About the Book:

Mia and Johnny have always been there for each other – particularly since their father was revealed to be a serial killer and is now serving a life sentence for murdering thirteen people.

Studying in a small university town near Edinburgh, Mia’s coping mechanisms are hiding behind sarcasm, horror writing and her somewhat illegal true crime radio station, while Johnny steps up as her warm, sensitive brother and keeps her out of trouble.

But when journalist-wannabe Johnny accepts an offer he cannot refuse – the chance to interview a reclusive mega rock star who disappeared from public view three years ago, Mia finds herself stuck on campus when two male students are found dead.

As Johnny grapples with the enigmatic musician, he realises that something about the star’s nocturnal habits doesn’t quite add up. Meanwhile, Mia’s investigation takes her to the most unexpected places – including her dad’s prison…

Find this book on Goodreads and Bookshop.org.uk (affiliate link).

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About the Author:

Amy McCaw is a YA author and YouTuber. She’s the author of the Mina and the Undead series, YA murder mysteries set in 1995 New Orleans. She also co-curated the A Taste of Darkness horror anthology with Maria Kuzniar.
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Her main interests are books, movies and the macabre, and her novels have elements of all of these.
If Amy’s not at a book event or reading, she can usually be found scribbling away in her writing room, surrounded by movie memorabilia and an out-of-control signed books collection.
Unsurprisingly, she’s a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and has gone to conventions to meet James Marsters more times than she cares to admit.
 
Amy also loves travelling and has a particular affinity for America. She’s visited 29 states, 13 Man Vs Food restaurants and many bookish locations, including the cities where Twilight, Interview with a Vampire and Vampire Diaries were set.

Website | Insta | Youtube | TikTok

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Why we love retellings

If you look on the bookshelves in any section in a bookshop, from picture books to horror, you’ll find retellings. They’re popular all over the world for every age range, and I have a few theories about why that is (as well as a few retelling recommendations).

I think part of the reason why we enjoy reading and writing them is that many retellings are rooted in familiar stories that we’ve loved from being children. I vividly remember watching and rewatching Beauty and the Beast and poring over various books of fairy tales and fables. These are the stories humans have been telling and retelling since the very beginning, and I think we’re drawn to them for this reason.

There are also retellings that are based on more recent material, such as plays and movies. I feel that these stories also appeal because fans of these books and plays will enjoy them, and the familiar storytelling patterns will also appeal to people who don’t know the source material.

The fun of writing retellings for me is that you can take a story you love and give the reader elements that feel comforting and familiar, as well as reinventing and adding your own touches to surprise them. When I retold Dracula in THEY OWN THE NIGHT, I wrote my own version of some scenes, characters and story arcs, but others I took in completely different directions.

As I love reading retellings, these are some of my favourite YA retellings:

THE SOCIETY FOR SOULLESS GIRLS by Laura Steven is a deliciously dark, sapphic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in which teenage girls take part in a ritual with dangerous consequences.

CINDER* by Marisa Meyer is a seriously fun, romantic retelling of Cinderella with a sci-fi slant and fantastic characters.

IN NIGHTFALL* by Suzanne Young is an atmospheric, gender-flipped retelling of The Lost Boys set in a town full of secrets and local legends. 

FOREST OF HEARTS* by Mia Kuzniar is a romantasy retelling of Snow White with such a good romance and loads of creepy atmosphere.  

It seems fitting to end on my own retelling! THEY OWN THE NIGHT is a 1980s reimagining of Dracula with true crime vibes, romance and mixed media.

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Thank you, Amy!

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