Scary stories can be somewhat divisive.
At my most recent book signing, a woman came in, shaking off the rain and greeting me with a warm smile.
“Oh, is this your book?” she asked.
“Yes!” I said, and as she reached for it, I started to explain, “It’s gothic horror and—”
She recoiled from my book like a demon from a crucifix.
I couldn’t help but laugh. I paused, wondering whether to continue, but she recovered quickly and picked up the book to read the blurb while I explained the premise (a woman makes a violin to resurrect her dead fiancé).
To her credit, she actually bought a copy—saying she wasn’t into that kind of thing herself, but her daughter was.
That exchange stuck with me, though. Because she’s not alone.
The “Love It or Hate It” Nature of Scary Stories
Scary stories seem to split people cleanly into two camps: those who love them, and those who want nothing to do with them.
Sure, there are a few exceptions—people who’ll watch a scary movie or two every October for fun—but most people fall hard on one side or the other.
Those who dislike scary stories often ask me (well-meaning, I believe), “Isn’t the world ugly enough? Why would you want to add more of it?”
And honestly? I kinda get it.
I sometimes joke that scary stories put things in perspective. Like, even if the cost of living is wild, at least I’m not being eaten by a giant clown or something.
But really, I think horror skeptics miss what we love so much about scary stories. They’re about so much more than the monsters.
Scary Stories Are About Humanity
What we love most about scary stories are the people within them—and how they reflect who we are, or who we wish we could be.
The human frailty of Jack Torrance (and the courage of his son) in The Shining.
The self-sacrifice of the priest in The Exorcist.
The raw grief in Pet Sematary.
The strength of Mallory in Bird Box.
The beautiful female friendship in Cackle.
The duality in Jekyll and Hyde.
The romance between Elise and William in The Violin (if I may add my own 😊).
And, of course, the eternal struggle between good and evil. Everyone loves stories of good and evil—even when evil prevails… because, unfortunately, sometimes it does.
Scary stories aren’t just about fear. They’re about people and the challenge of humanity, illuminated by the extreme.
Why We Need HORROR Stories
Scary stories give us a safe space to face the things we fear most—loss, isolation, death, powerlessness—and see how people survive them.
They offer catharsis. The ghosts, monsters, and curses aren’t just there to frighten us; they give shape to emotions and experiences we can’t always name.
And in the end, these stories remind us that even in the darkest places, courage and love still exist.
That’s what keeps me reading (and writing) them.
Finding Beauty in the Dark
I love scary stories not necessarily because of the fear, but because of what they reveal in the protagonists: courage, heartbreak, beauty, morality, selflessness and everything in between.
Here’s to the beauty we find in the shadows. 🖤
What about you? What are some of your favorite scary stories or characters, ones that stayed with you long after the last page?
If You Enjoy Scary Stories with Heart…
You might enjoy my gothic horror novel The Violin, a story of Elise Knight and her determination to restore her lost love at any cost. (Plus a cool curiosities exhibit.) Read more about The Violin here.
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