Show Notes
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly, American Rapture, and the brand-new release Headlights. CJ dives deep into how her background writing dystopian stories in grad school ultimately pushed her to seek pure catharsis and freedom through horror fiction.
We discuss her childhood love for unlimited reading and media, the process of writing an unapologetic female Patrick Bateman, and exploring the dark realities of purity culture and religious trauma. Whether you're a fan of extreme splatterpunk, a romance reader who loves a dark twist, or just looking to dive into an immersive void that processes grief and loss, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps: 00:00 – Grad School Revelations & Discovering Horror 00:09 – Introducing CJ Leede & Her Unapologetic Characters 03:58 – CJ's Horror Origin Story & Media Freedom as an Only Child 13:59 – Unexpectedly Landing in the "Extreme" and "Splatterpunk" Horror Space 26:30 – The Inspiration Behind Maeve Fly & Finding Catharsis in Anger 32:48 – Balancing Maeve’s Monstrous Actions with Empathy and Relatability 36:12 – The Double Standard of Justified Violence for Women vs. Men in Literature 43:44 – Exploring Purity Culture and Religious Trauma in American Rapture 48:05 – Horror as an Empathy Machine and Safe Space to Face Reality 52:30 – Finding Camaraderie and Support in the Welcoming Horror Community 55:27 – Headlights: Writing a Male Protagonist & Refusing to be Boxed In 1:01:08 – Guarding Peace and Ignoring the Pressure of External Expectations 1:03:51 – Processing Grief, Death, and Hope Through Headlights 1:08:45 – What’s Next: A Sneak Peek at Books Four and Five 1:12:19 – CJ’s Favorite Books to Reread for Inspiration
Books mentioned: Headlights: https://amzn.to/43WViJK American Rapture: https://amzn.to/3QfoCrA Maeve Fly: https://amzn.to/4dZb3pq
Connect with CJ Leede: Website: https://cjleede.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjleede TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cjleede
Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd
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