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Not Another Sarah Halls: The Wicked Have No Empathy For The Pure
Author: Haley Newlin
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“It wouldn’t be the worst thing, would it? To die young, I mean.” Underneath the facade of normalcy lies a creeping darkness in the town of Oakhaven. If you look closely you might see faded flyers seeking the whereabouts of a missing girl, weather-worn and all but forgotten. Every town has its cold cases, but Oakhaven has a string of them. Beautiful girls all missing, in a pretty row. While Autumn can’t seem to separate herself from the series of cold cases, everyone else in Oakhaven goes through extensive measures to move on — holding vigils as if the unaccounted-for bodies had been discovered, strangled in the woods. But Autumn and her friend Becca take different paths on their way to unveiling the truth. An endeavor that not only dismembers their friendship but their state of mind. What are you afraid of? What will it take to conquer that fear? Answers that are not easily found when reality seems so fleeting and nightmares so real.
It is Newlin’s hope that "Not Another Sarah Halls" will serve as a place for fans of horror to bask in the glory and beauty of the genre while serving as a fearsome and grotesque bridge that inspires those who have never dared to read horror to embark on the journey. Newlin urges readers to step out of their comfort zones and delve into the winding and fierce journey of self-realization that horror imprints on those brave enough to crack the book’s spine.
Author Interview: Haley Newlin
1. 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. Care to tell us a little about your new role as Managing Editor for Cemetery Dance Magazine?
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. Do you have a favorite book that you have written? Was there one that was harder than the others?
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 till 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’m glad I pushed through writing Take Your Turn, Teddy even though it was the most difficult book to write, maybe because it is the most personal.
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 my creativity and ideas to channel into one project. 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.
5. What are your top three Vincent Price movies?
- Diary of a Madman (1963)
- The Tingler (1959)
- House of Wax (1953)
6. Do you have any writing rituals or routines?
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 or a new piece of research I stumbled upon. Just being reminded of the passion makes a blank page less intimidating.
7. What have been your top horror book releases this year?
I can’t stop recommending The Curse of Hester Gardens by Tamika Thompson and I’ll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel.
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. I also enjoyed The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas. It has an unforgettable ending.
9. 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, and The Long Low Whistle by Laurel Hightower.
10. What horror movies have you been watching lately?
After reading Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins, I am looking forward to seeing Scream 7 soon. I’m rewatching the whole franchise and currently on the second film.
Connect with Haley Newlin
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.