In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the hilariously brilliant Neena Viel. Known for her critically acclaimed and terrifying debut Listen to Your Sister, Neena dives deep into how becoming the guardian of her teenage brother in her early 20s inspired her to craft a horror masterpiece about the realities of parentification and invisible caretaking.

We discuss her childhood terror of Dean Koontz, the catharsis of writing "women behaving badly," and why she has to twerk her way through writer's block. Whether you're an oldest sibling carrying the weight of the world, a fan of morally gray characters, or just looking for your next horror obsession, this conversation is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The Pre-Writing Dance Routine & Twerking Through Writer's Block

00:35 – Introducing Neena Viel & Her Debut, Listen to Your Sister

01:48 – Neena’s Horror Origin Story: Dean Koontz’s Phantoms & Resident Evil

06:46 – Childhood Reading Habits: From Large Print Romance to Goosebumps

11:04 – Pursuing the Dream: "Grandma Thinks I'm a Lawyer"

12:44 – The Real-Life Inspiration: Raising a Teenager in Your 20s

14:44 – The Corporate Grind, Pandemic Writing, and "Revenge" Drafting

17:52 – Neena’s Writing Process: Pantsing, Candles, and the "Party Box"

26:22 – Navigating the Sophomore Slump & Reader Expectations

34:57 – Exploring Sibling Trauma, Dynamics, and the Hilarious Character Jamie

43:27 – Character Building: Giving Siblings Distinct Voices Using the Senses

46:37 – Balancing Humor with Dark Themes (and the Famous Shower Scene)

49:59 – The Horrors of Parentification & The Invisible Labor of Women Caretakers

57:56 – A Sneak Peek at I’ll Watch Your Baby: Morally Gray Women Behaving Badly

1:01:47 – Book 3 Preview: The Trail Provides, A Hiking Horror Satire

1:06:05 – Author Recommendations: Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, and Debuts

Connect with Neena Viel:

Website: https://www.neenaviel.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49276349.Neena_Viel (Note: As Neena mentions in the episode, she isn't on platforms like Instagram and TikTok!)

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