Sloane and Naomi, despite being considerably different from each other, are best friends. When one friend tempts the other into releasing some of her inhibitions, the two women are yanked into an unexpected, horrifying change.
Performed by the award-winning narrator Brittany Pressley, Rachel Harrison’s new women-led horror, So Thirsty, is a fun and chilling listen sure to quench any horror fan's thirst for their next undead story.
Nicole Ransome: You’ve written about and added your own twist to some classic horror supernatural beings like werewolves, witches, zombies, and now vampires. What inspired you to delve into vampires for this story?
Rachel Harrison: I’m in my mid-thirties, and I’ve been thinking a lot about aging. I was looking in the mirror one day and for some reason it occurred to me that vampires don’t have reflections, and also don’t age. How intriguing, right? I started to develop the idea for So Thirsty and discovered that vampires have a lot to offer as far as monsters as metaphor. They’re also just so fun!
The story’s main protagonists are best friends, Naomi and Sloane, with pretty different personalities. Did you find yourself relating more to one character over the other?
I am definitely more of a Sloane than a Naomi. I’m a Type A Virgo. I’m very logical, very practical, risk-averse. I don’t like to rock the boat. But every once in a while, I cut loose and go full Naomi. Stay out too late and take shots and take chances. Have to find a healthy balance!
Your stories all feature women as the protagonists. What do you enjoy most about centering women as the main perspective in your writing?
It’s a way for me to authentically explore my own experiences and the questions and themes that come up in my life through my fiction. My protagonists aren’t me, but they’re parts of me. I write to better understand myself and the world around me. It’s honest. My hope is that in being open and honest, it’s relatable to readers. That’s the most satisfying part of writing, connecting with readers.
What draws you to write horror stories?
There’s catharsis in horror. As someone who is anxious and plays through worst-case scenarios in my head, it helps to put it on the page. I love the horror genre. It’s a safe place to feel our feelings. Big feelings like fear and despair and rage. And then we close the book and we’re still here. It’s an act of perseverance, reminding us of our bravery.
