In this episode, we sit down with debut author Anna Barrington, whose haunting novel The Spectacle has quickly become one of the most talked-about literary debuts of the year. Set against the eerie backdrop of a dystopian circus where nothing is as it seems, The Spectacle explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the cost of chasing applause.
Anna opens up about the surreal journey from private journals to publishing deals, and how personal grief and fascination with performance culture inspired the twisted world of her novel. We dive into her writing rituals, the dark research that shaped her characters, and why she believes horror is the most honest genre for telling emotional truth.
This conversation is raw, intelligent, and brimming with insights for writers, readers, and anyone who’s ever felt like they were putting on a show just to survive.
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