About

Gwendolyn Kiste is the three-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens, Reluctant Immortals, And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe, Pretty Marys All in a Row, The Invention of Ghosts, and Boneset & Feathers. Her short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in outlets including Lit Hub, Nightmare, Tor Nightfire, Titan Books, Vastarien, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, and The Dark among others. She's a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and her fiction has also received the This Is Horror award for Novel of the Year as well as nominations for the Premios Kelvin and Ignotus awards.
Originally from Ohio, she now resides on an abandoned horse farm outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, their calico cat, and not nearly enough ghosts. You can also find her online at Facebook and Instagram.
Interviews, Spotlights, and Guest Posts
On Evil in the Stacks, discussing women in horror, Reluctant Immortals, and trauma in the horror genre with Geneveive Newman
At Monster Complex, discussiong Reluctant Immortals, writing advice, and favorite things about horror with Will Christopher
"Gwendolyn Kiste Plunges a Silver Dagger Into the Heart of Female Stereotypes in Reluctant Immortals" with Leticia Lopez at The Lineup
"Immortality, the 1960s, and the Power of Women's Voices" with Andrea Blythe at Interstellar Flight Press
On Forbidden Planet TV, discussing the Titan Books release of Reluctant Immortals with Andrew Sumner and Laura Jayne Dodd
On Wine, Women, and Words, discussing Reluctant Immortals with Diana Giovinazzo and Alyssa Palombo
On Staring Into the Abyss, discussing the horror genre, the 1960s, and Reluctant Immortals
On Jason's Weird Reads, celebrating the release of Vastarien's latest issue with Jason White, Daniel Braum, and Jon Padgett
On I Should Be Writing, discussing writing advice and Reluctant Immortals with Mur Lafferty
On the What Do You Know About...? podcast, discussing the history of the horror genre
At Authority Magazine, discussing Reluctant Immortals and writing advice
At Ginger Nuts of Horror, discussing the Isolation anthology from Titan Books
At Cemetery Dance, discussing Reluctant Immortals with Daniel Braum
On The Lovecraft eZine podcast, discussing horror movies, vampires, and Reluctant Immortals
On She Wore Black, discussing gothic literature, feminism, and wolves with Agatha Andrews
On Ghoulish, discussing Dracula adaptations, cults, and the blood beauty crazy with Max Booth III
On Unlikeable Female Characters, discussing the horror genre, feminism, and rage-fueled writing with Layne Fargo
"Author Gwendolyn Kiste's Reluctant Immortals brings decay to '60s Los Angeles" at The Pitch Kansas City with Nick Spacek
At Fresh Fiction, discussing writing process, setting, and favorite books
"Gwendolyn Kiste: On Reimagining Classic Gothic Novels" at Writer's Digest
On Amy McCaw's channel, discussing vampires, the gothic, and Reluctant Immortals
On The Monster, She Wrote Podcast, discussing gothic horror, retellings, and Reluctant Immortals with Lisa Kroger and Melanie Anderson
On Talking Scared, Episode 106: Gwendolyn Kiste and the Madwomen Bite Back
"Where to Start with the Award-Winning Horror Author Gwendolyn Kiste" on The Lineup
"Waynesburg's Gwendolyn Kiste rewrites famous horror heroines' stories in Reluctant Immortals" with Joshua Axelrod on The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On Eyre Buds, discussing Jane Eyre, Reluctant Immortals, and favorite adaptations
"Bathtub of Blood," discussing the horror genre, Reluctant Immortals, and writing process, with Scotty Milder on The Weirdest Things
On Dead Headspace, discussing the horror genre, Reluctant Immortals, and how modern politics overlap with the 1960s
On Castle Talk, discussing retellings, drive-ins, and Reluctant Immortals, with Jason Henderson
On Narrative Species, discussing Reluctant Immortals, Dracula, and California with Rick Kleffel
The Question in Bodies Podcast, Episode 3: Bodies in Space, with Howard David Ingham
At the Horror Writers Association blog with Lindy Ryan, celebrating Women in Horror Month
On The Story Hour, reading "The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt from Lucy Westenra's Diary)"
Featured on The Outer Dark's Holiday Special, reading from my story, "Holiday Playlist for the End of the World"
As part of the Halloween panel at Editions du Chat Noir
Featured in The Lineup's "8 Horror Authors Share Their Scariest True Stories"
On Russ Colchamiro's Spooky Stories II with Sarah Read and Daniel Braum
On Flame Tree Publishing's Hellish Helter Skelter panel about writing horror short stories
At the Fox Cities Book Festival's Grimm Tales panel on horror and fairy tales
At the Sturgis Library's From Poe to the Present panel on horror
On The Outer Dark's We Once Were Monster Kids panel from The H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
On The Story Hour, reading "The Woman Out of the Attic"
"On the Verge: Body Horror Authors to Read Right Now"
Reading the dark fantasy story, "Tips for How to Deal with Your Daughter When She's Become a Monster," as part of the Nighttime Logic Summer Reading Series
This Is Horror, Episode 399, discussing Boneset & Feathers, witchcraft, and the power of optimism
On Visited By Voices' Horror Writers Roundtable 2, discussing the genre and writing advice
"#Interview: In Conversation with Gwendolyn Kiste" with Christina Ladd on Dark Dispatch
On Gaby Triana's Author Show and Tell, discussing Sharon Tate and my Eye of the Devil memorabilia
On Visited by Voices Live, discussing horror, Halloween, and the writing process
On Ladies of the Fright, discussing the Angela Carter story, "The Lady of the House of Love"
At More2Read, discussing the inspiration for my books with Lou Pendergrast
Featured as part of HWA's Females of Fright! Women in Horror Month Panel
"Clubhouse Guest's Chat: Gwendolyn Kiste" with Paula R.C. Readman
At Janine Pipe's blog, discussing Kandisha Press, Women in Horror Month, and Reluctant Immortals
At Fright Girl Winter, discussing Women in Horror Month
At the event, Underworld Dreams: In Conversation, discussing horror and weird fiction and Boneset & Feathers with Daniel Braum
On the podcast, This Is Why We're Like This, discussing 1990s commercials
Reading from Pretty Marys All in a Row and The Invention of Ghosts at The New York Ghost Story Festival
Featured as part of HWA's Skeleton Hour panel, discussing witchcraft
Featured as part of The Saga Salon, discussing holiday horror
On the podcast, This Is Why We're Like This, discussing the 1990s thriller, Red Wind
"SURVIVE WITH ME: 5 Questions with Bram Stoker Winner, Gwendolyn Kiste"
On Sci-Fi & Scary with Eliza Jo Brandt, discussing the horror genre, Boneset & Feathers, and favorite reads from 2020
On Wyrd Transmissions with Curtis M. Lawson, discussing Boneset & Feathers, storytelling, and inspiration
Featured interview as part of Horror in the Eye of the Beholder by Marta Oliehoek-Samitowska
On Bookstr's feature, 5x5: Women Horror Authors Share Their Wisdom
On Sara Tantlinger's Delicious Horror series, discussing We Have Always Lived in the Castle and creating my own sugary treat to pair with it!
On the Staring into the Abyss podcast, discussing the Shirley Jackson story, "Louisa, Please Come Home"
At The Times-Reporter, discussing hometown horror with Nancy Molnar
On the Cursed Morsels podcast, discussing body horror, fairy tales, and horrifying family dynamics
Reading from The Invention of Ghosts as part of Celebrate Horror 2020 with Mother Horror
Interview with Darker Magazine about "The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt from Lucy Westenra's Diary"
Creature-Feature Conversations: The Descent, with Christa Carmen and Jonathan Raab
On The Westport Library's Ten Questions With... series, with Cody Daigle-Orians and Alex Giannini
At Cemetery Dance's My First Fright series, discussing Gremlins with John Brhel
At Angela Slatter's blog, discussing The Invention of Ghosts, writing inspiration, and underappreciated horror gems
At The Horror Tree, discussing female villains, quirky writing habits, and story endings with Catherine Jordan
On Manuscript Burn, discussing Women in Horror Month, favorite female horror icons, and biggest fears with Stephen Kozeniewski
At Michelle Renee Lane's Girl Meets Monster, discussing Women in Horror Month and writing, along with an excerpt from my forthcoming novel
"Profile: Gwendolyn Kiste" at Ladies of Horror Fiction
At 87 Bedford, discussing the story, "All the Mermaid Wives," as well as writing process and advice
At A.C Wise's site, discussing The Invention of Ghosts, most unusual jobs, and the inspiration behind The Rust Maidens
At Literary Dust, discussing The Invention of Ghosts with Candace Robinson
At Nightmare Magazine, discussing the horror story, "The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt from Lucy Westenra's Diary)," with Sandra Odell
On the Lovecraft eZine Podcast's annual Halloween episode
On Losing the Plot Podcast with Leo X. Robertson, discussing David Cronenberg, The Rust Maidens, The Invention of Ghosts, and body horror
With Sean M. Thompson, discussing The Rust Maidens, The Invention of Ghosts, vampires, and sea monsters
"Gwendolyn Kiste: Confronting Ghosts," at Room 207 Press, discussing body horror, hauntings, and The Rust Maidens with Howard David Ingham
On Circulo de Lovecraft, discussing The Rust Maidens, The Invention of Ghosts, and cosmic horror with Amparo Montejano
On the Unnerving Podcast, discussing StokerCon with Sara Tantlinger and Eddie Generous, and reading the opening from The Invention of Ghosts
On What's New?, discussing The Invention of Ghosts and The Rust Maidens, with Simon Bestwick
On 20 Questions 7 Answers, discussing The Rust Maidens, movie monsters, and fictional characters, with Scott Cole
On GeeklyInc, discussing The Rust Maidens with Christina Ladd
Arm Cast Podcast: Episode 257, with Armand Rosamilia
On the Darkness Dwells podcast, discussing The Rust Maidens, Women in Horror Month, and the future of horror
On Sara Tantlinger's site, discussing The Rust Maidens, horror, future writing plans, and Women in Horror Month
On Angela Slatter's site, discussing literary villains, cover art, and The Rust Maidens
Featured in an author roundtable Q&A about the Haunted House anthology at the Flame Tree Press blog, part one and part two
This is Horror, Episode 253, discussing The Rust Maidens, second-person point of view, and New Year's goals
This is Horror, Episode 252, discussing identity, body horror, growing up, and living on an abandoned horse farm
On The Horror Tree, discussing the writing process with Erin Sweet-Al Mehairi
On Oh, For the Hook of a Book!, discussing Cleveland, historical fiction, and The Rust Maidens with Erin Sweet-Al Mehairi
"I Have an Otter Story," on Miskatonic Musings discussing wildlife, lakes, and The Rust Maidens with Sean M. Thompson and Charles Meyer
On Hellnotes, discussing The Rust Maidens with Gordon B. White
Author Q&A at Gingerbread House Lit Mag
Author Spotlight: Gwendolyn Kiste on the Ladies of Horror Fiction
On The 7Q Interview with Brian Fatah Steele
On Kendall Reviews, discussing the Top Ten Body Horror stories
On The Ladies of Horror Fiction Podcast, Episode 3: Folklore and Horror
On Mangled Matters as part of The Halloween Hangover: a roundtable discussion of our favorite holiday
Interview with Unnerving Magazine, discussing The Rust Maidens, life in Ohio, and the craft of writing
Interview with Sci-Fi & Scary, discussing The Rust Maidens, Halloween, and the top female horror authors writing today
Interview with The Witch Haunt, discussing coffee, crows, Wednesday Addams, and The Rust Maidens
Interview with Kendall Reviews, discussing writing, music, inspirations, and cat museums
"Poison Apples, Bird Feathers, and Sisterhood: An Author Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste," with Stephanie M. Wytovich
"Monsters in Plain Sight," with Daniel Braum on Blood and Stardust
On The Wicked Library, discussing the dark fantasy story, "A Certain Kind of Spark" (Podcast interview with Daniel Foytik starts at 47:55, after the story)
Jiffy-pop and Horror Blogcast 001 with Eddie Generous
WiHM: Writing While Female with Gwendolyn Kiste, Jemiah Jefferson, and H.R. Boldwood, Interview with Monica S. Kuebler
Interview with Sean M. Thompson in the McManbeast Books Newsletter
#HookonWiHM: Focus on Author Gwendolyn Kiste, Interview with Calvin Demmer
How I'm Spending Women in Horror Month, guest post at Erik Hofstatter's site
Featured on Michael Bailey's Women in Horror Month list
The Outer Dark Episode 028: Quaffing Your Fear Like Fine Wine, with Scott Nicolay
On Author Anthony Avina's blog, discussing Pretty Marys All in a Row
Unnerving Magazine Podcast Interview, with Eddie Generous
31 Hath October: Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste, with Brian Lillie
Countdown to Hallowe'en 2017: Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste, with Juliana Spink Mills
On The Lovecraft eZine Podcast, discussing And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe
"Weird Wanderings: Gwendolyn Kiste," interview in Black Static #59 with Peter Tennant
"Fables and Disappearances: The Untethered Tales of Gwendolyn Kiste," interview at GreyDogTales.com with John Linwood Grant
"Gwendolyn Kiste has passion for writing about what's beautiful and scary," interview at The Times Reporter with Joe Wright
Interview at Gruemonkey with Lori Titus, discussing And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe, fairy tales, and the writing life
Feature Interview at Unnerving Magazine, discussing And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe
On Miskatonic Musings, discussing And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe
On Hellnotes, discussing the horror and dark fantasy collection, And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe
Interviewed on Mangled Matters' Women in Horror: A Celebration
On Hellnotes' Deep Cuts feature, discussing the dark fantasy story, "All the Red Apples Have Withered to Gray"
Featured on K.Z. Morano's 100 Female Horror Authors You Should Be Reading Right Now!
Halloween Roundtable Interview with Justin Hamelin on Mangled Matters
On The Wicked Library, discussing the epistolary horror story, "The Man in the Ambry" (Podcast interview with Daniel Foytik starts at 39:00, after the story)
"Episode 403: The Write Way with Gwendolyn Kiste" on 9th Story Studios with Daniel Foytik
"Spotlight on Writing Horror with Gwendolyn Kiste and Scarlett R. Algee" with Juliana Spink Mills
"Interview: Gwendolyn Kiste" with Editor E. Catherine Tobler, available in the full issue of Shimmer #30, March 2016
"Women in Horror Month -- Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste" with Simon Dewar
"Random-Ass Interview: Gwendolyn Kiste" on Spooky Bloggery with Sean Thompson
"Women in Horror Month 2016--Featured Author: Gwendolyn Kiste" on Spreading the Writer's Word with Nina D'Arcangela
"From the Mind of..." on Severed Scissors with Casey Chaplin
"Author Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste" on writer Nathan Hystad's site
"Strange Gardens of the Soul: An Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste" on Writing in a Dead World with Raymond Esposito
Podcast Interview on Red Horse Radio with Jon Towers
"Author Interview: Gwendolyn Kiste" on Theme of Absence
"The Halloween Life: An Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste" on Mangled Matters with Justin Hamelin
At Nightmare Magazine, discussing the horror story, "Ten Things to Know About the Ten Questions," with Kevin McNeil
On The Wicked Library, discussing the ghost story, "Audrey at Night" (Podcast interview with Daniel Foytik starts at 33:24, after the story)
"Interview with Speculative Fiction Writer, Gwendolyn Kiste" on Geosi Reads
On Electric Spec, discussing the dark fantasy story, "Once Lost, Gone Forever"
On Mystery and Horror, LLC, discussing the historical horror story, "Of Blood and Men"
On Mystery and Horror, LLC, discussing the humorous horror story, "Bedroom Bureau"

Blog

Reluctant Immortals

The Rust Maidens

Boneset & Feathers

The Invention of Ghosts

Pretty Marys All in a Row

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Short Fiction & Nonfiction

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