Behind the Screams #36: Stephanie Rose.

A 'From Pitch to Published' Q&A.

Stephanie Rose is a disabled / neurodivergent / queer author from Washington, owner of online bookstore and indie press, Death by TBR Books who is about to re-release her debut novel, Hiding Lies, in September 2025 and second book, Small Town Slasher, in 2026. Please welcome Stephanie, who takes us behind the screams of her second book…

Stephanie and the cover of her forthcoming second novel

1. Pitch me Small Town Slasher in one sentence.

Fast‑paced and gloriously gory, Small Town Slasher delivers slasher movie quotes and a twisty narrative from a fierce disabled protagonist in a single night you won’t forget.

2. What came first, the idea or the title?

Idea first since I knew it was going to be a slasher but the details changed quite a bit. I wanted the title to be straightforward and Small Town Slasher just worked. It tells you right away what it’s about and what to expect.

3. Where did the idea originate from?

A dictator had just become president so I was really struggling mentally and emotionally. I wanted to fictionally kill a lot of people with all the rage I was feeling so I wrote a slasher.

4. How long did it take to write?

Small Town Slasher was written in two months. I set a goal of writing about 2,000 words per day. If I didn’t hit the goal I had to make up for it the next day. This is only my second novel so I’m still figuring out my writing routine.

5. Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’d like to say I'm a panic plotter while being a pantser.

6. Paper or screen?

Both. I tried out a few programs but came back to using Google Docs and I also index out scenes, characters, major plot points, and more.

7. Edit as you go or at the end?

Sometimes I get caught up trying to fix something if I catch a mistake. One time I started to write someone into a scene that had been killed off and I went back through and made sure I hadn’t done that anywhere else. Overall, I usually go straight through or at least I’m trying to do that more. I’ve learned it’s important to get the idea down on paper first then make it better later.

8. Do you beta?

Always. I usually choose five or six and they range from readers, writers, and horror film lovers since reading, writing, and watching films are all part of my writing process.

9. How did you approach your publisher?

Well I asked myself if I thought publishing a meta slasher would be up my own alley and we both agreed it would be.

10. Who designed the cover art?

I used a few images that I purchased from Man_Half-tube on iStock.and the cover design was done by me with layers and details added to the images. No AI was used and will ever be used on Death by TBR Books’ covers.

11. How many times was the book rejected?

I lost count but while I waited for rejections I was marinating on an idea to make Death by TBR Books not only a bookshop but a small indie press.

12. Recommend another indie writer who doesn’t get enough love.

V.S. Lawrence. I absolutely loved 80s Ghosts and I can’t wait to read With Friends Like These.

All writing information for Stephanie Rose can be found here, including links to her socials. For all things Death by TBR Books, follow this link.