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Allison Gunn

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.allisongunn.com/

Twitter

GunnAndPen

Genre

Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction

Member Since

March 2022

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Allison Gunn is a researcher, writer, and tarot reader with a penchant for all things whimsical and strange. An alum of University of Maryland, Allison has extensively studied marginalized communities as well as folklore.

She currently resides in the wonderfully weird land of West Virginia with her twin daughters, precocious pup, and one seriously troubled tabby.

Allison is represented by Logan Harper with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Her debut horror novel, NOWHERE (Atria | 2025) is currently available for pre-order.

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As someone who was lucky enough to get an eARC for Nowhere and absolutely loved it, could I get some recommendations for stories that inspired you that I could read next?

Allison Gunn I'm absolutely thrilled that you loved Nowhere!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and review it.

As far as books/media that helped inspire the bo…moreI'm absolutely thrilled that you loved Nowhere!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and review it.

As far as books/media that helped inspire the book, it is a wide range with quite a few classics that you may have already enjoyed long ago. Some of these include: Pet Sematary and Storm of the Century by Stephen King; Bird Box by Josh Malerman; and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Each of these have also been translated to the screen, and I highly recommend watching the adaptations alongside the books.

HBO's Mare of Easttown; The Outsider (also a book by King); and True Detective S1 are similar television shows that share similarities with Nowhere, though they were not necessarily foundational as I was initially writing the book.

However, some of the pivotal books utilized in Nowhere's development are a little more off the beaten path:
- Books and articles focused on faerie lore served as the foundation for the story. This is something I've been interested in since I was a small child, so there's no singular source I can point to and say "That's the collection that did it!" I'd recommend digging into some of the original fae tales from Celtic lore to start.
- A great examination of modern fae lore as well as other "paranormal" phenomena that often ties back to Appalachia is a two-volume book called "Where the Footprints End" by Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner.
- "Backwoods Witchcraft" by Jake Richards also helped clarify certain practices referenced in the book and is just an all-around fascinating dive into Appalachian magick and folklore.
- I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Appalachian Reckoning," an anthology by Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll as this very much helped round out my representation of local characters, such as Jeremy, the Morelands, and the Wises in a manner that (hopefully) challenges tired stereotypes. This non-fiction book was compiled in response to J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy which many of us in Appalachia felt was a cruel misrepresentation of the region despite its initial popularity.

I should also note that art and music deeply influence all of my work, so several nods should go to:
- The artist Brian Serway (https://bserway.com/). His work encapsulates the vibe of Nowhere in a manner that I didn't think was possible! I have many of his prints around my home, and each one takes me right back into Nowhere.
- Visuals from video games such as Silent Hill were also deeply influential in creating a specific atmosphere for the story.
- Many, MANY musicians also helped shape the tone of Nowhere (as you may have guessed while reading since lyrics are interjected throughout). Rather than listing them all, I'll share the Spotify link to the playlist I created for Nowhere: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Qg...

Hope this gives you plenty to explore in the vein of Nowhere! Thank you again :) (less)

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Average rating: 3.5 · 9,569 ratings · 1,822 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Nowhere

3.50 avg rating — 9,569 ratings — published 2025 — 6 editions

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21 posts
Allison Gunn's Blog: Allison Gunn News

Celebrating Nowhere’s Birthday!

It’s finally here!

Today (3/25/25), NOWHERE enters the world for readers to pick up wherever books are sold.

(Pardon me while I tear up a bit. It’s a little like waving goodbye on your child’s first day of school.)

... Read more of this blog post »

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Published on March 25, 2025 05:17

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Allison’s Recent Updates

Allison Gunn wrote a new blog post Celebrating Nowhere’s Birthday! It’s finally here! Today (3/25/25), NOWHERE enters the world for readers to pick up wherever books are sold. (Pardon me while I tear up a bit. It’s a Read more of this blog post »
Mar 25, 2025 06:53AM · 1 like · like
Allison Gunn wants to read The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence by Stephen Kurczy (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
Jan 25, 2025 06:12AM · like
Allison Gunn is now following Katy Metzger Author of The Talismans of Teregrin (Talismans of Teregri...
Jan 17, 2025 01:51PM · like
Allison Gunn wants to read The Menace of the Morphers (The Talismans of Teregrin Book 3) by Katy Metzger (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
Jan 17, 2025 01:51PM · like
Allison Gunn wants to read The Firebreather's Curse (The Talismans of Teregrin, #2) by Katy Metzger (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
Jan 17, 2025 01:51PM · like
Allison Gunn wants to read The Talismans of Teregrin (Talismans of Teregrin, #1) by Katy Metzger (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
Jan 17, 2025 01:51PM · like
Allison Gunn rated a book it was amazing The Aurora's Pale Light (Epic WalrusTech Universe, #2) by E.W. Doc Parris (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
SPOILERS Full disclosure: I am E.W. Doc Parris's critique partner, podcast co-host, and a beta-reader. On the one hand, this probably makes me a bit biased. On the other, I am in a unique position to describe and rate this work having seen it from ...more
Dec 18, 2024 02:34PM · like · see review
Allison Gunn wants to read My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon (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
Sep 19, 2024 11:56AM · like
Allison Gunn is now following Andrew Joseph White Author of Hell Followed With Us
Sep 08, 2024 10:31AM · like
Allison Gunn wants to read Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White (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
Sep 08, 2024 10:31AM · like