PANEL: Folklore, Fear, and Family | Crafting the Modern Southern Gothic

Saturday, October 11 | 1:00 PM
Historic Camden – Education Center
1314 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020

Authors Allison Gunn and Emily Carpenter join forces for a conversation on how inherited myths, haunted landscapes, and family legacies continue to shape Southern Gothic fiction today.

Drawing from Appalachian and Deep South folklore, both writers explore how generational trauma and regional storytelling traditions create horror that feels personal, grounded, and eerily familiar. This panel examines the line between fear and inheritance, and how modern Gothic narratives continue to evolve in the hands of a new generation.

Featured Panelists

Allison Gunn
Writer, researcher, and podcaster, Gunn explores grief, folklore, and the occult in the Southern Appalachian tradition. Her debut novel, Nowhere, is a haunting blend of horror and family drama.

Emily Carpenter
Author of Southern Gothic thrillers including Gothictown, Carpenter’s work explores buried secrets, decaying mansions, and the psychological complexity of the Southern family. Her stories blend suspense with richly atmospheric detail.