Warning: SPOILERS ABOUND in this episode! 

Sam Rebelein and Mike Alvarez are back for an appropriately Halloween-y episode! Last time we talked about their horror inspirations; this time we’re talking about their recent (October 2023) book publications!

We talk about their books individually and together: how and why they use body horror to enhance their narratives; monsters as metaphors for grief, loss, and trauma; and the act of writing itself and how it can retraumatize or heal the writer. 

If you’re anti-spoiler DON’T listen to this podcast until you buy the books (spoiler: they’re worth it). If you don’t mind spoilers, take a listen and buy the books anyway!

Snag Edenville and check out Sam’s other work: https://www.srebelein.com/

Snag Mike’s Unraveling direct from the publisher: https://www.routledge.com/Unraveling-An-Autoethnography-of-Suicide-and-Renewal/Alvarez/p/book/9781032346519

Transformative Language Arts Network: tlanetwork.org

Books:

• Kathryn Harrison, The Kiss

Movies & TV

• Jeepers Creepers, Victor Salva

• The Babadook, Jennifer Kent

• Hereditary, Ari Aster

• Fargo (Season 2), FX, Noah Hawley 

Video Games:

• The Last of Us