We chat with debut author Emily Ruth Verona about Midnight on Beacon Street, which is a suspenseful and entertaining debut thriller—and love letter to vintage horror movies—in which a teenager must overcome her own anxiety to protect the two children she’s babysitting when strangers come knocking at the door.
Hi, Emily! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a writer based in New Jersey with a love for all things weird, creepy, mysterious, and/or historical. In high school, I used to describe myself as someone who loves reading Jane Austen and watching the Saw movies equally. So that’s sort of my whole vibe, haha. I have a small dog named Phoebe. She usually curls up on the bed while I’m writing and gets very excited when I close the computer because she knows it means she’s about to get attention. She is an excellent writing partner. I love her so much.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I was very young. As soon as I could write whole sentences I was writing stories and I started writing novels around the age of seven. I was a huge reader as a kid, but my local bookstore and library were both small. Eventually, I had trouble finding books I wanted to read that I hadn’t already read. So, stubborn as ever, I decided to write my own.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The one that made you want to become an author: Also A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Your debut novel, Midnight on Beacon Street, is out January 30th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A love letter to horror.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect A LOT of horror movie references as well as some hardcore 1990s nostalgia.
Also, representation when it comes to anxiety and mental health. I was diagnosed with OCD at a young age and have struggled with anxiety for many years. I wanted to write a narrative that really explored anxiety in an authentic way.
Where did the inspiration for Midnight on Beacon Street come from?
I’ve always loved books/films that take place in a single setting over a short period of time and I was really interested in writing a story like that. I’m also a big fan of stories told out of order, such as the film Memento and the television series How to Get Away With Murder.
As for the focus on a babysitter, that stemmed from my love of the babysitter trope as well as my own experience babysitting my nieces. When I first began writing this book, I was picking up my nieces from school and watching them until dinner time on a regular basis. I was spending huge chunks of time with them and it really helped me hone Ben’s POV chapters in the book.
I set Midnight on Beacon Street in the early 1990s because I grew up in the late ‘90s but had much older siblings, so I was always fascinated with those early years. I chose 1993 especially as a nod to Jurassic Park, which came out that year.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really loved writing that first chapter. It’s essentially one drawn out moment, but there’s so much packed into it and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
It was a long road. There were potholes, haha. But I know that’s not unusual in this field. Publishing is a lot of work and a lot of luck aligning at just the right moments. I signed with my agent, Jennifer Weltz, in 2015 but the mystery/thriller novel I had at the time didn’t sell. So, I set that one aside and wrote a full historical novel. Then, I starting working on Midnight on Beacon Street but struggled with the middle and took a break from that to write another thriller. The historical novel and the other thriller didn’t work out.
I returned to Midnight on Beacon Street in 2021/2022. In that seven year span I published a number of short stories, mostly horror, and a few poems. I refined my voice as a writer and my sense of self as a person. In late 2022, Midnight on Beacon Street went out on submission and it’s been a whirlwind since then. So much gratitude to Jennifer for believing in me all these years!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently finishing up revisions on a contemporary thriller that I’m really excited about. I also just finished a weird little poetry book, which I hope to find a home for soon.
With it being the new year, are you setting any goals or resolutions for 2024?
Yes! I actually talked these on social media recently so I have them at the ready. My 2024 goals are:
- Finishing revisions on my next thriller and sending it out
- Finding that home for my poetry collection
- Finishing a dark, moody, ghostly little novella I’ve been working on
- Starting a completely new project
- Convincing my dog to stop licking the kitchen floor
It’s an ambitious list, I know. Especially that last one. My dog is always looking for snacks.
Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases that you’re looking forward to?
Yesssssssssssss! I’m really excited for Beneath the Poet’s House by Christa Carmen, A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock, I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, and This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca.
I’m currently reading Hollow Girls by Jessica Drake-Thomas, which comes out in March 2024, and it’s absolutely amazing!
You can find Emily on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and at her website.
