When we get word that a new Haunted House novel is on the horizon, we get a little anxious. Haunted Houses are our jam, but we may go a little overboard with anticipation and imagination. Unlike vampire, werewolf, and aquatic horror, when we finish a chapter in a Haunted House novel, turn out the light, and settle into bed, we’re essentially IN the novel. Every creak and groan becomes an ominous portent of doom. Pipes settling are 100% rattled chains in the attic. Don’t even get us started about the furnace kicking in. Let’s just say we’re lucky we had fresh underpants. There’s only so much rationalization you can do until you have to accept the fact that you’re going to be dragged kicking and screaming into the deepest recesses of Hell…and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Evoking that dread is the key to a great ghost story, and “Accumulation” by Aimee Pokwatka does so subtly at first, and then really finds its groove, dragging you straight into nightmare territory by its thrilling conclusion.

Aimee joined us to talk about the essentials of a cracking good Haunted House story, the delight of creating an atmosphere steeped in dread, how domesticity is its own haunting, and so much more. Aimee is a newfound favorite, and “Accumulation” is one of the best Haunted House novels we’ve read since Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves.” You’ll be both amused and amazed by this conversation with Aimee. She’s one of the nicest people we’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting with, and we’re still tickled that someone so genuinely nice can create such atmospheric terror, but boy howdy does she!

You can purchase “Accumulation” here.

You can follow Aimee Pokwatka on Instagram here.

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Zombies refuse to die! Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Much like the decaying monstrosities they represent, the zombie subgenre keeps shambling along, reinventing itself every few years to expand on what is easily one of the most beloved of all horrors. Now, we’re treated to an exciting new take on the trope, with Courtney Summers novel, “This is Not a Test.” Granted, this book came out a few years ago, but with the recent film adaptation and the new, expanded edition (which we highly recommend), there’s renewed interest. You can’t keep a good corpse down!

Courtney joined us to talk about her book, which is a remarkably entertaining and thrilling mix of John Hughes crossed with George A. Romero, with a dash of Danny Boyle sprinkled on for good measure. We have the best time talking about her horror origins, when she realized horror was a direction she felt she’d explore, and some of her favorite books and films. Courtney immediately became one of our all-time favorites to chat with. Her enthusiasm for the genre and her love for creating thoroughly engrossing tales of terror are infectious. We could have talked for hours. Have a listen and see for yourself why Courtney Summers is the new face of fear!

You can purchase “This Is Not A Test” here.

You can follow Courtney Summers on Instagram here.

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Just a heads up, if you go to Dr. Caroline Bicks’ website, which you absolutely should, be warned, you will leave feeling that you haven't accomplished anything with your life! Shakespeare scholar, New York Times contributor, podcaster, playwright, and actor. Oh, Stephen E. King Chair at the University of Maine. Did we forget to mention that one? It was as the Chair that Caroline’s orbit crossed with that of the Master of Fear himself. The result was a year spent at the King household, combing through his private archives to write what is now one of our favorite books of 2026. “Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King” is everything you’re looking for in a deep dive into King’s early works, but it’s so much more than that. If you love King, horror, or just a beautifully written exploration of literature, you must get this book.

Caroline was kind enough to join Paper Cuts to discuss the fateful phone call she received from King, four years after becoming the Stephen E. King Chair at UMaine, that set her on the path to writing the book. The stories she has of her time at the King household are amazing, and you’ll get a deeper appreciation of both King’s work and of the man himself. Caroline is a fantastic storyteller, and we could have talked for hours (if not days). You’ll be amazed at how much fun this conversation turned out to be.