Macabre Daily’s PAPER CUTS!

Favorite guest and all-around amazing person, Cynthia Pelayo returned to PAPER CUTS to talk about the phenomenal new anthology she edited, “Something Followed Us Home.” As if Cynthia’s involvement wasn’t enough to have you frantically running out to secure your copy, wait until you get a look at the star-studded lineup of authors in the collection

The contributing authors include:

• Agustina Bazterrica – "Blue Flowers"

• Isabel Cañas – "The Hand that Feeds"

• Ann Dávila Cardinal – "Her First Cruise Ship"

• Gerardo Sámano Córdova – "My Boyfriend"

• Zoraida Córdova – "The Immaculate Rebirth of Nicki Duran"

• Mariana Enriquez – "Guardian Angel"

• Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro – "The Return of La Muelona"

• Xochitl Gonzalez – "Pomelo"

• Leopoldo Goût – "Luz y Fer"

• Ananda Lima – "Specter"

• Juan Martinez – "Mechanical Servants LLC"

• Mónica Ojeda – "The World from Above and the World from Down Below"

• Daniel José Older – "The Rooftop Revolution of Selly Aviles"

• Cynthia Pelayo – "El Jíbaro de Puerto Rico"

• Lilliam Rivera – "Whispers from the Root"

• Diana Rodriguez Wallach – "We Are Gathered Here Together"

• Alex Segura – "Fidelity"

This anthology is hands down the best of the year, exploring themes of colonization, exclusion, religion, folklore, immigration, and belonging. While the stories span a vast array of timelines and locales, they will all feel familiar and immediate in our current political climate. While each one entertains the reader, larger themes are at work, and the collection as a whole delivers a stark message to those who seek to oppress.

Cynthia joined us to talk about putting the collection together, the impact each story had, the realization that this collection was more than just an anthology, but something truly special, and, of course, a little tease for a future fractured fairytale work coming from Cynthia soon. This conversation was an absolute joy, and we know you’ll enjoy it just as much as we did.

You can purchase “Something Followed Us Home” here.

You can follow Cynthia Pelayo on Instagram here.

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Marshall J. Moore may have just written the most perfectly timed piece of horror/comedy literature for our chaotic times. “The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing” hits the mark as a snapshot of the moment when power-hungry people in charge take those who do the real hard yards for granted. Or worse, abuse them repeatedly for being different or unique, in a way they either can’t or don’t want to understand. We’re making the book sound heavy as hell, and it’s anything but. Moore, like the best satirists, has delivered a thoughtful, insightful message within the framework of a heartfelt, delightful tale of monsters of all kinds that is laugh-out-loud funny.

Marshall was kind enough to join us to talk about this remarkable new novel. We discussed how it all came about, the kismet of the moment meeting the message within the pages, his horror past and present, and so much more. We enjoyed this conversation immensely, not only because this book reminded us so much of the beloved Rankin/Bass classic, “Mad Monster Party,” but also because Marshall is a gem of a human being, as you’ll hear in our delightful chat. Enjoy!

You can purchase “The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing” here.

You can follow Marshall J. Moore on Instagram here.

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If you’re reading this, you already understand the power our favorite stories hold over us. Most of us can think back to a challenging time in our lives and point to at least one book that saved us. These beloved characters and adventures gave us insight into difficulties or an escape from a world we couldn’t handle. Giving ourselves over to another entity and trusting them with our well-being is a leap of faith. It gives them significant influence over us. So what happens when they turn that power against us? 

In “Winterset Hollow” (2026), author Jonathan Edward Durham takes readers on a thrilling journey to see what happens when the childhood fantasies we hold most dear decide to write their own story. He first self-published his novel in 2021. This story resonated with readers more than he ever could have hoped and rocketed him into the daily discourse of the horror literature community. Now, with the help of Union Square & Co., Durham’s novel is being re-released so that it can be discovered all over again. 

We’re so thankful to Durham for joining us on the Paper Cuts Podcast to discuss his work. Listen to our full conversation below. And as always, remember how to celebrate Barley Day. You run, friend. You run. 

Purchase “Winterset Hollow” here. 

Follow Jonathan Edward Durham here.

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Eco-Horror is emerging as one of the most exciting and terrifying subgenres out there these days, and with good reason. As we see the current psychotic administration roll back just about every single climate policy and deregulate damn near everything, keeping us from bursting into flame, the time is ripe to illustrate just how f*cked we really are. Corey Farrenkopf, Tiffany Morris, and Eric Raglin have done just that with their incredible new collection, “The Writhing Verdant End.”

These three amazing authors were kind enough to join us to talk about the current state of eco-disaster; how the current crisis influences their fiction and lives; how eco-horror has become immensely popular in recent years; and their surprising outlook for the planet's future. Along the way, we talk about favorite scares, the beauty of writing terror, and what sends chills down their spines. We had a blast with these fantastic writers, and we know you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Enjoy!

You can purchase “The Writhing Verdant End” here.

You can follow Tiffany Morris on Instagram here.

You can follow Corey Farrenkopf on Instagram here.

You can follow Eric Raglin on Instagram here.

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As if the Lansdales weren’t dominating fiction enough, here comes Kasey Lansdale with a crackerjack debut Southern Gothic Noir that will make your hair stand on end. “First Chance” is the kind of crime thriller that rarely sees print these days. Sure, streaming services are jam-packed with limited series featuring strong women banding together, kicking ass and taking names, but on bookshelves it’s a bit sparse. You can pick up any number of novels featuring surly dudes forced to begrudgingly work together to save the day, but the same can’t be said for smart, capable women who lean less surly and way more supportive. That is, until now.

We couldn’t wait to talk to Kasey, and our conversation was everything we hoped it would be. We took a deep dive into genre fiction, her journey as a writer that led to this remarkable debut novel, the joy of the family business, and the way she carved out her own beautifully distinctive voice and style. We can’t remember a time when a debut novel felt this confident. It feels like a tenth novel, not a first. We loved hearing about the journey it took to get here, and Kasey, like most Texans we’ve met, is a consummate storyteller who does not disappoint. We know you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Enjoy!

You can purchase “FIRST CHANCE” here.

You can follow Kasey Lansdale on Instagram here.

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Josh Malerman has been crafting beautiful nightmares for readers since 2014’s “Bird Box” hit bookstore shelves and announced the coming of a new powerhouse voice in horror fiction. Since that monumental debut, he’s delivered countless tales of terror, from “Mad Black Wheel” to “Unbury Carol” to “Incidents Around The House,” and now, his latest, “Pictures of You,” which takes the reader on a journey into the dark recesses of the human psyche for the sake of artistic purity. It’s a tale of terror that begs the question: how far can one go in the pursuit of artistic perfection before it tips over into madness?

Josh was kind enough to join us for a chat about the new novel, and along the way we veered into just about everything under the sun. It was one of those fantastic conversations that bounced from topic to topic at a rapid-fire pace. We talk about the hard yards Josh put in before “Bird Box” finally found its audience, his desire to eventually direct (which thrilled us to no end), Mario Bava, becoming the Miles Davis of horror, and so much more. Josh was an immediate favorite guest, and we can’t wait for you to check this episode out. Enjoy!

You can purchase “Pictures of You” here.

You can follow Josh Malerman on Instagram here.

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The Long Pig is having quite a year. Cannibal themed horror has been lining bookshelves for ages, but since 2023 we’ve seen a brilliant resurgence in the subgenre that would make Hannibal Lecter proud. Now, Megan Mostyn-Brown has taken that taboo theme and created something both sinister and wonderful with her debut novel, “The Need.” Leaning into her remarkable background in television and theater, she’s spun a tale that literally pops off the page. Thrilling, scary, and heartfelt, this novel brings all the feels, most of them creeping straight up your spine!

Megan joined us to talk about the joy of creating both horror and mystery, the mechanics behind crafting the perfect thrill, her horror origins, and so much more. This was one of the most fun chats we’ve ever had, and to say we’re Mostyn-Brown fans now would be a massive understatement. Check out the chat for yourself, and make sure you pre-order Megan’s incredible new novel, “The Need,” at the link below.

You can purchase “The Need” here.

You can follow Megan Mostyn-Brown on Instagram here.

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It’s no secret that we absolutely adore George Dunn. He’s been one of our top go-tos for everything horror literature-related for quite some time now. His insight into the genre is razor-sharp, but never at the expense of humor, warmth, and genuine passion. George has interviewed some of the most dynamic and creative authors writing horror today, but his true superpower has been guesting on some of the most exciting horror lit podcasts out there. Not to mention his Bookstagram expertise on TikTok and Substack. Now he’s expanded the George Dunn Unstoppable Horror Machine to include an absolutely hilarious slice of familial nightmare fuel with the “Why Are You Making Me Watch This” Podcast, which he co-hosts with his amazing Mum, Jayne.

The premise of the podcast has George, the horror movie enthusiast, essentially torturing his loving mother, the horror movie novice, with some of the scariest films ever. Move over, George, our new horror obsession is your phenomenal mother; she’s a saint, and you’re a very bad son for torturing her for our pleasure. This podcast immediately became a favorite, and if you’re not listening to it, you must hate your ears. Click on the link below to check out what will soon become your favorite listen. George was an absolute blast to chat with, and we know you’ll enjoy every second of this conversation just as much as we did. The future of horror entertainment is George Dunn, and we couldn’t be in better hands.

You can follow George Dunn on Instagram here.

You can listen to “Why Are You Making Me Watch This” here.

You can follow George Dunn on TikTok here.

You can read George’s “Best Horror Novels of 2026 So Far” here.

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Jonathan Janz may be one of the most exciting authors working in genre fiction today. With over a dozen novels to his name and praise from the likes of Jack Ketchum and Joe R. Lansdale, he’s been keeping busy, and folks have been noticing, including us here at Macabre Daily! Janz’s latest novel, “Marla” (which you can read our review of), is a slow-burn story about a small town and the big problems that reside within it. Something of an urban legend itself, “Marla” was, for a long time, hard to find, given that it had a very limited release and built such a ravenous mystique around it that having it now more widely available feels like a triumph for curious readers who missed out.

Now that “Marla” is out in the world, Janz was kind enough to spend some time speaking with Michelle Delgado on this week’s episode of the Paper Cuts Podcast. It’s a lovely conversation that is both thorough and thoughtful, especially near the end of the conversation, so make sure you listen to the whole thing!

You can purchase “Marla” here.

You can follow Jonathan Janz on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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2026 has seen some of the best haunted house fiction in ages, and Max Doty’s “The House That Eats The Dead” joins the ranks as one of the most unique and creative. A house that literally eats organic dead matter. Like Theodore Geisel said, “Oh, the places you’ll go!” Max takes this concept and dials the mystery, intrigue, and terror through the roof. No spoilers here, but you’ll be ripping through the pages of this novel to see just how unhinged things get within the walls of this sinisterly efficient Queen Anne Victorian.

Max joined us to dish about the origin of the story, his background in screenwriting (which lends itself beautifully to the novel's pace), things that go bump in the night, and so much more. We play the hits on some of the best haunted house films and novels out there, even turning Max on to one or two along the way. This chat was a delight from start to finish, and if you’re not immediately racing out to pick up a copy of “The House That Eats The Dead,” we’ll eat our hat! Enjoy!

You can follow Max Doty on Instagram here.

Make sure you check out maxdoty.com

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