 | |
| Author | Grady Hendrix |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Jay Aaseng Mikhaila Aaseng |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Horror |
| Published | 2023 |
| Media type | Print, ebook, audiobook |
| ISBN | 0593201264 First edition US hardback |
| Preceded by | The Final Girl Support Group |
How to Sell a Haunted House is a 2023 horror novel by American author Grady Hendrix. The book was first published on January 17, 2023.
The publisher's book synopsis reads: [1]
Louise’s parents have passed away, and she’s returning to the small Southern town where she grew up to get their house ready to sell. It means she’ll have to spend time with her younger brother—and their old grudges make that a terrifying prospect. But childhood hurts pale in comparison to the dangers posed by what still lives inside the house.
Hendrix began writing the novel during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "whether it's around a campfire, at a sleepover, or alone by ourselves on the couch, there's nothing more comforting than a haunted house story." He chose to center the story around family due to the impact family has on everyone's lives. Hendrix set the story in his hometown, which he had used for his novels My Best Friend's Exorcism and The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, noting that this would be the last novel to use this setting. [2] [3]
How to Sell a Haunted House was published in hardback and ebook formats on January 17, 2023 through Berkeley Books. [4] [5] An audiobook adaptation narrated by Jay and Mikhaila Aaseng was released simultaneously through Penguin Audio. [6]
Critical reception for the book has been positive. [7] In a review for The New York Times , Danielle Trussoni states that "by weaving violence, family trauma and humor, Hendrix creates a texture that engages the reader emotionally and viscerally." [8] Lee Mandelo of Tor.com noted that, "The novel reminded me of the frenetic, compulsive energy that propelled me through pulp horror paperbacks as a kid, except cleverly updated for a contemporary adult audience." [9] NPR called it "campy, unexpectedly deep — and as creepy as the dead eyes of a puppet at midnight in a gloomy room — How to Sell a Haunted House is a tense, dark novel." [10]
In 2023, Legendary Entertainment won the rights to a film adaptation directed by James Ashcroft and adapted by Hendrix. [11]
Berkley Books is now an imprint of the Penguin Group.
The Haunting of Hill House is a 1959 gothic horror novel by American author Shirley Jackson. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and has been made into two feature films and a play, and is the basis of a Netflix series.
Danielle Anne Trussoni is a New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling novelist. She has been a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction jurist, and wrote the "Dark Matters" column for the New York Times Book Review for five years, from 2018-2023. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, where she was a Maytag Fellow. Her novels have been translated into 33 languages.
Alan Peter Ryan was an American author and editor, known for his work in the horror genre in the 1980s.
Horrorstör is a 2014 horror comedy novel that was written by Grady Hendrix and illustrated by Michael Rogalski. The novel was released in paperback on September 23, 2014 through Quirk Books and is set in ORSK, an IKEA-esque store that has been experiencing supernatural phenomena. The audiobook release was narrated by Tai Sammons and Bronson Pinchot. The book's events take place largely over the course of one night in ORSK and the story is accompanied by illustrations of ORSK products, which grow more sinister as the book progresses.
Grady Hendrix is an American author, journalist, public speaker, and screenwriter known for his best-selling 2014 novel Horrorstör. Hendrix lives in Manhattan and was one of the founders of the New York Asian Film Festival.
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction is a 2017 non-fiction book by American writer Grady Hendrix. It was first published by Quirk Books on September 19, 2017 in print and ebook. An audiobook release by Blackstone Audio followed on January 9, 2018.
We Sold Our Souls is a 2018 horror novel by American writer Grady Hendrix. It was first published in the United States in print, ebook, and audiobook formats by Quirk Books on September 18, 2018. The novel centers upon a metal guitarist who discovers that her soul was sold by a former bandmate in order to achieve success.
Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a Nigerian fantasy, science fiction and speculative writer and academic. He is the author of various novels, including The Nameless Republic epic fantasy trilogy, beginning with Son of the Storm. His debut was the godpunk fantasy novel, David Mogo, Godhunter. He has also written works for younger readers under the author name Suyi Davies, including Minecraft: The Haven Trials. His work is heavily influenced by the histories and cultures of West Africa and Nigeria, and discusses themes of identity, challenging difference and finding home. WIRED referred to him as "one of the most promising new voices coterie of African SFF writers." He is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa.
This Is How You Lose the Time War is a 2019 science fiction epistolary novella by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. It was first published by Simon & Schuster. It won the BSFA Award for Best Shorter Fiction, the Nebula Award for Best Novella of 2019, and the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novella.
Gideon the Ninth is a 2019 science fantasy novel by the New Zealand writer Tamsyn Muir. It is Muir's debut novel and the first in her The Locked Tomb series, followed by Harrow the Ninth (2020), Nona the Ninth (2022), and the upcoming Alecto the Ninth.
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 2020.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a 2020 horror novel by American author Grady Hendrix. It was first published on April 7, 2020 through Quirk Books and centers upon a women's book club that faces a vampiric threat.
Mexican Gothic is a 2020 gothic horror novel by Mexican Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It centers on a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her.
The Final Girl Support Group is a horror-themed mystery novel by American writer Grady Hendrix, published July 13, 2021 by Berkley Books. A television series adaptation has been announced.
We Are All Completely Fine is a 2014 horror novel by Daryl Gregory. It was first published by Tachyon Publications. The book won the 2015 World Fantasy Award—Novella and the 2014 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novella.
House of Hunger is a 2022 horror novel by Alexis Henderson. It is the author's second novel. The story is set in a world where nobles feed on the blood of their servants. The plot follows the life of Marion as she becomes a bloodmaid in the titular House of Hunger.
We Set the Dark on Fire is a 2019 young adult fantasy novel by Tehlor Kay Mejia.