In this episode, author and literary translator Tiffany Tsao joins host KJ Brantley to discuss her latest novel, But Won’t I Miss Me, a chilling blend of body horror and speculative fiction. In its world, becoming a mother means being consumed and replaced by a stronger version of yourself. But what happens when that transformation doesn’t go as expected?

Tiffany and KJ explore the physical and psychological toll of postpartum motherhood, the mental load, and the expectation that women should surrender their identities to become mothers. Their conversation considers the value of human life and what it means to struggle in a society that expects mothers to be inexhaustible.

They also discuss the diverse backgrounds and experiences of people across the Asian diaspora, Tiffany’s Chinese Indonesian heritage, and racism in Australia and around the world.

Finally, they reflect on raising sons: the love, the responsibility, and the fear that comes with wondering whether the boys you love will grow up to challenge the patriarchal systems around them or perpetuate them. Together, they explore how horror makes room for conversations about motherhood that society too often asks women to keep to themselves, while questioning what we’re complicit in normalizing about the way women and mothers are treated.

Tiffany Tsao’s Uncanny Women Podcast Book Picks:

Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution by Adrienne Rich

Night of a Thousand Hells by Indonesian author Intan Paramaditha translated by Tiffany Tsao and Stephen Epstein

Imminence by Argentinian author Mariana Dimopulos translated by Alice Whitmore

The Trial of Anna Thalburg by Mexican author Eduardo Sangarcía, translated by Elizabeth Bryer

Books Written by Tiffany Tsao Mentioned in This Episode:

But Won't I Miss Me

Tiffany Tsao's Non-Fiction Article Mentioned in This Episode:

Grave Years and the Undead Woman: On the Chilling Erasure of Mothers' Needs

Connect with Tiffany Tsao:

Instagram: @tiffanytsao

Website: https://tiffanytsao.com/

About the Host, KJ Brantley:

KJ Brantley is an Indigenous-mixed, autistic horror and dark fiction author whose work explores motherhood, feminism, identity, neurodivergence, trauma, and psychological horror. Drawn to the intersection of entertainment and social commentary, she crafts stories that are both unsettling and emotionally resonant. She is the host of Uncanny Women Podcast and founder and organizer of the SoCo Women in Horror Fest. She is currently the Chair of the Women in Horror Arts and Media Association and co-owner of Broom Book & Candle Horror and Dark Literature Bookstore, Cafe, and Bar in Denver. KJ lives in Colorado with her husband, two toddlers, and an ever-growing stack of spooky books.

Follow KJ and Women in Horror AMA on IG and Threads at @uncannywomenpodcast | @authorkjbrantley | @womeninhorrorassociation

Learn more at WomenInHorrorAssociation.Org and BroomBookCandle.com.