16 Comments
User's avatar
Gila Pfeffer's avatar

I can’t make the event with Emily so I’m just commenting to say HI EMILY. Also, I 100% need a t shirt that says CONTENT across the boobs. In fact, maybe you ought to give me yours.

Expand full comment
Leigh Stein's avatar

It’s from Amazon and the quality is sub optimal but I wore it for my branding photoshoot that same day:

Expand full comment
Gila Pfeffer's avatar

Fab. Also ordering one that says SUB OPTIMAL

Expand full comment
Nico Harlakenden's avatar

"The house is the woman”: It reframes Rebecca in a chillingly intimate manner. Manor pun not intended.

Not just a woman trapped by circumstance, but a psyche walled in by ghosts -- of other women, of roles she never chose, of desires she’s not allowed to have. The second Mrs. de Winter’s transformation, post-reveal, into “queen of the castle” hits even harder when you realize the house was her all along.

And the idea of the internet as the ultimate haunted house -- inescapable, ever-watching, endlessly performative -- feels like a perfect modern gothic setting. Thank you for a conversation that connects literary tradition to our weird, wired now.

Expand full comment
Leigh Stein's avatar

Thank you so much for this comment! You can see how hearing Emily lecture made sparks fire in my imagination…

Expand full comment
Kristin Offiler's avatar

Thank you for this! I was on the call last night and took SO many notes. Between this post and the call, you two unlocked something in my brain. I've been working on a book that I'm now realizing is probably a gothic, and I'm excited to lean into the haunted mind/house vibes more now. Thank you so much for these conversations!

Expand full comment
Leigh Stein's avatar

yay! texting your comment to Emily right now

Expand full comment
Alison Belsham's avatar

Hi Leigh - as I'm in the UK and the chat wasn't recorded, I had to stay up until 1.00am to come on the call. I just want to say it was 100% worth it. There was so much interesting stuff to digest and investigate further. Thanks to you and Emily!

Expand full comment
Leigh Stein's avatar

the highest praise! thank you for joining us!

Expand full comment
Alison Belsham's avatar

PS I love your mismatched shoes in the photos - I'm a great fan of mismatched shoes myself, and have a couple of pairs from Camper.

Expand full comment
Melanie Anagnos's avatar

What a great post on craft. This is one to save and re-read. I also want to re-read Rebecca and Edith Hamilton’s Greek mythology and can't wait for your latest release.

It was so so wonderful to meet in person!

Expand full comment
Leigh Stein's avatar

it was!

Expand full comment
Penny Lane's avatar

loved this Leigh!

Expand full comment
Kim Poovey's avatar

A friend shared this with me and I enjoyed reading it! I'm working on my first gothic novel and this gave a beautiful description and break down of the genre. Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Howard Writing's avatar

This was a great read and super helpful, thank you!

Expand full comment