Take a crash course in Gothic fiction with Junie author Erin Crosby Eckstine as we trace the genre's origins, evolution, and enduring allure.

Erin returns to Book Gang to share what surprised her most about debut life and what she's learned about balancing writing, book promotion, and an ever-growing TikTok community. Then, we dive deep into the eerie, elegant world of Gothic literature — where decaying mansions, stormy moors, and family secrets reflect the darkness within.

If you've ever wondered what makes a book Gothic, how the genre evolved from the 18th century to the present day, or how writers can utilize Gothic techniques to explore contemporary fears, this episode is your guided tour through the creeping shadows, courtesy of a former English teacher.

In this illuminating conversation, we discuss:

• 📚 Debut Surprises: What Erin learned from releasing Junie and how this political moment is impacting visibility, sales, and future book deals for BIPOC authors like her.
• 📚 A Gothic 101 Deep Dive: Erin breaks down the key elements of Gothic fiction, from its origins in 18th-century England to how modern writers are reimagining it today.
• 📚 Erin's Top 5 Gothic Fiction Recommendations: Erin shares her top five picks for your books that include modern Gothic fiction that continue to illuminate today's anxieties — about identity, race, power, and belonging — through atmosphere and suspense.

Meet Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction. Her debut novel, Junie, was selected for the Good Morning America book club. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master's in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats.

 

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's TWO companion reading guides to continue your Gothic education: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It All and 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle Burning. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)

NEW BOOK LIST: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It All

NEW BOOK LIST: 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle Burning

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

How Family History & Legacy Shaped Junie (Erin Crosby Eckstine's First Episode on Book Gang)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Odyssey by Homer

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The Lives of the Brontës

To Walk Invisible The Brontë Sisters

Kanopy app

Shirley by Charlotte Brontë

Vilette by Charlotte Brontë

The Lilac People by Milo Todd

Brick

Beloved by Toni Morrison

William Faulkner

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Why Is The New "Wuthering Heights" Movie Stirring Controversy?

Saltburn

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Our Share of the Night by Mariana Enriquez

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

 

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