We chat with author Kristen Simmons about She Waits For You Beyond The Dark, which is the finale to Simmons’s masterful horror duology that’s “Jumanji but Japanese-inspired” (Kendare Blake) about estranged friends playing a deadly game in a nightmarish folkloric underworld.
Hi, Kristen! Welcome back! It’s been about five years since we last spoke, how have you been and what have you been up to?
Thank you for inviting me back! I am doing well. Still writing books. Still drinking copious amounts of tea. Still wrangling a whole lot of dogs (or rather, a whole lot of DOG. One of ours is 175 pounds, so it’s probably more accurate to say that HE wrangles ME). I’m also a hockey mom now, so I spend all my free time at the rink watching my son.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve loved writing stories since before I can remember, honestly. My mom has kept a lot of my early “books”—little stapled pages that detail the life of my pets, or as I grew up, more fantastical adventures. I’ve loved telling stories forever, too. Yes, I got a lot of time-outs as a kid.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
- The one that made you want to become an author: Unwind by Neal Shusterman. I wanted to write something that made me feel the way I did during the “unwind” scene. (IYKYK)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Well, currently I’m thinking about that ending to Onyx Storm! Whoa!
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is the follow up to Find Him Where You Left Him Dead and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Ooh…okay. How about: Yōkai, deadly games (that’s one word, ok? ok.), friends, danger, survival
What can readers expect?
More terror, more chaos, more twisted, terrible games! Everything levels up in book 2, so if you think the Foxtail Five had to bad before, buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
Kuchisake! He brings the DRAMA in book 2! I love writing a good psychopath, and he made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions (I feel like that says something about me…).
Did you face any challenges with the final installment? How did you overcome them?
Honestly, keeping my characters alive was a real challenge in this one. The games are so dangerous and vindictive, it took a fair amount of noodling to get the Foxtail Five through them! Will they all survive? You’ll have to see…
What’s next for you?
It hasn’t been announced yet…but my adult fantasy debut will be coming out in 2027 and I cannot wait!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt comes out this summer. I had a chance to read this book early and HOLY COW. It’s thrilling, and feminist, and I loved every second of it. Molly Harper’s A Proposal to Die For comes out in April and it’s just all the things—funny, witty, and filled with danger and romance. I also can’t wait for The Suitcase Swap by Lish McBride—no one does quick banter like she does, and I cannot wait to read this New York romance!
