About
Biography
Christa Carmen lives in Rhode Island. She is the author of
The Daughters of Block Island,
winner of the Bram Stoker
Award and a Shirley Jackson Award finalist, the Indie Horror
Book Award-winning
Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked,
and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated "Through the Looking Glass
and Straight into Hell" (Orphans of
Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror).
She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an
MA from Boston College, and an MFA from the University of
Southern Maine.
When she's not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound-golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear.
When she's not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound-golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear.
- Dave Simms offers a stunning review of The Daughters of Block Island for Cemetery Dance: "The gothic horror novel just received a massive shot of adrenaline to its bleak-but-beautiful-heart...a stunning novel that arrives in the final month of the year, just in time for the calendar's longest nights of darkness. In this debut novel, Carmen doesn't attempt to top the classics; instead, she subverts them in a unique manner. She embraces the tropes that made the subgenre what it is and forges an enthralling tale of two sisters, a strange town, and a cast of characters that would make the masters proud...If this is any indication of what Christa Carmen can bring into the world, readers will be smiling under candlelight for years to come. An exceptional new talent has arrived."
- KIRKUS REVIEWS calls The Daughters of Block Island, "Great fun for readers who've done their background reading and want to try a Gothic Plus."
- Of The Daughters of Block Island, Dead Headspace's Brennan LaFaro writes, "What a fine line Christa Carmen has to walk with this book, and how masterfully she walks it...a layered tale that borders on cozy, while never quite allowing the reader to settle in too comfortably...Here lies mystery and secrets, and I was here for it."
Interviews
-
Frightful Interview
Emily Verona interviews co-host Christa Carmen
Read Interview -
Gwendolyn Kiste's Blog
Roundtable Interview: THE RACK: STORIES INSPIRED BY VINTAGE HORROR PAPERBACKS!
Read Interview Part I
Read Interview Part II -
Gwendolyn Kiste's Blog
Roundtable Interview
Read Interview Part I
Read Interview Part II
Events
Sep 07, 2025
Dark Arts Festival
Held at the Rhode Island School of Design, Canal Walk, and the Providence Market Square, this all inclusive festival will have over 100 artists, filmmakers, and authors. Also included are world premier films, paranormal investigating presentation, and drag shows. Special guest, sideshows, oddities, and more to be announced…. The show is 100% accessible with handicap parking. Sunday Providence parking is free.
More
Dark Arts Festival
Held at the Rhode Island School of Design, Canal Walk, and the Providence Market Square, this all inclusive festival will have over 100 artists, filmmakers, and authors. Also included are world premier films, paranormal investigating presentation, and drag shows. Special guest, sideshows, oddities, and more to be announced…. The show is 100% accessible with handicap parking. Sunday Providence parking is free.
More
Sep 13, 2025
Spooktastic Book Fair
Author and Spooktastic creator Alyssa Alessi (@pagesinthegraveyard) brings the third annual Spooktastic Book FairTM to haunt the Framingham Public Library on Saturday, September 13th! We'll be hosting 60+ authors ranging from creepy kidlit to adult horror, six publishers, several vendors of interesting and mysterious items, food trucks, and a brewery! Save the date and start off Spooky Season right! Walk ins are more than welcome, but if you'd like to register for a reminder email and/or to get added to our Horror Author Event email list, please fill out the form here:
More
Spooktastic Book Fair
Author and Spooktastic creator Alyssa Alessi (@pagesinthegraveyard) brings the third annual Spooktastic Book FairTM to haunt the Framingham Public Library on Saturday, September 13th! We'll be hosting 60+ authors ranging from creepy kidlit to adult horror, six publishers, several vendors of interesting and mysterious items, food trucks, and a brewery! Save the date and start off Spooky Season right! Walk ins are more than welcome, but if you'd like to register for a reminder email and/or to get added to our Horror Author Event email list, please fill out the form here:
More
Sep 16, 2025
West Warwick Library, Mission Mama Book Club
Connecting moms on the move, the Mission Mama Book Club will be discussing The Daughters of Block Island at 7:30 pm on Sept. 16th at Mission Mama Gym, 115 Washington Street West Warwick, RI 02893 (gym membership is not required to attend).
More
West Warwick Library, Mission Mama Book Club
Connecting moms on the move, the Mission Mama Book Club will be discussing The Daughters of Block Island at 7:30 pm on Sept. 16th at Mission Mama Gym, 115 Washington Street West Warwick, RI 02893 (gym membership is not required to attend).
More