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Zoje Stage

Goodreads Author

Website

https://zojestage.blogspot.com/

Twitter

zooshka

Genre

Suspense, Thriller, Horror

Member Since

September 2017

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Zoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Baby Teeth was just so good! I wonder where the inspiration/idea for this book came from?

Zoje Stage Thank you so much, Renee! Maybe not surprisingly, it's a bit of a long story. I'll give you the highlights...

Several years ago, while I was still purs…moreThank you so much, Renee! Maybe not surprisingly, it's a bit of a long story. I'll give you the highlights...

Several years ago, while I was still pursuing a career as a filmmaker, I wrote a script that I wanted to direct called "Hands and Knees." It involved a family similar to BABY TEETH's, but the theme was quite different: it was about a woman who was becoming overwhelmed by what she perceived to be the horrors of domesticity. As an intended film, it was geared more toward mood (cool, detached) and a cinematic look.

I had the opportunity to take the script to Independent Film Week in 2012, where I discussed the project with nearly 20 producers. After people read the script I noticed a recurring bit of feedback: people wanted less implied horror and more actual creepy bits, and to know more about what was going on with the little girl. ("Hanna's" character in the script wasn't nearly as developed, nor was the plot involving her battles with her mother.)

I decided later that same year that I wanted to try learning to write novels, and I spent the next few years engaged in that process (I wrote five books before BABY TEETH). The concept of "Hands and Knees" stuck with me, and when I finally felt able to bring my novel-writing skills to the project, I started fleshing out the characters, mindful of the feedback I'd gotten from producers years before.

BABY TEETH as a novel took on a life of its own - wildly different from the screenplay - when I made two key decisions: 1) to give Suzette Crohn's Disease (to increase her vulnerability and give her a weakness that her daughter uses against her); 2) to write the novel in dual POV, making Suzette and Hanna each the protagonist of their own story, and each other's antagonist. With these two developments, the characters and story took on a life of their own, and it became my job to "listen" to what they were trying to tell me. (less)

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I really enjoyed your novel, Baby Teeth. Absolutely gripping psychological thriller. I am curious if you think you will write a sequel to it some day? I feel like the way it ended left it open as an option, which would be amazing.

Zoje Stage Thank you, Selena! Part of what I wanted to do with the ending is leave readers imagining for themselves what might happen next, or in the next couple…moreThank you, Selena! Part of what I wanted to do with the ending is leave readers imagining for themselves what might happen next, or in the next couple of years. One concern for writing a sequel is it would probably make the "resolution" too definitive - at least for me, and possibly for some readers as well. But many have asked about a sequel, and I certainly appreciate that people want to spend even more time with these characters and see what happens to them! (less)

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Combine Editions
Zoje Stage’s books

Average rating: 3.54 · 118,429 ratings · 17,958 reviews · 15 distinct works • Similar authors

	Baby Teeth 3.59 avg rating — 89,284 ratings — published 2018 — 44 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mothered 3.29 avg rating — 12,252 ratings — published 2023 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dear Hanna 3.59 avg rating — 6,829 ratings — published 2024 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wonderland 3.10 avg rating — 5,640 ratings — published 2020 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Getaway 3.54 avg rating — 3,345 ratings — published 2021 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Baby Teeth: The First Ten Chapters 3.86 avg rating — 269 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Girl Who Outgrew the World 3.65 avg rating — 262 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast by Zoje Stage (Goodreads Author), J E Larson (illustrator) 4.58 avg rating — 59 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Something of a Calling 3.93 avg rating — 59 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Getaway - Das Unheil by Zoje Stage (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Zoje Stage…

Series by Zoje Stage

Hanna (2 books)
by

Zoje Stage (Goodreads Author)

3.59 avg rating — 96,111 ratings

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7 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. To create our...

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Zoje’s Recent Updates

Zoje Stage is now friends with Sabrina
Jul 05, 2026 10:23AM · like
Zoje Stage and 2 other people liked Nikki's review of Something of a Calling: "🦌ARC REVIEW🦌 PUB DATE: 9/15/2026 @blackstonepublishing @netgalley “We might be the only species that’s consciously aware of doing things that are wrong—and persists in doing them.” “Hello, little mamas.” 💬 Well that was a short but POWERFUL horror read. " Read more of this review »
Jul 02, 2026 04:51PM · see review
Zoje Stage liked Jacy's review of Something of a Calling: "Something of a Calling is a bite-sized, poignant story that will sink its teeth into you (literally). A ‘good for her’ tale, but the ‘her’ is a conglomerate of earth’s creatures working towards leveling the playing field against human tyrants that ha" Read more of this review »
Jun 28, 2026 09:34PM · see review
Zoje Stage liked Brandy Dougan's review of Something of a Calling: "Something of a Calling is a unique and beautiful story with some gruesome and macabre twists. I went into this book expecting horror but I wouldn’t quite describe it as such. In this book Zoje Stage takes us along the last days of Andy’s life before " Read more of this review »
Jun 27, 2026 12:33PM · see review
Zoje Stage answered Sarah's question: Not a question - just finding out about next year's release today. I'll hang in there an ENTIRE year. On pins and needles for 'Something of a Calling!" Any recommendations? :) Just a note of support. Thank you! SOMETHING OF A CALLING will be available Sept. 15, 2026 -- so just under four months from now! (I have another book coming out in 2027, a kink novel/murder mystery called GOOD GIRL.)
May 21, 2026 11:15AM · 3 likes · like
Zoje Stage entered a giveaway The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 10, 2026 07:52AM · like · see giveaway
Zoje Stage rated a book it was amazing Silent Nightmares: Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I know I'm biased (I have a story in this book), but I really enjoyed this. It inspired me to want to write more short stories. ...more
May 08, 2026 10:49AM · 7 likes · like · see review
Zoje Stage rated a book it was amazing Something of a Calling by Zoje Stage (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Since moving into my house in 2020, I have fallen in love with my animal neighbors and I frequently see squirrels, deer, groundhogs, cardinals, blue jays, chipmunks, raccoons... I've discovered that they all love black oil sunflower seeds, and I feel ...more
Mar 20, 2026 11:15AM · 24 likes · like · see review
Zoje Stage wants to read Trad Wife by Sarah Langan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 07, 2026 01:24PM · 3 likes · like
Zoje Stage wants to read Silent Nightmares: Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 07, 2026 08:33AM · 1 like · like

More of Zoje's books…

Quotes by Zoje Stage (?)

“It was hard to pour endless love into someone who wouldn't love you back. No one could do it forever”
― Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth

tags: love, unrequited-love

34 likes

“She resented her body's betrayal. She still couldn't express how insecure it made her, how she lived on a precipice. The most basic parts of her could fail, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.”
― Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth

tags: chronic-illness, illness

9 likes

“Sometimes she struggled with resentment watching her family eat a meal that she prepared. People took eating and shitting for granted, like the continuous beating of their hearts, the inevitable protection of their skin. They didn't think about their intestines doing everything wrong, fucking up the basic process of digestion.”
― Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth

tags: crohns-disease, health

7 likes

See all Zoje Stage's quotes »

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