We chat with author H. D. Hunter about A Lake with No Bottom, which is a gripping supernatural YA thriller, perfect for fans of Internment, She Is a Haunting, and You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight.
Hi, Hugh! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
What’s up, y’all! This questions always sets my mind to spinning. I was born and raised in Atlanta. I mostly write speculative fiction for teens and tweens. I’m a big fan of live music and true-crime. My favorite subject in school was history. I love vegan food, WNBA basketball, and all things spooky season!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
In elementary school! My teachers were very encouraging and supportive of my love of reading. I always enjoyed telling stories and listening to others tell stories. I used to make up stories and write them down with my friends, then draw illustrations of the characters. I also played sports, which felt like my “main thing” until I finished college. Writing was always just a fun hobby. Sometimes I think back and I’m like, I could have been making so much progress if I would have taken writing more seriously. But, I also think letting writing be a hobby for so long helped me maintain a positive relationship with it.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Impossible to remember. But I do remember reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark no less than a million times.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Your latest novel, A Lake with No Bottom, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Deep, dark, cold, and gasping.
What can readers expect?
This book is a fun mix of a few of my favorite genres. There’s some mystery elements, some horror, some thriller. The book has a slightly-roving third-person POV that allows us to get to know characters both above and below the lake at the same time. It’s definitely a puzzle that takes some piecing together. Underneath the mystery and spooky stuff, there’s a deep history about displacement, allyship, and advocacy. So, folks who are interested in little-known stories from the past or social justice will be in for a treat.
Where did the inspiration for A Lake with No Bottom come from?
Lake Lanier is an infamous lake in Georgia. For generations, folk tales about its creation and existence have grown and spread. Unfortunately, there are many tragedies at Lake Lanier that only fuel the lore. I’m Georgia all the way through, and I got really excited at the idea that I could create something special for my state and community. I wanted to dig into a history that’s pretty painful for us, but alsoto provide an angle on the story that hopefully can inspire us towards hope, empathy, and understanding.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Yeah! Jeremy Mackenzie is a really important character to the story. He’s young, but he has this loyal following of citizens who trust him with their lives and would do anything for him. I mentioned true-crime earlier, and one of my favorite documentary topics is cults. I studied some well-known cult leaders to develop aspects of Jeremy’s voice and personality. That’s not my usual headspace (thank goodness), so it was fun to really get into character as Jeremy.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
There are always challenges when trying to tell stories about difficult truths from the past. A Lake with No Bottom deals with some heavy events that caused racial strife in Georgia in the early 1900s. I know that will make some people uncomfortable. But, I firmly believe that we heal as a community by talking about what has happened and how we can be better moving forward. I’m excited for people to read the book, form opinions, and start a dialogue about it so we can explore all the meanings!
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a few more cool, spooky, action-packed things up my sleeve that I hope I get to tell y’all about soon. My next big trip is to YALLfest in Charleston South Carolina, November 13-14, 2026. It’s such a cool festival. I can’t wait to meet the readers there and talk more about future projects.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Michael Wehunt just dropped Nightjars. I can’t wait to get into that one. Same with Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm. 2026 has been a good reading year for me. I can’t get out of here without mentioning From Our Blood by Shardai Smith, which I got to read an early copy of, and The Drakon King by Terry J. Benton-Walker, who’s co-hosting the A Lake with No Bottom launch with me!
