Hey Survivor,
Welcome or welcome back to The Den; this is more than a newsletter. It’s where zombie lovers, horror readers, and Black horror fans can come together to get lost in all things monsters, movies, folklore, and tales of survival. The Den is a community of horror lovers who want to open doors for Black creatives. I hope you’re surviving (and thriving) on your side of the wasteland.
Well, I told you The Den was getting a makeover and that you can expect some new things; well, here is some more info on that. My plan is to really shape this into a community where you can get your news and horror recs, and celebrate Black voices in the horror genre. To do that, I feel like I need to bring more things to get you active; no one wants to just sit in a bunker waiting for help. Let’s break out the cards- or, in this case, the books and movies. Here is the weekly rundown for The Den:
Mondays are The Den Dispatch, where you can get your horror news from the prior week in a video that’s 10 mins or less.
Tuesdays you’ll get Black Horror Author Recs; this could be a standalone email, or it could be accompanied by other topics.
Wednesdays are Horror In Full Color: Horror movie recs centering Black characters or creators, and where to stream them.
Thursdays are True Horror Thursdays; this is where we talk about True Crime cases that have inspired books or movies, or are connected to the horror community in some way.
Fridays are for The Den exclusive horror series He Who Preys, a Southern Gothic story about a woman returning to her hometown after her serial killer father dies in prison, only for the murders to start back up when she arrives.
So that’s what you can expect in the coming days. The newsletters will go out at one of the following times: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:30 PM, or 7 PM. But enough of all this boring talk; let's dive into today’s authors.
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I’m not sure how most people feel, but sometimes I feel like horror and thrillers are pretty much fraternal twins. There are definitely things that make them different, but they share a lot of the same core values, like getting your blood pressure up. Now, there are so many amazing Black women writing horror and thrillers that it’s really hard to pick who to showcase first. I decided to go with my License 2 Thrill and New York sister, K. Powell.
I met Powell a few years ago in a writing group that she put together for Black authors. We used to meet up once a week to talk about craft, marketing, and just ways to help one another reach our goals. I had to leave the group due to my work hours, but Powell was building a great community, and this was all before her first book even came out. Here’s a little about K. Powell from her Licensed 2 Thrill bio:
Born and raised in Brooklyn, K. Powell crafts thrillers that pulse with danger and heart. As a licensed clinical social worker, she understands what people hide and what they’re capable of. Her writing shines a light on fear, love, loyalty, and the lengths we go to in order to protect ourselves. Every story dares you to look deeper, even when it hurts. If you love shocking twists, dark secrets, and heart-racing reads, this is one author you need to meet. Get ready… they’re bringing all the thrills.
It was supposed to be a quick stop.
Gas. Food. Back on the road.
Instead, five friends pull into Ebensfield, a quiet town frozen in another era. The streets are spotless. The smiles are polite, but something about this place isn’t right.
Eyes follow them everywhere. Conversations stop when they walk in. Beneath the town’s charm runs an unspoken rule about who leaves, and who doesn’t.
As the sun begins to set, the truth becomes clear:
Ebensfield isn’t just another small town.
It’s a trap.
K. Powell and I will be at this year’s Licensed 2 Thrill author convention. If you’re in Nashville, TN on the 23rd-24th, then stop by and meet some amazing authors and say hi. We can take a picture, talk about the apocalypse, and get you a signed book. I look forward to seeing you there. Use promo code: SBARZEY2026 to get 10% off your tickets.
Well, our first Black Author Showcase is done. Let me know what you think of this format and what I can add moving forward. I want to actually get some sit-down interviews with some of these authors, so hopefully we can get that done soon. Are there any authors you think I should spotlight? Let me know in the comments.
As Always…Stay safe. Stay woke. Stay alive.
Until the next nightmare,
—Sylvester
Author of Planet Dead and More.
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