Joelle Wellington on her new YA slasher horror novel, The Blonde Dies First
"I feel like I would largely describe this book as a love letter to horror films and the place I was raised, Brooklyn."
A love letter to the horror movie formula, Joelle Wellington’s new YA novel, The Blonde Dies First, is a must read for horror fans looking for their next chilling read. Full of action, drama and humour, The Blonde Dies First, will have you on eat edge of your seat. The Blonde Dies First is a book that refuses to let you put it down and to celebrate its release, we had the pleasure of chatting to Joelle all about it.
Hi Joelle, I’m so excited to have you back on the site today, this time to celebrate the release of your sophomore novel, The Blonde Dies First. For readers who may not yet be familiar with it, how would you best describe the book to them?
The Blonde Dies First is the story of a girl named Devon Harris trying to create the Best Summer Ever for her twin sister, Drew, and their friends, and instead of getting the Best Summer Ever TM, instead she and her friends are haunted by a demon intent on killing them. Very simply premise, but hopefully very twisty and fun.
I feel like I would largely describe this book as a love letter to horror films and the place I was raised, Brooklyn. I thought it would be really fun to look at everything I love about horror and drop it into Brooklyn with a cast of mostly Black teenagers. It’s not something I grew up reading.
It’s been a year since the release of your debut novel, Their Vicious Games. How has post publication life treated you?
Oh my goodness, post publication life has been insane in the very best way. I have gotten to go so many places and see so many people. I got to be the YA Monthly Pick at Barnes & Noble, which I cried when I learned that. But, mostly, I’ve gotten to hear from so many readers. I built my TikTok FYP brick by brick so I don’t really get much Booktok content—I get F1, Hannibal, and horror—but when a TikTok about my book does make it through or I get tagged, I am just so grateful that people are reading my work. I’m so excited and happy to see that there are Black teenagers that see themselves in my work. That’s the most rewarding part of it all, to be honest.
Can you tell us a little about your inspirations behind The Blonde Dies First?
My block and Scream. I’m not joking. Brooklyn is such a unique place, full of so much culture, and it’s a place that I constantly wonder if I’ll ever leave. I’ve not yet gotten the urge to do so, outside of college. But, I just really wanted to set a meta-horror novel in this place that I have so much love for. I wanted to write the textures of this borough into a book, and I wanted the place not to be horrifying. Devon, the main character, has such a deep connection to her block, to her home, and it’s always a place of safety for her. When that sense of safety is threatened, that’s when the horror begins, and I thought that was a really poignant place to write from.
And then, Scream. My beloved Scream. I am a huge Wes Craven fan, so I wanted to pay homage in the only way I know how!
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Both of your novels are equal parts addictive and horrifying! What is it about the thriller/horror genre that draws you to explore it in your writing?
I always think that both thrillers and horror reflect the fears of whatever society they’re mirroring. I’ve personally never been the kind of person to scare particularly easy, but I do enjoy seeing the concept of fear dissected and studied, much like I think horror does. For me, genres are a really great way to explore themes that I see in the world. Whatever strikes me at a moment, I think about how I can amplify it through a more macabre lens. And of course, I like the idea of my books being addictive in a way. I say this a lot to my friends, but I like when my horror/thriller novels read like a tight 90 minute film because I personally believes that’s the most ideal length of a horror film. Though, that’s of course not a hard-rule. There are plenty of horror movies that I love that are well over two hours.
Do you have any book recommendations for readers who’ve adored The Blonde Dies First and Their Vicious Games?
Of course, I have to shout out Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s books. Both Where Sleeping Girls Lie and Ace of Spades would be a perfect fit if you really enjoyed Their Vicious Games as they both deal with class, race, and gender and are written with a really deft hand. If you really love The Blonde Dies First, I’d recommend I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, which was so good. I got to read that book early and if you’re into YA horror and slashers, like I am, then you’ll absolutely love it.
The humour within The Blonde Dies First is brilliant and such a pleasant surprise to discover within a horror/thriller. How did you go about balancing humour with the terrifying situation these kids find themselves in?
I think it wasn’t so much about finding balance per se, as looking at where one might laugh in the face of fear. Sometimes, people have inappropriate reactions to really stressful situations. Teenagers that are out of their depth—because they’re fighting a literal demon—would probably see humour as a coping mechanism. I made sure to treat it as that in the narrative as part of the story, with characters like Gael, a sarcastic aspiring horror auteur, making inappropriate quips, and Devon, whose inner monologue can sometimes reach absurdity. When the characters reacted in such a way, which is only natural—because again, demon!—the comedy and humour just feels a lot more natural.
Finally, are you currently working on anything new and if so, is there anything you can share with us?
I am working on something new! It’s another Young Adult thriller, that’s has a more murder-mystery edge than my other work. I keep calling it a suburban gothic, in the most Lynchian way possible. Make of that what you will!
Get your copy of The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington here.