Q&A: Christi Nogle on BEULAH: “I am more scared by things when they aren’t fully lit or fully seen.”
“Beulah will easily prove to be one of the best horror novels of 2022. Read it.”—Jon Padgett, author
Christi Nogle writes psychological and supernatural horror, dark science fiction, and weird fiction. Her novel Beulah—starring an 18-year-old who can see ghosts—has been nominated for a 2022 Bram Stoker Award in the category of First Novel.
In our interview with her, Nogle explains what inspired Beulah, shares her favorite things about horror fiction, and reveals what led her down this path. Scroll down for more information about Beulah, to read our quick interview with the author, and even to watch Nogle read to you from the book.
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About the book BEULAH
Beulah is the story of Georgie, an eighteen-year-old with a talent (or affliction) for seeing ghosts. Georgie and her family have had a hard time since her father died, but she and her mother Gina and sisters Tommy and Stevie are making a new start in the small town of Beulah, Idaho where Gina’s wealthy friend Ellen has set them up to help renovate an old stone schoolhouse.
Georgie experiences a variety of disturbances—the town is familiar from dreams and she seems to be experiencing her mother’s memory of the place, not to mention the creepy ghost in the schoolhouse basement—but she is able to maintain, in her own laconic way, until she notices that her little sister Stevie also has the gift. Stevie is in danger from a malevolent ghost, and Georgie tries to help, but soon Georgie is the one in danger.
Beulah
Christi Nogle
Cemetery Gates Media
Categories: Occult Horror, Coming of Age Fiction, Occult Fiction
About the author Christi Nogle
Christi Nogle writes psychological and supernatural horror, dark science fiction, and weird fiction. In addition to Beulah, she is also the author of the collection The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future.
Her short stories have appeared in more than 50 publications. She is also an associate editor at the popular horror podcast PseudoPod and coeditor of Mother: Tales of Love and Terror.
Christi is an active member of the Horror Writers Association, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and Codex Writers’ Group. She lives in Boise, Idaho with her partner Jim and their gorgeous dogs.
Interview with Christi Nogle on BEULAH
Q: What inspired your Bram Stoker Award nominated book Beulah?
Beulah was inspired by all the stories of haunted and weird houses that I’ve loved. Books like The Haunting of Hill House, The Shining, Burnt Offerings, House of Leaves, and The House Next Door were what started me writing.
My novel took a turn at some point and became focused on the main character Georgie’s interactions with the entire haunted town of Beulah rather than just one house, but I’d still stack Beulah in the haunted house section.
It was also inspired by some of the places I lived and some of the wishes I had as a child, for example wishing to have siblings to share my life with.
Q: What inspires your unique angle for horror stories?
I’m inspired to write when I have ideas or feelings that seem elusive, that I want to capture or work through in writing. I suppose I am more scared by things when they aren’t fully lit or fully seen, so my work tends to deal with mysterious and unexplained terrors, which some readers may find difficult or vague. The readers who connect with my stories tend to call them weird, lyrical, or surreal.
Q: What are your favorite things about horror fiction?
The main thing I love about horror is that I can read and lose track of time—get into the story so much that I feel like I’m living it out with the characters. Different readers have different types of literature that can do that for them, but for me it’s always been horror.
I also love how wide and varied the field is, ranging from grim to thrilling to funny, quiet to extreme, conventional to experimental, and branching off in so many directions from there. Contemporary horror gives us so much to explore!
Q: What are the best ways that readers can connect with you or keep up with your author news?
I am active on Twitter https://twitter.com/ChristiNogle and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/christinogle/, and I have a Substack at https://christinogle.substack.com/
You can also check out my website, http://christinogle.com
More about Christi Nogle online
Christi Nogle reads from Beulah | Horror Writers Association | 2021 StokerCon
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