As the days grow longer and we may have a bit more time to sit down with a good book, I want to shine a spotlight on indie storytellers who bring fresh, unique and ingenious voices to our summer TBRs (to-be-reads). To do that, I’m sitting down with three compelling independent writers that are making some waves in their respective genres.
In this Q&A series, we get a look at what these authors’ bibliographies have in store, the challenges and joys of the indie publishing world and what is next on the horizon for them. First up is Cassandra Celia, a former bookseller turned indie author based out of Maryland. They are the author of four books: Stars & Other Monsters, Sugarcane, The Elric Undoing, and her latest title House of Harrow.
Abby Wolf: At what point in life did you realize you wanted to pursue writing professionally?
Cassandra Celia: I always knew I’d end up in storytelling one way or another, but I think it became real to me when I started working with Barnes & Noble. Being in a space where I was surrounded by books and inspiration the majority of my day, I was hooked. I was writing stories instead of sleeping, and constantly chasing that feeling of finishing a sentence that clicked. That’s when I stopped seeing writing as just a private outlet and started seeing it as something I wanted to share with readers who might need it.
AW: Tell us a bit about your existing work(s). Which is your favorite, so far?
CC: My work lives in the space where horror meets speculative fiction. I write about unhinged, scorned people navigating love, death, and the supernatural. Everything I write lives in the dark fiction space, but I am always looking to challenge myself. Thrillers, Weird Fiction, Literary Fiction, you name it. I want to write it all.
My debut, Stars and Other Monsters, is a collection of interconnected short stories that reimagine the myth of Icarus through themes of infidelity, revenge, and cosmic punishment. Then there’s Sugarcane, a novella about a suburban housewife who discovers her husband is a serial killer, and decides to protect him anyway. It’s a story about obsessive love, denial, and the terrifying things we do to preserve the illusion of safety. The Elric Undoing is my most recent full length novel. It follows Pyet Cabello, who inherits a haunted manor in a town steeped in dark magic and cultish rituals. It’s about belonging and the seductive pull of the occult.
But my favorite by far is House of Harrow, which releases June 17, 2025. It’s a dark fairytale about a wax woman who steals away children and throws them into her own game of hide and seek. The story is told from the perspectives of a rat and a crow, two outcasts trying to make sense of grief, guilt, and monstrous love. It’s eerie, lyrical, and probably the most “me” thing I’ve written. I can’t wait for readers to meet her.
AW: What can you tell us about your most recent project, whether its newly released or pending publication?
CC: I’m incredibly excited for everyone to meet Harrow when House of Harrow releases in June, it’s the kind of story that’s lived in my bones for a while. But right now, my head and heart are wrapped around something new.
I just finished a novella about a travel blogger who ventures to a secluded cabin in the snowy woods, only to discover that solitude isn’t always safe. It leans into isolation horror, tangled memory, and folk terror. White rabbits appear throughout the story in increasingly unsettling ways, but that’s all I’ll say for now. It’s quiet, cold, and unnerving, with a deep sense of emotional decay. I can’t wait to share more when the time is right.
AW: What is the most surprising thing you have learned during the writing process?
CC: That I can trust myself more than I think. There are so many voices telling us what a story should be, especially in horror, but every time I’ve leaned into my weird, specific instincts, something truer has come out. I learned to write the thing I’m scared no one else will understand, because chances are, that’s the story someone out there has been waiting for.
Also, the story is always smarter than you (and definitely me lol) at the beginning. I’ve learned more from completing one messy draft than from trying to perfect a dozen false starts.
AW: What advice would you want to give to an author just starting out?
CC: Focus on community over competition, always. This industry can feel lonely and overwhelming, but there’s so much power in finding your people, cheering on other writers, and celebrating each other’s wins. Uplifting others doesn’t dim your light, it makes the whole space brighter. Some of the most meaningful moments in my writing journey have come from the relationships I’ve built with other authors. We’re all trying to tell stories that matter and there’s room for all of us at the table.
AW: What is the strangest thing you have had to research for a project?
CC: Oh, definitely the process of a body sinking in freshwater versus saltwater. I needed to know how long it would take for a specific character to resurface, and let’s just say my search history could get me flagged. I also went down a rabbit hole about vintage camcorder repair. Horror writing is wild, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
AW: Tell me your favorite thing about working on the indie side of publishing and one hard thing about it.
CC: My favorite thing is the freedom. Creative control, timeline flexibility, getting to make strange stories that traditional publishers might not take a chance on, and working with human artists. The hardest part is carrying everything alone for sure. Marketing, editing, formatting, covers. It’s a lot of hats, and sometimes you forget you’re also allowed to just be a writer.
AW: If you could have any author with you on a deserted island, who would they be and why?
CC: Carmen Maria Machado. I feel like she’d have the best stories, a deep understanding of the psychological breakdowns we’d both inevitably face, and somehow still manage to be hilarious while we built our palm frond shelter. Also, I just want to talk craft with her over coconuts.
AW: What was your most recent 5 star read?
CC: My most recent 5-star read was The Favorites by Layne Fargo. While she typically writes thrillers, this book was so different. It’s a stunning exploration of raw talent and the incredible lengths people go to succeed. It felt like beautiful commercial fiction in the vein of Daisy Jones & The Six, breaking boundaries in a way that stayed with me long after I finished it. It’s inspired me to want to write dark fiction that also brings out those same qualities of vulnerability and ambition.
AW: What are you currently reading and/or listening to?
CC: Right now, I’m reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy, and I’m absolutely loving both! It’s like slipping into two completely different skins whenever I switch between them. Atmosphere pulls me into lush, emotional storytelling, while When the Wolf Comes Home delivers raw, haunting intensity. It’s a wild, wonderful balance that keeps me completely hooked.
I can tell you, after reading an early copy of House of Harrow, you NEED this book. It is so horrific and gorgeously written, a true testament to the author’s skill. Thank you to Cass for chatting with me about her life and experiences in indie publishing. You can find information for pre-order on Cassandra’s website. Keep an eye out for the next installment of hot indie author summer coming up very soon!
Images courtesy of Cassandra Celia
Have strong thoughts about this piece you need to share? Or maybe there’s something else on your mind you’re wanting to talk about with fellow Fandomentals? Head on over to our Community server to join in the conversation!