<club-desc-paragraph>When he was a child, Hilton’s grandmother sacrificed her life to save him from drowning. Thirty years later, he and his family are plagued by dark forces both tangible and surreal—from grisly nightmares and reverberations of grief to racism and hate. Hilton’s grasp on reality loosens, and he questions whether he was meant to survive at all. Originally published in 1995 and reissued in 2021, The Between blends elements of horror and the supernatural with thought-provoking social commentary. <club-desc-paragraph>
<club-desc-paragraph>Join Emma, Karah, and author Tananarive Due as they discuss the evolution of Black Horror, the story’s most prominent themes, and the inspiration behind Tananarive’s haunting debut novel.<club-desc-paragraph>
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<club-landing-h3>The Between<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Emma and Karah introduce Tananarive Due’s debut novel—the perfect thrilling, thought-provoking pick for October. Tananarive shares what it was like to release The Between in ‘95 and have it reissued 26 years later.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Writing The Between<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Some writers say you should “write what scares you.” Tananarive explores her own fear of mortality, noting that The Between showcases what happens when fear and denial take over. She also reminisces about writing her first book while working as a columnist.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Race & Culture<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Racism can serve as its own monster in horror. Tananarive shares her anxiety about pushing race “too much” in the ‘90s, as well as the timing of her novel’s reissue and today’s cultural climate. She also notes the widespread impact of Jordan Peele’s film, Get Out.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>H for Horror<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Tananarive discusses genre bias and how interviewing Anne Rice helped her feel more encouraged and empowered to write horror. She also shares how she chose to reference white supremacy and racism in her work.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>V for Villain<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>How do you create a villain? Tananarive reveals the “real” villain in The Between. She also explores what it means to be “a veteran of fright,” the potential for resilient characters to help us find our own strength, and how Black audiences respond to horror.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>The Sacrificial Act<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>In The Between, Hilton’s driving motivation is to save his family. Tananarive talks about the role of sacrifice in her novel, the sacrifice she observed in her parents, and her own experience as a parent.<club-landing-paragraph>
