ash.reads.horror | The Curse of Hester Gardens
Log in or Sign up
The Curse of Hester Gardens
Tamika Thompson
Save to Your Books
100% of affiliate revenue supports ash.reads.horror
We Need to Talk about Kevin as if written by Jason Reynolds and Tananarive Due meets Model Home by Rivers Solomon in an innovative twist on the haunted house novel: about a mother desperate to protect her sons from the twin specters of gun violence and otherworldly menace in their public housing project.
Nona McKinley raised three boys in the Hester Gardens section of Medford, Michigan, an impoverished community divided by those who follow their faith in God and those who turn to crime to survive. With her drug dealer husband behind bars and her eldest son shot to death at eighteen, Nona has devoted herself to ensuring her other children escape their brother’s fate. Her second son Marcus is on the right path. He's a valedictorian heading to an Ivy League school. He can get out.
But then, strange things start happening to Nona and other residents: mysterious footsteps are heard when she’s alone, people have phantom encounters in the streets, unattended appliances go off at all hours. Even more concerning is the state of Nona’s living sons. Her youngest, Lance, is hanging around with a bad crowd, and Marcus becomes moody and secretive. Sometimes he even seems to act like a different person entirely.
Nona has her secrets too. Her affair with the married church pastor has been weighing on her conscience, but that’s not the only guilt haunting her. She fears that someone—or something—is seeking revenge for an act she made in a moment of weakness to protect her family. And now everyone in Hester Gardens must pay the price . . .
Show more
Get the Bindery app
Posts about this title from ash.reads.horror
ash.reads.horror\ \ ash\ \ • May 8
\ \ Welcome back to another Author Interview! Today I am joined by Haley Newlin, author of T ake Your Turn Teddy, Not Another Sarah Halls , and The Film You Are About To See.\ \ \ \ 1. I always use this first question as an introduction. Tell us as much or as little about yourself as you would like!\ \
I grew up on the theatrical terror of William Castle's gimmicks and Vincent Price films — both of which have heavily influenced my work. I have published three novels, including Take Your Turn, Teddy, and my latest release, The Film You Are About To See which was featured on the 2025 Bram Stoker Reading List. I have written several short stories, including "The Butcher on Blue Jay Way," featured in Kandisha Press's SLASH-HER: An Anthology of Women in Horror, and a story in Nick Roberts’s forthcoming Haunted Minds: Tales of Possession anthology. \ \ I am the managing editor for Cemetery Dance Magazine. When I’m not writing, I’m watching black-and-white horror films or reading horror books. I live in Indiana with my boyfriend and three dogs.\ \ 2. I just saw the amazing news that you are the new Managing Editor for Cemetery Dance Magazine. That is so exciting. Care to tell us a little about what all that will entail?\ \ Thank you! I’m really excited about this new role. I’ve written for Cemetery Dance Magazine for about five years, mostly book reviews and author interviews. The managing editor curates this content, edits it, and publishes it. \ \ I’m excited to work on the next print magazine release.\ \ 3. You currently have three books out. Do you have a favorite that you have written? Was there one that was harder to write than the others? One you have more of a personal connection to?\ \ The Film You Are About To See is definitely my favorite. When I treat myself to some me time, I’m always watching an old horror flick like The Tingler(1959), House On Haunted Hill(1959), or Cat People(1942). \ \ I’ve always really loved Vincent Price and William Castle and have dreamed of seeing one of their films at the drive-in, my favorite place to watch horror movies. Then, I got to thinking about if I could host my own dusk til dawn night at the drive-in, what kind of movies would I show? How could I bring William Castle’s theatrical gimmicks to the drive-in setting? And the result -- The Film You Are About To See. \ \ I still can’t believe I got to write a book like The Film You Are About To See. It was just a blast. And the best part has been readers going and watching some of the films included on the marquee. I love nothing more than a tag on Instagram and someone shares that they read The Film You Are About To See and are watching Shock (1946), Vincent Price’s first starring role, or The Tingler, for the very first time. \ \ Take Your Turn, Teddy was the most difficult book to write, and maybe that’s because it is the most personal. \ \ For a while, I said that Take Your Turn, Teddy broke my brain. This story came together about a young boy who lives in an abusive home situation, and when he and his mother flee to a house in Indiana, he befriends a dark entity. \ \ In my childhood and teen years, most days just felt like survival. I didn’t feel that there was a lot of consistency in my life aside from abandonment, disappointment, and isolation. This is the type of narrative the shadow feeds to Teddy. He comes to believe the bad is his only constant. \ \ So, basically, I’d written some personal elements into what this road looks like for Teddy. Which, eventually, was cathartic. At first, it was grueling. Like pulling teeth. I’d leave the writing desk just feeling gutted and utterly exposed. But for some reason, I pushed through and kept writing. \ \ I’m glad I did.\ \ 4. Are you working on any new projects at the moment?\ \ Too many! I am a firm believer in working on one project at a time. I want all of my creativity and ideas to channel into one project. But, my current project calendar has me working on a screenplay and two short stories, simultaneously, so it’s been an adjustment for sure. \ \ I begin drafting my next novel in June. I won’t say too much but it sort of feels like a sister novel to Take Your Turn, Teddy. It’s bleak and set in rural Indiana during the 1940s.\ \ 5. I know you are a HUGE Vincent Price fan. What are your top three Vincent Price movies?\ \ I never get tired of answering questions like this! \ \ I really prefer Vincent Price’s films prior to the 1960s, but there is one exception and it’s first on my list. \ \
- Diary of a Madman (1963) \ \
- The Tingler (1959) \ \
- House of Wax(1953)\ \ 6. Do you have any writing rituals or routines that help you get in the writing zone?\ \ I like to start each writing session by listing out a few things I’m most excited about within the project. Maybe it’s the setting, like 1959 at a dusk til dawn Spooktacular, hosted by the local drive-in (as in The Film You Are About To See), or a new piece of research I stumbled upon. Sometimes just being reminded of the passion and taking a moment to reconnect to it, makes a blank page less intimidating.\ \ 7. What have been your top 2026 horror book releases?\ \ I can’t stop recommending The Curse of Hester Gardens by Tamika Thompson and I’ll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel. \ \ The Curse of Hester Gardens should be studied on college campuses. It’s a story about poverty, gun violence, familial bonds, curses and ghosts. It’s an unshakable and incredibly emotional read. \ \ I’ll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel (May 26, 2026) is inspired by Linda Taylor, known as the original Welfare Queen, who Ronald Reagan caricatured as the ultimate cheat of the system and by extension, the American people. I recommend going into this somewhat blind. The supernatural element and secondary POV come together so powerfully. \ \ It’s about generational and historical trauma, oppression, and the power of friendship. \ \ It’s quite visceral, terrifying, and unforgettable.\ \ 8. Some of your favorite backlist titles?\ \ My favorite read of 2025 was Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory. I think everyone should read this book. It’s just brilliant. I’m actually currently reading a book recommended to fans of The Reformatory, called Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane. It will absolutely make it on my list of top reads of the year. I can’t put it down. \ \ I also really enjoyed The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas. It has one of the most memorable endings I’ve ever read. I wanted to leap from my seat and yell “GOOD FOR HER!” \ \ A favorite nonfiction read that I can’t recommend enough is Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism by Eleanor Johnson. It totally changed how I see adaptations of horror books like The Shining and The Exorcist.\ \ 9. Being an indie author yourself, who are some of your favorite indie horror authors/books?\ \ I love the Paisley Mott series by Kalvin Ellis, Squirming All The Way Up by Joey Powell, The Long Low Whistle by Laurel Hightower (my scariest read of 2025), and you can’t go wrong with anything from Viggy Parr Hampton, Spencer Hamilton, Briana Morgan, or RJ Joseph.\ \ 10. What horror movies have you been watching lately/are on your radar?\ \ After reading Your Favorite Scary Movie: by Ashley Cullins, I am looking forward to seeing Scream 7 once it hits streaming. I had no idea that the original screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, directed it. He’s been through so much with this franchise and the woes of Hollywood, that I was really excited to hear that he’s back. He always wanted Scream to have a queer director, he said he just never would’ve thought that it would be himself. \ \ I’m rewatching the whole franchise. I’m currently on the second film, which I’m realizing is a lot better than people give it credit for.\ \ Use the space below to add anything else you want to say in! Such as website, social media handles, etc…\ \ I love connecting with horror fans! I’m most active on Instagram and TikTok - @haleynewlin_author \ \ You can also find me on my website - haleynewlinauthor.com](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/39YvCPe9U648szUThS9B/)
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: HALEY NEWLIN
15 books
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jul 25
Join for free
Pango 50 percent off LAST CALL
5 books
3
ash.reads.horror\ \ ash\ \ • May 8
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: HALEY NEWLIN
15 books
Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 1
Join for free
8 books
9
Children of Diaspora\ \ Rae the Reviewer\ \ • Mar 31
Join for free
Don't Forget to Support these March BIPOC Releases!
What are you looking forward to reading in March?
I was up till 3 am making this list because March truly snuck up on me 🫠
Let me know you’re anticipated March releases and if you’re joining my book club this month where we not only read books by BIPOC, but specifically books by immigrants 📖
#newreleasetuesday #readingrecs #bookstagram #diversebooks
19 books
3
Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Mar 4
Join for free
5 Horror Books By Women I'm DYING to Read
5 books
10
Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Jan 13
Join for free
On Your Radar: 2026 Women in Horror
10 books
9
Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Dec 1 2025
Join for free
[Hello Folks,\ \ Women in Horror Book Club 2026 is gonna be lit! If you aren't in the club, simply connect to the Discord and join us! Book club takes place primarily in the Discord and occasionally, the authors join us for a chat! I will update these photos again once What Feeds Below and Our Cut of Salt have covers out!\ \
Women in Horror Book Club 2026
12 books
21