The portrait of Dorian Gray has nothing on the horrific paintings at the heart ofThe Macabre.
Entertainment Weeklyhas your first look at the startling cover image below.
Read on for more from our conversation with Jackson.
Harper Voyager
Harper Voyager
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This is your adult debut.
What has it been like transitioning to that new age range and writing toward a different audience?
KOSOKO JACKSON:Ive always wanted to be an adult author, particularly an adult fantasy author.
So far, it’s been great.
Tell us Macabreand where the core idea came from.
From then on, Cassandra, a character inTheMacabre, was born, and I worked backward from that.
I also have a love for heist and adventure movies, blending with my childhood love of anime.
Are the paintings real or inspired by real paintings?
You’ve also written in the romance/rom-com space.
What propels you to write a love story versus a horror or thriller?
I dont think they are that far off, actually.
In horror, the themes are similar.
Plus, I do love writing gory scenes and pushing myself to create atmospheric horror.
If I can make a book that makes someone say, This scared me likeHereditaryorLonglegsdid, Ill die happy.
Did you have specific asks for the cover, be it the dripping blood or the Goya-esque painting?
The one thing Ive learned as an author is to let your team and the artist have free rein.
I did provide some guidelines: I wanted to work with the painting motif and make itfeelcreepy.
I think my exact words were Make it creepy!
and they came through.
I love the cover so much; I cannot stop staring at it.
