Drawing inspiration from esteemed horror names like Ira Levin and Stephen King, award-winning actor and novelist Nat Cassidy’s Nestlings holds true to the immortal lesson—not all that glitters is gold. When down-on-their-luck parents Anna and Reid are given the opportunity to live in the most exclusive and luxurious apartment building in NYC, they begin to experience events that indicate something’s terribly amiss.
Nicole Ransome: Nestlings draws inspiration from two horror classics, Rosemary’s Baby and Salem’s Lot. What about these two stories drew you to create your own?
Nat Cassidy: You can't do much better than those two as influences, right? Ira Levin's novel is a masterpiece of structure, and Stephen King's early sprawler is one of his most effectively terrifying novels. As someone raised on 70s/80s horror, I thought Nestlings would be the perfect opportunity to pay homage to such a formative period, while also updating the tropes with some very contemporary fears—rising antisemitism, pandemic-related alienation, accessibility, and disability, to name just a few.
What is your writing process like?
Panic, wailing, much gnashing of teeth … As a playwright, I always needed a deadline and would often hire actors and/or book a space BEFORE writing the script. But as a novelist, especially one with several other jobs, I try to just make sure I get a little writing done every day, be it 30 words or 3,000. It adds up. Consistency is key. And caffeine.
Writing horror means there are either characters you really root for or against. Are there any characters that you write that you feel most connected to, either good or bad?
I think I get the most excited whenever I can depict a complicated monster—even as an actor, I've always been drawn to the baddies, as my IMDb page can attest. But if you listen to the author's note at the end of Nestlings, you'll learn just how personal this book is and understand why I happen to feel particularly connected to all the characters this time around.
What about and type of horror fascinates you the most?
To me, every good story is a horror story, because all "horror" ultimately means is there's something the characters stand to lose, be it their innocence, their understanding of the world, their love ... or, sure, maybe a limb or two. This genre is my biggest passion, and, honestly, all types of horror fascinate me. After all, they're just different ways for us to collectively process the unique conundrum we face as humans—namely, walking around every day knowing that death and decay and injury and sickness are part of this strange package deal we've got, being alive, but also that we can't let that stop us from living.
Do you have a favorite listen of 2023 to recommend and why?
Yes! I love audiobooks so much and have listened to so many amazing titles this year. I think my favorite from 2023 (besides Cassandra Campbell's brilliant read of Nestlings, of course) has been Tell Me I’m Worthless, by Alison Rumfitt and read by Nicky Endres. It's so angry, so terrifying, so beautifully written and narrated. You'll never forget it, but be warned:—it's brutal and bleak and deeply upsetting, in all the best ways.
Author photo by Kent Meister
