She Wore Black She Wore Black

E: 224: Art in Gothic with Madison Tyler Nelson

Oct 15, 2026 · 54m

Summary

Madison Tyler Nelson discusses her debut novel, Portrait of a Haunting, exploring its gothic horror themes and the connection between art and supernatural ability. She shares her personal history with macabre art and how it inspired the book’s central mystery. The episode concludes with a series of book recommendations, including Malice House, The Artist of Blackberry Grange, and Paint It Black, all featuring strong gothic or artistic elements.

Topics discussed

Introduction and guest welcome Overview of Portrait of a Haunting plot Inspirations: macabre art and bodily fluids Character development and the mother-daughter dynamic Discussion on transgressive art and Andre Serrano Research process and self-reflection in Gothic art The connection between sight, power, and creation The experience of buying and displaying original art Book recommendation: The Haunting of Hill House (or similar fairy tale Gothic) Book recommendation: A Gothic thriller set in Arkansas Book recommendation: Layered psychological Gothic thriller Book recommendation: Rachel Hawkins' portrait-centric Gothic Book recommendation: A Dangerous Bargain by Aaron Cotter Book recommendation: A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young Book recommendation: Alice Hoffman's darker works Book recommendation: Victorian death photography mystery Book recommendation: Grief and art in a contemporary setting Book recommendation: Mansion in Miniature and dollhouse art Closing remarks and show support links
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