Episode 187 with V Castro, Author of The Haunting of Alejandra, Two-Time Bram Stoker Nominee, and Creator of Scary and Real Worlds and Characters That Resonate

Episode 187 Notes and Links to V Castro’s Work

 

    On Episode 187 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes V Castro, and the two discuss, among other things, her early and lifelong fascination with horror, the ways in which her family stories and stories of Texas and México have shaped her sensibilities and her writing, the indie horror writers who thrill and inspire her, connections to The Mexican Revolution and La Llorona which populate The Haunting of Alejandra, and themes of misogyny and self-determination, emotional warmth and coldness, the importance of therapy in formal and informal ways, and generational trauma and working to overcome or control its effects.  

   

   V Castro is a two time Bram Stoker award nominated writer born in San Antonio, Texas, to Mexican American parents. She’s been writing horror stories since she was a child, always fascinated by Mexican folklore and the urban legends of Texas. Castro now lives in the United Kingdom with her family, writing and traveling with her children.

 

 

Buy The Haunting of Alejandra

 

V Castro's Website

 

Southern Review of Books: “V. Castro’s “The Haunting of Alejandra”: A Feminist Folk Lore Remedy”

 

At about 1:40, V talks about being a “bookworm” and her relationship with reading, writing, and the lack of exposure to Latinx horror writers as she was growing up 

 

At about 4:20, V points to reasons for her love of horror from a young age

 

At about 6:20, V responds to Pete’s questions about how much of her family’s histories were told to her, and how she sought out scary stories over the years

 

At about 7:50, V discusses finding her communities of horror writers/readers, and how seeking them out was a catalyst for her own writing

 

At about 9:50, V cites the thriving “indie horror community” inspiring her, including Haley Piper, Laurel Hightower, Gabino Iglesias, Eric LaRocca, Chuck Wendig, Gemma Amor, and Brian Keene

 

At about 10:45, V speaks to her varied writing and how she views “genre”

 

At about 11:30, V describes her mindset after her book is out in the world, and she gives contact info and social media info, indie.org, and other websites to buy her book

 

At about 13:05, V talks about seeds for The Haunting of Alejandra

 

At about 14:10, V responds to Pete’s questions about the relationship between storyline and themes/symbolism-especially in The Haunting of Alejandra

 

At about 15:20, Pete references the story’s epigraph, and V points out the historical reality of Flor Castillo’s friend in the book

 

At about 17:30, Pete lays out the book’s exposition, and V reflects on an opening scene and its implications 

 

At about 20:55, V explains the ways in which Alejandra “puts herself last” and feels anxious and angry and frustrated and sad 

 

At about 23:30, Pete and V talk about Melanie and therapy and how different generations have had access or not

 

At about 24:40, Pete cites the book’s flashback to Atzi and V discusses a pivotal deal that is made and leads to the family’s curse

 

At about 27:25, Pete and V further discuss the relationship between Alejandra and Melanie and explorations of generational trauma and connections between Catrina and Mictlāntēcutli and their importance up to today

 

At about 30:00, Pete charts a slow growth in autonomy 

 

At about 31:30, V traces Cathy’s story and history, especially with regard to her pregnancy, and she and Pete talk about Cathy’s mother Francés and her connection to La Llorona

 

At about 33:10, Pete and V discuss Alejandra’s “cleansing” of her house

 

At about 34:50, Pete asks V about Matthew and she (succinctly) describes his genesis 

 

At about 36:05, Flor’s story/chapter is explored, and V connects her to the other women in the 

 

At about 38:10, Pete and V explore generational trauma and the ways in which people, especially the women in the book, 

 

At about 40:20, Emilio Robles Avila and his amazing life is discussed 

 

At about 41:35, Pete wonders if V “sat in judgment” of her characters 

 

At about 43:00, The two discuss the book as “timely” and “timeless”

 

At about 44:30, V talks about exciting upcoming products, including a book about Rebel Moon 

 

 

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  Please tune in for Episode 188 with Kavita Das. She worked in social change for close to fifteen years, addressing issues ranging from community and housing inequities, to public health disparities, to racial injustice and now addresses social injustice through writing and editing, including her first book, Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar. She is writer/editor of Craft and Conscience: How To Write About Social Issues, an anthology featuring countless stellar writers  

   The episode will air on June 20.