Also joining the conversation is filmmaker and podcast host Jason Usry of Santa Maybe a Criminal, adding to the discussion surrounding folklore, storytelling, and the strange way certain legends continue to linger in the public imagination and media.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

After a chance encounter at a grocery store led to a viral TikTok video viewed by millions, Shawn and his novel quickly exploded into the spotlight, transforming the independently published ghost story into a chart-topping bestseller and introducing readers around the world to the haunting world of Leigh Howard.

Together, Raven and Shawn discuss the surreal experience of sudden viral attention, the realities of modern publishing and BookTok culture, and the process behind crafting a story that blends spooky atmosphere, mystery, humor, grief, and adventure. The conversation also explores Shawn’s writing journey, audience connection, and how social media has transformed the way stories find readers.

“Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor” follows a teenage girl whose life is shattered after the murder of her parents, leading her into a world of secrets, betrayal, organized crime, and the supernatural — including an unforgettable ghost companion with multiple personalities.

Find Shawn on TikTok @shawnwwrites.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

A self-proclaimed foodie, amateur cook, and lifelong fan of Agatha Christie. Karen became increasingly fascinated by the recurring role food played within the mysteries — from elegant dinners and curious drinks to subtle culinary details hidden throughout the narratives inspiring the creation of “Recipes for Murder,” the first cookbook dedicated to exploring food and drink throughout Christie’s novels.

Together, Raven, Rick, and Karen discuss mystery storytelling, literary atmosphere, Christie’s enduring influence on the genre, and the fascinating relationship between food, setting, and narrative immersion. The conversation also features a little kitchen experimentation of their own, as Raven and Rick may have attempted a dish or two from the book themselves.

Get the cookbook wherever books are sold.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

As the founder of the West Virginia Innocence Project and author of “Manifesting Justice,” Valena discusses the real-world cases and legal failures that inspired her work, including the devastating impact faulty forensic techniques and unreliable expert testimony can have on innocent lives. The conversation explores everything from exonerations and prosecutorial responsibility to bite mark analysis and other forms of debunked forensic science that nevertheless shaped convictions for decades.

Together, Raven and Valena examine the intersection of advocacy, storytelling, and justice — and the responsibility that comes with bringing these deeply human stories to the public forefront.

“Manifesting Justice” is available in audiobook, hardcover, and Kindle formats.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Now also known for the documentary “Girl Forgotten: What Happened to Brianna Wells?,” Dan discusses the years-long process of independently creating a feature-length true crime documentary, from research and narrative structure to the emotional responsibility that comes with telling real stories rooted in tragedy.

The conversation also takes a deep dive into the role music plays in storytelling and atmosphere. As the founder of Crime Sonics, Dan has composed cinematic music featured across documentaries, podcasts, and true crime programming, with his work appearing in productions connected to major crime media outlets and television programs. Together, Raven and Dan explore how instrumental scoring shapes audience emotion, tension, pacing, and memory — often becoming an invisible but essential narrator within documentary storytelling.

The discussion also touches on the film’s haunting main theme, “Raise Cain,” which Raven was honored to lend vocals to as part of the backing choir — a powerful musical piece designed to help bring Brianna’s story and presence back to the forefront through sound and emotion.

The episode further explores collaboration, independent filmmaking, creative process, and how stories can continue evolving long after the cameras stop rolling.

Watch the Documentary on Fawesome.

A former investigative reporter and author of nine nonfiction books — including multiple New York Times Editors’ Choice selections — Sally discusses her transition from journalism into book writing, the research process behind uncovering deeply layered stories, and the responsibility that comes with reconstructing real-world tragedy through narrative.

The discussion centers on “The Colony,” which examines the shocking murders and violent history surrounding a prominent Mormon family living within a fundamentalist community in Mexico.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

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At just seventeen years old, Jarrett Adams was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to prison for a crime he did not commit. After spending nearly a decade incarcerated, he was eventually exonerated — a journey that would ultimately lead him to become a civil rights attorney fighting for others impacted by systemic injustice.

The discussion centers around his memoir, “Redeeming Justice,” which Jarrett also narrates in audiobook form, offering listeners an intensely personal perspective on survival, identity, incarceration, and rebuilding life after exoneration.

We also discuss some of Adams cases that hail from Ada, Oklahoma - that of Garrett Peterson and Anthony Mealy.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Is True Crime Book

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Together, they explore the surprising ways gardens, plants, landscapes, and even ordinary gardening tools have shaped mystery and murder narratives throughout literary history. The discussion dives into poisonous plants, gothic atmosphere, classic mystery influences, and how authors have long used nature itself as both setting and weapon in storytelling.

The conversation also touches on literary history and why gardens so often become symbolic spaces for secrecy, death, beauty, and buried truths in fiction.

Find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books.

Thanks to Marta for being on the show!

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

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The discussion also touches on folklore, fear narratives, regional storytelling, and the way mythology transforms as stories are passed from one generation to the next. We talk Wendigos, Shamans, Voodoo, Werewolves, Vampires, the games Until Dawn, The Quarry, The Dark Pictures Anthology, and Stephen King books and movies (yes, we are aware we called the film by the wrong name - Sleepwalkers).

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

I Crit You Not: An RPG Podcast

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Find Since She's Been Gone anywhere you get your books or on the Zon here: https://amzn.to/483gFui

Find Sagit here: https://sagitschwartz.com, https://www.instagram.com/sagitschwartz/

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

I Crit You Not: An RPG Podcast

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Black Bear Alibi (Book 1) Philip Russell, a U.S. Park Ranger on a remote Pacific Northwest island, stumbles upon a dead woman in the forest. The local sheriff, Lane, arrives to investigate. Loyal to the islanders, Philip clashes with Lane, who trusts no one. As they dig deeper, they uncover hidden secrets among their neighbors. The killer may be closer than they think.

The Push (Book 2) Once again, death has found its way to Rockfish Island’s National Park, this time in the form of a terrible climbing accident. When Sheriff Lane discovers the victim has ties to an accidental drowning the summer before, she becomes suspicious the two deaths are linked and not accidents at all. Recruiting Park Ranger Phillip Russell into her investigation, the two begin looking into the past...

False Findings (Book 3) In book three of the series, dark deeds, intended to remain hidden beneath the cold waters bordering the island, have surfaced, shocking the small community and casting a dark shadow over its residents...

Within The Pines (Book 4) A well-kept secret from the average tourist, Rockfish Island is the chosen destination for an all-inclusive corporate getaway with a fun-filled weekend of glamping and horseback riding planned, each guest expecting a good time despite mounting tensions and ladder-climbing aspirations. When a shot rings out in the early morning, the celebratory atmosphere dissolves, and Sheriff Lane, with Ranger Philip Russell in tow, must discern if the corresponding death is an accident, a matter of opportunity, or a murder for hire.

JC Fuller Website

On TikTok

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

The conversation explores the real stories behind the victims, the emotional weight of investigative true crime writing, and the lasting impact these cases have had on families and communities across Texas. Kathryn also discusses the adaptation of her work into the Netflix documentary series “Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields,” in which she appears.

🖤 Get “Deliver Us” wherever books are sold.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Our conversation moves beyond pop-culture portrayals of forensic work and into the reality of what bones can—and cannot—tell us. We talk about skeletal trauma, time since death, identification challenges, and the responsibility that comes with speaking for the dead. Reichs also reflects on how her real-world experience shapes her fiction, the limits of forensic certainty, and why patience and restraint matter as much as expertise in death investigations.

This is a grounded, thoughtful discussion about science, truth, and storytelling—centered not on spectacle, but on accountability, accuracy, and the lives behind the evidence.

Kathy Reichs is a board-certified forensic anthropologist who has worked on hundreds of cases involving unidentified human remains. She is also the bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series, which inspired the television show Bones. Reichs is known for her insistence on scientific accuracy, ethical storytelling, and victim-centered work—both in the lab and on the page.

You can get her book here, or wherever you get your books.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Lots to unpack, so let's get to it!

Find more about J.L. Hyde at her website, www.jlhyde.com, or get her books on Amazon and anywhere you get your books online.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

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This case broke my heart, but the book (and Kathryn's writing) gave me hope. FIVE STARS! Find Kathryn here.

From chilling novels and psychological thrillers to horror, film, true crime, and the art of storytelling itself, Dreadfully Yours invites listeners into conversations with the minds behind the stories that stay with us.

Hosted by author, audiobook narrator, and podcaster Raven Rollins, each chapter blends cinematic narration with intimate discussions exploring fear, creativity, obsession, grief, suspense, and the human experiences woven into dark storytelling.

Dreadfully Yours, Raven Rollins

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com. Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sins of the South Book Ad

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In this Prologue, host Raven Rollins shares the story behind the creation of Dreadfully Yours, the evolution of storyteller interviews from her first podcast Sirens: Southern True Crime, and the vision for this new immersive home dedicated to dark storytelling across books, journalism, horror, film, podcasting, mystery, music, and beyond.

Featuring a growing archive of conversations with bestselling authors, indie creatives, investigators, filmmakers, journalists, and storytellers of all kinds, Dreadfully Yours explores the stories — and storytellers — that linger long after the final page has been read.

🖤 New chapters streaming soon!