Believing that the rewards and value of horror fiction should be reclaimed and relished, we were well and truly thrilled (and chilled!) to learn that reader-focused publisher Canelo were set to launch a new list of horror fiction this autumn. 

Now that time is upon us, as the nights draw in and shadows loom larger, we caught up with Canelo to find out more — prepare to come face to face with some fabulously fearsome fiction! 

Before we find out more about your new horror imprint, describe Canelo in three words.

Passionate about storytelling.

What’s Canelo’s editorial ethos? 

We always try to prioritise the reader above all else when considering acquisitions. Unashamedly commercial titles with mass appeal that you simply can’t help but race through. While the growth of the company has seen us move into some more upmarket spaces, brilliant stories, with a fairer deal for authors, will always be the number one goal.

And now onto the chilling news! What sparked setting up an imprint devoted to the darker side of fiction? 

Well, I’ve always been a huge fan of horror fiction as far back as I can remember, and even within Canelo we have had ideas for how to launch the list for a number of years. But after assessing the current market landscape and seeing the success of bold new horror titles in the mainstream, either boosted by BookTok or simply branching out organically, as well as witnessing first-hand the desire from retailers and readers for more projects in this space, the time felt just right. And considering the interest we have had since going public with the news – from agents, bloggers, authors and our readers – it is definitely looking like the correct decision. 

The ability for horror to go above and beyond what other genres can do means that it is the perfect vehicle not just to delight, but to consider crucial social issues – just look at the impact, poignancy and depth of novels like Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt. We want our list to reflect this reality, to publish incredible narratives with lasting impact, terrifying and thought-provoking in equal measure.

Can you give us a run-down of the launch titles in the Canelo Horror imprint?

With pleasure! So the list is launching this month – what better month to launch a horror list – with The Fisherman by John Langan. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award in 2016, but never officially published in the UK, it follows two widowers with a shared passion for fishing who are drawn into the dark and twisted tale of a reservoir in upstate New York. Truly a modern horror epic from one of the genre’s most influential writers.

Following that in 2024 we have a number of other brilliant reissue titles, including two small town eco horror novels from two-time Bram Stoker winner Sarah Langan, The Keeper and The Missing, focusing on the misfortune befalling two settlements in middle America, unwittingly caught up in an environmental catastrophe.

We also have a crime crossover from Bram Stoker finalist Ronald Malfi, Bone White, set deep in the Alaskan wilderness, as well as The Crows, a haunted house novel with a twist by C. M. Rosens, and a supernatural detective novel, Whitesands, by Johann Thorsson. 

Our first frontlist title is coming in July 2024, from bestselling author David Barnett, entitled Withered Hill. A British folk horror, and dual timeline narrative, set between London and the Lancashire village of Withered Hill, where the inhabitants are drenched in dark, pagan traditions. It follows a young woman caught up in the unsettling lore surrounding this town, with a finale that will absolutely floor you.

Aside from the aforementioned horror delights, give us elevator pitches for some other upcoming, or recently-published, Canelo books?

We’ve got some truly exciting titles coming towards the end of 2023 and into early 2024. The Rich by Rachel Lynch is a breathless standalone psychological thriller of murder, excess and narcissism, set around a psychologist working in Cambridge. Twists guaranteed, and from a million-copy bestseller to boot, this is the perfect guilty pleasure.

Added to that, we’ve got some beautiful escapist fiction coming up at the beginning of next year, with Still Unwritten by Caroline Khoury, a whirlwind romance following Fran as she attempts to land the TV role that could finally be her big break as an actress. Enter stage right Jae-seung, her landlord’s hot nephew who offers to help her rehearse, and who also happens to be the lead singer of global K-pop sensation, JYNKS. What results is a globe-trotting, wonderfully paced journey of self-discovery and acceptance – perfect for anyone who loves Ali Hazelwood or Helen Hoang.

And then one coming up in March 2024 that I’m super excited about is Savage Ridge by Morgan Greene, a gritty whydunit set deep in the pines of the American Pacific Northwest, focusing on three friends who murdered their high school classmate ten years ago, a crime which is finally catching up to them. It’s got the captivating small-town vibe of Chris Whitaker’s We Begin At The End, along with a sprinkling of Ozark and True Detective. It really is an incredible thriller.

Which books from the Canelo backlist should everyone read?

One book that I think it would be impossible not to enjoy is The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy, a cosy mystery following couple Margery and Clementine, enjoying a peaceful middle-age awaiting retirement while serving meals to the students of Summerview secondary school. Until the kitchen manager is found murdered in the school’s walk-in freezer, and Margery and Clementine are compelled to investigate. Will the perpetrator get their just desserts? You’ll have to grab yourself a copy to find out…

I have to give Amanda Cockrell a shout out here too, writing for us under the name Damion Hunter. Her Roman epic Centurions series is some of the best historical fiction out there, for fans of Manda Scott and Rosemary Sutcliff. In a traditionally male-dominated area of the market Amanda has more than left her mark, and in addition to the military narratives there is plenty of aching romance and sweeping family drama. Something for everyone!

Finally – I just had to sneak this one in, even though we don’t do much fantasy at all – I simply had to mention the Duncton Chronicles by William Horwood. Anybody who grew up reading Redwall by Brian Jacques, or who loves Watership Down, has to get themselves a copy. A dark and mysterious journey into the lives of the moles of Duncton Wood, a spellbinding combination of English countryside writing with rich worldbuilding and mythology. Some of my favourite books of all time.

Who would you invite to your dream literary party?

Oooh that’s a great question, so many to choose from... Well I think I would have to have Jeff VanderMeer, N. K. Jemisin, China Miéville and Emily St. John Mandel there, just to pick their ludicrously creative brains and hopefully inherit some of their imaginative powers by osmosis. I think we could all do with a bit of what they’re having!

And then no literary party could be complete without the titan of terror, the dream weaver himself, Garth Marenghi.

Tell us a secret about books…

At the end of the day, they’re for pleasure, to switch off from everything else going on in life. Don’t stress over having not read this classic or that. Just read what makes you happy, what feels worthwhile to you personally.

Stay up to date with Canelo:

Website: www.canelo.co

Twitter: @canelo_co

Facebook: Canelo

Instagram: canelo_co

And, to discover more from the people who bring you all those books you love, read the rest of our Industry Insights series.