Why I Love Horror, a question I get far more often than I’d like. It’s not like my wife gets ask why she loves romance novels, or quizzes me about my taste for crime thrillers. But horror? People can’t seem to help themselves. I wear my passion for the genre on my sleeve, sometimes literally with my collection of horror t-shirts. In Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature, edited by Becky Siegel Spratford, 18 authors share what horror means to them and why it’s remained an enduring part of their lives.
For twenty-five years, Becky Siegel Spratford has worked as a librarian in Reader Advisory, training library workers all over the world on how to engage their patrons and readers, and to use her place as a horror expert and critic to get the word out to others; to bring even more readers into the horror fold. Why I Love Horror is a captivating anthology and heartfelt tribute to the horror genre featuring essays from several of the most celebrated contemporary horror writers.
Like with other anthologies, I was drawn to Why I Love Horror as soon as the list of contributing authors was announced. The chance to read personal stories from Clay McLeod Chapman, Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison was a huge draw for me. However, by then end of this outstanding book, I had also discovered several horror authors I knew little about before and now I can’t wait to dive into their work.
Each author shares a deeply personal story about why horror matters to them, ranging from childhood monsters to real-life trauma to finding their own path in life. These heartfelt stories show how a community built around a single genre can have such a profound impact and I found them all to be extremely gripping from start to finish. While some stories have similar bones, each have them own distinct voice and touch.
You can feel the passion behind every essay along with the emotional attachment that comes along with telling their story. Just like in their horror fiction, each author brings distinct voice to their essays and hold nothing back. As someone who has read both this collection and much of their other work, I felt a personal connection, like they were speaking directly towards me.
Horror can be a powerful genre with a community like any other. It can tell terrifying horror tales and wrap them in a superhero story, a heist, a drama, or even a comedy story, creating unforgettable stories that have a chance to connect with people of all walks of life. The horror community is caring, supportive, and always eager for the next great story, no matter who is telling it. This passion is what makes horror special, and in this book, we get to hear this from some of the best in the business.
Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature wasn’t just an outstanding read, it reinvigorated my love for the horror genre and the people who shape it. These authors share their personal journeys in both horror and life, telling their stories with genuine passion and love. This collection just adds to the reasons on why I will continue to read stories from these authors because you can feel their commitment to keeping the genre at its best. Why I Love Horror is a must-read for any fan of the genre, and I highly recommend it to anyone curious about why these writers chose to spend their careers telling terrifying tales.
Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature hits bookstores everywhere on September 23, 2025 from Saga Press. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
