Carissa Orlando’s “The September House” takes a Uniquely Scary Approach to the Classic Haunted House Story

Podcast: Download (Duration: 36:25 — 33.4MB)

In today’s Halloween episode 363, we feature author and clinical psychologist, Carissa Orlando, and her new horror novel, The September House. Library Journal says, “With grim humor, emotional resonance, and brilliant subversion of a familiar trope, this compelling debut is perfect for fans of Clay MacLeod Chapman, Simone St. James, and Grady Hendrix…The metaphor is layered and at times heartbreaking, as secrets held by both a house and a family come to light with terrifying poignancy in this wonderfully eerie debut.”

Show discussion highlights:

  • Carissa’s background in psychology and how it influences the stories she writes
  • Favorite Stephen King novels and horror inspiration
  • Survival – how much can we really survive?
  • Writing a haunted house novel where the protagonist wants to live there, and isn’t trying to escape
  • Importance of setting in a horror story
  • How Carissa created the haunted house
  • Carissa’s writing and publishing journey

Brief author bio:

Carissa Orlando has a doctorate in clinical-community psychology and specializes in work with children and adolescents. In her “day job,” Carissa works to improve the quality of and access to mental health care for children and their families. Prior to her career in psychology, Carissa studied creative writing in college and has written creatively in some form since she was a child. It was only a matter of time before Carissa, an avid horror fan for much of her life, merged her understanding of the human psyche and deep love for storytelling into a piece of fiction.

Learn more about the author and their books HERE.

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