Step into the shadows with two compelling voices as they explore the twisted and eerily captivating aspects of the horror-supernatural genre. Join Anna Bogutskaya, film critic and author of Feeding the Monster: Why Horror has a Hold on Us, and the award-winning literary folk-horror writer Andrew Michael Hurley, as they delve into the dark underbelly of storytelling, horror and the monstrous figures that both haunt and fascinate us.

Anna Bogutskaya is the co-founder of the horror film collective The Final Girls, a screening series-turned-popular podcast. Her Feeding the Monster is a collection of essays about horror film and culture, examining how horror responds to and fuels our feelings of fear, anxiety, pain, hunger and power, drawing readers into a world where the lines between humanity and monstrosity blur. Her sharp, incisive narrative style unpacks the cultural and psychological forces that give rise to monsters — both literal and metaphorical — and questions what it means to be truly monstrous.

Andrew Michael Hurley, celebrated for his masterful blend of folklore, horror, and the supernatural, will discuss his latest work, Barrowbeck. Set in a fictional Yorkshire/Lancashire village, this chilling collection of interlinked short stories spans centuries, capturing the doom that haunts its residents and landscape alike.

With a style that’s as atmospheric as it is unnerving, Hurley’s work taps into the ancient fears that lie at the heart of human experience, making him a leading voice in folk-horror. As Barrowbeck transitions from page to screen, Hurley’s influence on the genre continues to grow, cementing his status as the Master of Menace.

Get a unique insight into how this genre has transformed over time, and why it continues to captivate audiences across different media, from literature to film and beyond. This event will question how horror taps into universal emotions and experiences, and the role of the storyteller in conjuring fear and fascination.

Whether you’re a fan of the creepy supernatural or a curious folklore reader, this event will provide insights and spark thought-provoking discussions.

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Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of books, ideas, reading and writing in many magical forms. This year's festival has been curated by award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock. Sophie is our new Curator: Books, Ideas and Community.

Anna Bogutskaya & Andrew Michael Hurley: The Horrors That Haunt Us - Creative Folkestone