Why Scary Books Still Matter

People pretend horror is cheap entertainment. They call it pulp, a gimmick, a thrill ride. But they’re wrong. Horror is memory. It’s the feeling of walking into a dark room and realizing the air is already occupied. A scary book isn’t just about monsters—it’s about what the monster pulls out of you.

The best ones don’t just frighten you for a night. They follow you. They wait until you’re brushing your teeth, or lying down, or walking into a place you thought was ordinary—and then they whisper, what if this isn’t safe either?

I don’t write horror to comfort anyone. I write it because the world is already scarier than most people admit, and stories are the only way to look at that truth without blinking. Scary books remind you you’re alive. They remind you you’re small. They remind you that you won’t be here forever—and that’s the most terrifying thing of all.

So if you pick up one of mine, don’t expect an escape. Expect a mirror that breathes.

— RF