Horror as Psychological Catharsis

An interview with Carrie Lee South about her first novel, In The Woods They Wait, a thrilling trek through Arkansas’s Devil’s Den State Park.

After her brother’s disappearance into Devil’s Den State Park 15 years ago, park ranger Audrey Figg has become familiar with the ins and outs of wilderness search and rescue. When a little girl, Ivy, goes missing, Audrey must put her skills to the test, all the while haunted by the aching similarities to her brother’s vanishing. As she delves further into the case, Audrey begins to believe that both Ivy’s and Benny’s disappearances are graver than they seem. Forced to grapple with her grief, Audrey must confront a secret from over a decade ago that she never divulged to anyone.

In the Woods They Wait by Carrie Lee South takes readers on a thrilling ride through the Ozarks, exploring the emotional depths of loss and guilt alongside the unexpected supernatural.

Erin Z. Bass spoke with South about the influence of the Ozarks, grief and folklore on her storytelling, all the while sharing an important message about the impact of reading.

Erin Z. Bass: Devil’s Den State Park is such an interesting setting. What drew you to that particular park and made you want to set this book there? 

Carrie Lee South: First of all, it’s gorgeous. I have family members that live in that area, and they’re always taking their horses to the trails at Devil’s Den. They introduced me to the park, and I fell in love with the hiking trails, overlooks, waterfalls, etc. Of course, the name itself is intriguing, but I was fascinated by all the caves with bars covering the entrances. My imagination just ran wild with it.

EZB: What was your relationship with the Ozarks before writing this book? Did you spend time hiking, camping or exploring the area when you were younger like Audrey did or while you were working on the novel?

CLS: I grew up in Central Arkansas, so the state park I spent the most time in as a kid was Pinnacle Mountain. I have fond memories of a particular tree on my favorite childhood trail that was hollowed out so I could squeeze inside. We did go on school field trips to the Ozark Folk Center, and I remember the first time I ever went inside a cave on a fifth grade trip to Blanchard Springs Caverns. There are so many caves in the Northern part of the state. While writing, I took frequent trips to Devil’s Den. I’ve hiked all of the trails (except the full length of the Butterfield—that’s a whopping 15-mile loop). I stayed in the cabins on multiple occasions to work on drafts of the novel and have hours of recorded interviews with the rangers and search and rescue volunteers.

EZB: You also use this book as a way to make sense of your own past and your brother’s sudden death in 2018. What draws you to the horror genre, and how did it serve as a method to process your guilt and regret? 

CLS: One of the hardest things about Robby’s death was that I thought I would have more time with him. We were texting about his new haircut one day, and the next he was just gone. How is anyone supposed to process that kind of sudden and absolute loss? To me, horror is the perfect psychological catharsis. It lets us look directly into our worst nightmares and see what happens when we get to the other side. I also struggle with anxiety, which by definition is just a constant feeling of fear without a direct cause. Reading and writing horror lets me channel that anxiety and release it. 

EZB: Arkansas has a rich tradition of folklore about strange creatures lurking in the woods. Did you grow up hearing these stories or did you come across them during your college education?

CLS: My Grandma Lee was very superstitious, but my family isn’t originally from Arkansas. I was a big reader as a kid and got my hands on as many scary folk tales as I could. I treasured my Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark trilogy with the original Stephen Gammell illustrations. I’ve always been a huge fan of cryptids. My friends did poke fun at me for researching them in college (also giant squids, which are not cryptozoological, but at the time I was obsessed with them, they had never been seen alive). 

EZB: Be honest, would you personally go hiking alone in Devil’s Den after writing this book?

CLS: Absolutely! I think it’s the most beautiful park in the state of Arkansas. If you haven’t been, I encourage you to visit. That said, don’t wander off any trails, and don’t go into the woods at night. 

EZB: This is your first novel, which is a huge accomplishment. What has the reception been like, and how does it feel to have it out in the world?

CLS: There’s a certain kind of magic in books that can’t be achieved through any other medium. In On Writing, Stephen King talks about how writing is functionally a form of telepathy. Getting the story out of my head and into the world has been amazing—I’ve poured my heart into the pages, and just knowing that even one person will read my words and connect with me is the most incredible feeling. I’ve loved hearing from people who felt as close to my characters as I did. 

EZB: Is there anything else you would like to add about the book or yourself? 

CLS: I sometimes get asked what I’m afraid of: My biggest fear is the death of our imaginations. Reading is really the only way we can leave our own heads and jump into someone else’s for a while. So please, read to your children. It’s how we learn empathy and critical thinking skills. Reading is resistance. 

In the Woods They Wait by Carrie Lee South is out now and will be on our Fall/Winter Reading List, which releases soon.

The post Horror as Psychological Catharsis appeared first on Deep South Magazine.