my students intrigued (and terrified).

8 Unique Steampunk Reads

Looking for steampunk that strays from the classic works to present fresh takes on the genre? Check out these unique steampunk books.

Books like SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK for My Fellow Children of Horror

I’m writing this post before I’ve seen Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz ...

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