We chat with debut author Beatrice Winifred Iker about I’ll Make a Spectacle of You, which is a heart-pounding Southern gothic horror debut and takes readers to Bricksbury University, the oldest and most storied HBCU in the nation. But as one student is about to find out, a long history comes with a legacy of secrets.
Hi, Beatrice! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I am a queer poet and storyteller from the Appalachian foothills of Knoxville, Tennessee, currently living in the cooler climate of New Hampshire. I enjoy tarot, caramel coffee, Doctor Who (there is a cat named Dr. Ncuti in my debut novel!), hiking on trails, and researching my genealogy throughout the American South.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
One of my earliest memories is of my great aunt visiting during the summer, bringing giant plastic buckets filled with books. She brought these books specifically for me, and it was expected that I would read as many as I could from the buckets by summer’s end. The collection included picture books as well as older children’s novels that were a bit too advanced for my age, but I was determined to tackle them anyway.
I felt very fortunate to have a family that, almost to an annoying extent, encouraged my passion for reading—and when I was old enough to write my own stories, they encouraged that as well.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Chalk Doll by Charlotte Pomerantz
- The one that made you want to become an author: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Your debut novel, I’ll Make a Spectacle of You, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Southern Gothic, HBCU, Hoodoo, queer, nonlinear
What can readers expect?
Zora Robinson, the main character, is a determined academic who has just started her graduate program in Appalachian studies at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Jonesborough, Tennessee. This setting provides an opportunity to explore both the beauty and challenges within academic environments, while also discussing the history and significance of HBCUs. Zora receives an intriguing historic diary to study, featuring entries that reflect Black Appalachian folklore. Throughout her journey, Zora is committed to preserving religious and cultural traditions and practices Hoodoo—a spiritual tradition rooted in Black American culture, which she employs as both offensive and defensive magic throughout the book.
Where did the inspiration for I’ll Make a Spectacle of You come from?
Several of my late grandparents were graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Combining my respect for these important institutions with my lifelong admiration for Black folklore and religious history felt like a natural blend and an ideal foundation for telling a story.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The homecoming scene was particularly enjoyable to write because I aimed to evoke a wide range of emotions. HBCU homecomings have a rich history as cultural, social, and political celebrations, as well as moments of cultural preservation. I wanted to include references to alumni, step shows, the vibrant energy, the delicious food, the music, and the sense of reverence surrounding these events. My goal was to capture all of that.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I’ll Make a Spectacle of You is a nonlinear novel that includes diary entries, letters, and mind-bending visions of the past. Each of these elements had to contribute to the narrative or provide important background information that propels the story forward by answering questions and posing new ones. This was a fun challenge that I tackled by writing all the epistolary components separately from the rest of the manuscript. This approach ensured that each element made sense on its own and in the proper order before integrating it into the larger project. I found this method helpful for breaking the project into manageable chunks.
I often advise writers to break down any issues they encounter into smaller parts—books can be divided into numerous segments, such as acts, scenes, chapters, paragraphs, and sentences, making the process less overwhelming.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I’ll Make a Spectacle of You is my debut novel, but I have been publishing short fiction and poetry for many years. I am a nominee for both the Rhysling and Dwarf Star Awards! I take great pride in the short fiction I have published and continue to write. I believe that my experience in writing short fiction contributed to the creation of Spectacle, because I wrote the chapters and the epistolary elements as their own mini-pieces of short fiction, each with its own beginning, middle, and end.
What’s next for you?
Speaking of the variety of my writing…my debut picture book about Charley Pride, America’s first Black country music superstar, is set to be released on June 9, 2026, by Kokila/Penguin Random House.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?
This year, I have loved Kosoko Jackson’s The Macabre, a blend of time travel, adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings, and Eden Royce’s Psychopomp & Circumstance, a Southern Gothic historical fantasy story about a contentious funeral.
Next month, I’m excited for Kamilah Cole’s An Arcane Inheritance, a modern-day dark academia fantasy.
And next year? Yah Yah Scholfield’s On Sundays She Picked Flowers, a Southern Gothic debut, tells the story of a woman who escapes her family home into the uncanny woods of northern Georgia.
