Emily Carpenter’s newest novel, A Spell for Saints and Sinners, releases on March 31 from Kensington Publishing Corp. The novel is another literary fiction, southern gothic work in a line of well-received novels by Carpenter.
A graduate of Auburn, Carpenter’s career began on the production teams for soap operas “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns”, where she read scripts and created episode summaries for various media use. Her first novel, “Bury the Honeysuckle Girls”, debuted in 2016 from Lake Union Publishing.
Her seventh release, A Spell for Saints and Sinners follows a young woman in Savannah following her grandmother’s death. Ingrid strives to keep the family business, a psychic parlor or reading room, up and running, and her efforts pay off when her path crosses that of a wealthy–and powerful–family. Family drama–and dark pasts–rise to the surface, coming to a tumultuous–and twisty!–conclusion.
The book’s setting is of particular interest for readers of southern gothic, as the city of Savannah is a famous setting for numerous tales of the genre, including the book and film “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Carpenter’s tale captures the city beautifully as Ingrid weaves her way through the many layers of society.
With the upcoming release of A Spell for Saints and Sinners, I was glad to have the opportunity for a recent chat with Emily.
Hi, Emily! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I love to read, love to watch movies and great TV, I love to hang out with my dogs, my husband, and my new grandbaby. I text with my friends all day, every day. We must collectively comment on everything. It’s an utter delight. I have the itch to move every three years which drives my husband to distraction. Most of all I love to write suspense fiction – I’ve been doing it for over ten years and I hope to do it for at least ten more.
Your descriptions of Savannah show a deep love and appreciation for that city. What sparked this love or draw for this city in particular?
I adore Savannah. The history, the architectural beauty and the almost fairy tale quality to it. But it’s not all light; there’s dark there too. And that probably draws me too. Also, I think there’s something about a port city that attracts artists? It’s a place where the world intersects and we artists feel alive there. Savannah was a later discovery in life for me. I’ve lived in Geogia for over thirty years and visited a couple of times, particularly to visit my niece who attended SCAD. But it all clicked for me when I went several years ago, to attend the Savannah SCAD Film Festival. I was walking around, and I just thought, this is it. This is where I want to live. Of course, no one else in my family can move there, as they all have jobs elsewhere – I’m the only one who can work wherever, so we’ll see.
In the novel, A Spell for Saints and Sinners, you explain a bit of the effect of the film “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” on the inner workings of Savannah. For those also nursing a love for this city, what other films, shows, or books would you recommend? Are there any “off-the-beaten path” recommendations you might offer for those traveling to Savannah?
Well, obviously, the adaptation of Berendt’s book is a must-see. And when I was younger I loved Eugenia Price’s “Savannah Quartet”—although, a disclaimer, they were written in the early 1980s and it’s been decades since I’ve read them, so I have no idea how well they’ve aged. Aside from that, I actually didn’t want to read any books specifically about Savannah while I was writing my book. I didn’t want to get overloaded. Savannah has so much—there’s no way to show it fully. I will advise anyone traveling there, to take a ghost tour or some other kind of historical tour to learn about the city. Visit all the squares. Walk down West Jones Street. It’s not to be missed. Bull Street Taco is the best. Mirabelle’s Coffee and Clary’s Café are my favorites.
Any author updates that you are able to provide about the television show development of Gothictown? Because you do have experience in writing and production for television shows, will you be more involved in the scripts or production of this project?
I am not going to write for the show, but I will be involved creatively as co-producer. There’s not much to share at this point, but maybe I can ask for everyone to close their eyes and cross their fingers and repeat with me, “We do believe in a GOTHICTOWN TV show!” (That’s a Peter Pan reference, by the way, if you’re not familiar.)
What is something that you admire about Ingrid (or any one of your other main characters) and wish you could personally embody?
Ingrid is entirely herself. She wears her heart on her sleeve, so much so that she often is hurt by people, bullied as a kid and mocked as an adult. She is a bit of a loner, a bit of an oddball. A weird girl—and I think I’ve always had that side of me, the side that feels like what I’m interested in is strange. But Ingrid doesn’t mask. She’s just so earnest, wanted to be loved. She kind of broke my heart in that way and I admire her just living her truth.
Now that you’re several published books deep into your writing career, have you found ways to balance the needs of the artist/writer and the needs of the market/business aspect of writing?
It’s a constant act of readjustment and sort of feeling your way through the dark. I have a lot of ideas—ideas I’m drawn to for the pure excitement, challenge, and fun of the potential project. Are those always marketable books? Not they are not, but that’s what my agent is for…she is an incredibly astute guide and helps me sift through to get to that one idea that she thinks will click with editors and readers. In terms of protecting my life as an artist and writer, I stay away from reader reviews (unless I’m tagged on socials) and try not to focus on sales numbers. I try to stay in a creative possibility-type space so when I’m creating, I can approach book ideas with playfulness, like a child. It’s hard but it’s worth protecting that side. I try not to read too much publishing business news. It’s always dire, but not great for my state of mind.
When you are stuck in the “murky middle” of writing a book, where do you turn? What books do you pick up, or what actions do you take? What gets you “unstuck”?
The only thing that gets me unstuck is to keep going. Keep writing. No matter what. 2,000 words a day (that’s my goal). Often I will set up a midpoint plot turn that naturally lights a fire under my main character, so I usually don’t even allow myself to get stuck, but I can get stuck anywhere. It happens, but it’s like anything else difficult in life. Keep going and eventually you’ll get through it.
As a writer, are you a plotter, a pantser, or some hybrid of both? How much outlining or planning goes into a new project for you?
I should always plan more than I do. I plan…in a very zoomed out, macro way…which seems to work for me and then I pants the details, as it were. But there are always points in my books where I get stuck or back myself into a corner and I’ll say to myself, “Maybe you should have figured this out before you started.” But, look, by now, I fully trust my brain will come up with a solution, no matter what wall I hit. And it usually does.
What shows or books are you enjoying right now?
Loving “The Pitt” and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” For books I just finished Jennifer Pashley’s “The House Guest,” and it is fantastic. Very creepy. I’m about to start George Saunders’ “Vigil” and I can’t wait. He’s so gifted.
What is your “comfort watch” for television shows?
“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” – I know, I know. It just soothes me, who’s to ask why. I sent an email to Heather Gay and asked her to blurb my book. I haven’t heard back.
Most of your work falls into the Southern Gothic category. Could you share your favorite Southern Gothic books and perhaps some that are lesser known?
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorites. Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. Those are the oldies but goodies. For new Southern Gothic, anything by Attica Locke and S.A. Cosby.
You can find Emily on Instagram, Facebook, and at her website.
If you enjoyed this review and interview, check out another interview with Emily Carpenter from March 2025 about Gothictown here.
