A Conversation with a New Voice in Horror Beatrice Winifred Iker
Beatrice Winifred Iker is a Southern Appalachian poet, author, and tarot reader. They are a Rhysling Award Finalist whose work can be found in Fantasy Magazine, FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, Nightmare Magazine, and others. Beatrice is a co-host of the Ignyte Award-winning Afronauts Podcast, which discusses and uplifts Black speculative fiction, and is a Voodoonauts Fellowship alum. Their debut adult Southern Gothic horror novel, I’ll Make A Spectacle of You, is to be published in November 2025, and their debut picture book, Charley’s Honky-Tonk Mission, is to be published in summer 2026.
Novel Suspects: As an Appalachian storyteller, you are knowledgeable about the folklore and stories that surround the Appalachian woods. Can you speak to how that folklore inspired your work? Are there more stories you would like to pull inspiration from in future work?
Beatrice Winifred Iker: Growing up in the Black church, I have vivid memories of the special mix of folklore and religion that shaped my childhood. For example, when the adults weren’t watching during Sunday School, we would make up our own versions of fireside stories inspired by our environment. Tales like, “There’s a demon who fell from heaven living under that abandoned house down the street,” came from this creative play. These spooky stories skillfully combined Appalachian folklore with religious history. Such stories were an important part of my early years.
There are definitely other elements of Black and Appalachian folklore I’d love to include in my writing, like the story of John Henry—a steel-driving man who competed against a steam-powered machine and ultimately died while driving steel.
Additionally, I have a fascination with Mothman, one of my favorite humanoid creatures. I would love to merge Mothman with Black American folklore and history in my stories one day!
NS: In the book, you weave multiple timelines, jumping from 2027 and 1823. What drew you to these specific dates? How did you prepare to tell a story hundreds of years in the past? Was there a certain piece of work, another book, art, etc. that pulled you into each time frame?
BWI: I enjoy researching Black history, and when I chose to set my story at a fictional HBCU, I wanted to ensure I was well-informed about real-life HBCUs. The oldest four-year school, Cheyney University (originally called the African Institute for Colored Youth), was founded in 1837 through a donation from Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist. To further incorporate themes of Black reclamation in I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU, I set the story at the “first” HBCU, which was created, owned, and run by a Black brother and sister about fifteen years before Cheyney University.
NS: In I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU, Hoodoo plays a key role in the plot. As someone with knowledge of Hoodoo, what nuances or misconceptions do you wish more people understood about its role? How do you feel about its use in fiction, especially in your own work?
BWI: The nuances of Hoodoo are deeply rooted in its rich history, serving both as a source of empowerment and a means of protection during dangerous times. Hoodoo is a spiritual practice developed by enslaved Black Americans, meant exclusively for their descendants; therefore, it is a closed practice not open to others. I believe that stories—whether in movies, television shows, or books—created by Black Americans about Hoodoo offer the most authentic representation and show the greatest respect for this sacred tradition.
If you’re seeking stories that explore or feature Hoodoo, I encourage you to look for narratives from Black perspectives. Recommended works include the movies Eve’s Bayou (1997) and Sinners (2025), as well as books like Mules and Men (1935) by Zora Neale Hurston and The Conjuring of America (2025) by Lindsey Stewart.
I was inspired by Hurston’s anthropological work and study of Hoodoo, as well as the representation of Hoodoo in Eve’s Bayou during the writing process for I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU.
NS: Lots of writers like to get into the zone by listening to certain playlists or musicians. As a music lover, was there a soundtrack, artists, or genre you found yourself listening while writing I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU?
BWI: Absolutely! I have a playlist that features songs from a variety of artists, including Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, and Doechii. However, I found myself primarily drawn to 1950s and 1960s blues, country, and folk music. Artists like Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Nina Simone inspired me, as well as pioneering old-time guitarist Lesley Riddle (I must have logged 10+ hours just listening to that guitar!).
Riddle grew up just about 20 miles from where my novel is set, in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was a relatively unknown Black musician who greatly influenced and personally taught the Carter family, a well-known white family that is considered “The First Family of Country Music.” Because of this connection, Riddle’s music was perfect for creating the right mood while I wrote my novel, which explores themes of Black reclamation and cultural preservation.
NS: What advice would you offer to other first-time authors who are just beginning to write their first book or are hoping to get published?
The advice I always give—because I wish someone had made me repeat this until I truly understood it—is that you must believe in your art before anyone else does. It might be underdeveloped, messy, overwritten, or underwritten, but it can still be a piece of art that you’re proud of, whether you’re still working to improve it or not.
Remember, any validation you receive from social media, an agent, editor, or your writing friends cannot validate a confidence in your work that you do not already possess.
Discover the Book
As she delves into the history of the beast, she uncovers a rumored secret society called the Keepers that has tenuous ties to the beast…and Bricksbury itself. Zora soon finds herself plagued by visions of the past, and her grip on reality starts to slip as she struggles to uncover what is real and what is folklore. But when a student goes missing, Zora starts to wonder if the Keepers ever really disbanded.
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