Lindsay is joined by illustrator and author Katy Horan to discuss her book, “Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore,” which will be released by Andrews McMeel on April 29, 2025.

In this unique, illustrated collection, Literary Witches co-creator Katy Horan unearths the true and fictional stories behind twenty traditional murder ballads, exploring the beauty and horror of the art form through stories, lyrics, and original illustrations.

Murder Ballads is a guide to the origins and cultural impact of murder ballads as a music genre, covering its roots in patriarchal violence and white supremacy, as well as its contemporary relationship to true crime.

Mysterious and alluring as the songs themselves, Murder Ballads will delight history enthusiasts, armchair musicologists, true crime fans (and critics), as well as anyone who appreciates the darker side of folk music.

Katy Horan is a Texas-based Illustrator and fine artist. She received her BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2003 and has since become known for work that is dark, beautiful, and almost always about women. She is the co-creator, with writer Taisia Kitaiskaia, of Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers and The Literary Witches Oracle: A 70-Card Deck & Guidebook.

You can see more of Katy’s works on her Instagram.

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