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I had absolutely no idea when I simply posted a thread saying that I am a simple reader and I would just immediately read any story with an Appalachian setting, I would end up meeting one of the kindest authors I’ve met and getting the privilege of reading an early copy of one of the best books I’ve read this year. It then became a necessity to sit down with Megan Lynch and discuss her 12-year writing journey and her upcoming Gothic, folk horror novel Hymn for the Forsaken. Please enjoy our conversation with Lynch about her insights on transitioning from YA Dystopian novels to adult Gothic horror and the elements that inspire her.

About the author

Getting to know megan

• For readers who will be discovering your work for the first time, how would you introduce yourself as an author? What kind of stories draw you in?

I’ve always been a writer with something to say. If my memory serves me, I’ve never written a story for the sake of writing it; strong themes are a thread of consistency in my work. I’ve always been interested in imagining a better world, and my frustration that it isn’t here yet is usually what brings me to the keyboard. I write about social justice, human dignity, and our relationships with nature and with each other. 

• Having written YA dystopian fiction, middle-grade supernatural tales, and now adult Gothic fiction, how has your craft evolved across these genres and age categories and what core elements do you think have stayed the same?

I know; I’m all over the place! I appreciate life at every developmental stage, and I like writing stories for people at those different points in their lives. I think a core element that has stayed the same is that all of my books have sprung from a theme that I couldn’t get out of my mind.

• You’ve shared that your writing journey began in childhood. Do you recall the very first story that truly captured your imagination?

My grandma had a big book of fairy tales she’d read to me when I was small. The book itself seemed giant to me; it was certainly too big for me to hold, and the full-page illustrations were all done in such a dreamy style that I always felt totally immersed.

From YA Dystopian to Adult Gothic

• Looking back at Unregistered from the Children of the Uprising trilogy, what thematic questions or ideas do you think your younger self was seeking to explore through dystopian fiction?

I thought it was interesting that most of us spend time–some just a little time, some their entire lives—accepting objectively bad systems and attempting to succeed in a game stacked against them. Many people do not bother identifying what’s not working and imagining a better society. I wanted to explore this awakening.

• Questions of power, inequality, belonging, and marginalization run throughout your body of work. Do you feel these themes have always been central to your creative identity?

Yes! Though I grew up in small, white, and economically disadvantaged (for the most part) regions of the US, I was an avid reader, and my awareness of diverse perspectives grew through books. I’ve always been drawn to literature that explores the nature of power–who’s in and who’s out–because it’s antithetical to what it means to be human, and yet we all accept it as normal! A better system would be mutual aid, service, and an acknowledgement of the dignity of all human beings. It’s a hard idea for us to get our arms around, and thus we need stories to help us!

• Hymn for the Forsaken marks a distinct shift into new territory. What drew you toward writing an Appalachian Gothic narrative?

In grad school, I became fascinated with Rachel Carson, the scientist and environmental activist whose work paved the way for the Environmental Movement. She was a great example of a woman who used her education and privilege for the common good, though she also faced a lot of hardships as an unmarried woman in a male-dominated field. I was writing a biography of her life for kids when I had the idea for HYMN FOR THE FORSAKEN. My advisor encouraged me to pursue it, and I realized the genre very well through my creative drive. American Gothic fiction is all about characters believing they can succeed within a rotten system until they realize they can’t.

hymn for the forsaken

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• Without giving away major spoilers, can you tell us what served as the initial spark for Hymn for the Forsaken? Was it a specific character, setting, image, or piece of folklore?

The theme was the spark. I had been thinking about exploitation in its different forms: economic, environmental, sexual exploitation specifically. I realized that the place I’d grown up in West Virginia would be a good setting to tell this story. West Virginia has a long history of corporations moving in, exploiting resources, and then leaving a mess for the people to clean up.

• Ina’s attachment to her family’s West Virginia homestead anchors the narrative. What does “home” mean to you personally, and why did you choose to place that concept at the heart of this book?

In my mind, Ina lives at my own grandparents’ old home. It’s much different now than when I was a kid, but it was a beautiful place to learn to be human. I gave Ina that home because it meant so much to me. The meadow she goes to think in the first chapter is a meadow I’ve sat in many, many times to watch the bees and turkeys and to let my mind wander. I think that’s what home means to me: a place safe enough to let yourself just exist.

• The novel weaves together Appalachian folk magic, family secrets, systemic economic pressures, and the looming presence of a tech giant. How did you balance supernatural elements with grounded, real-world issues, and what inspired you to do so?

I wanted the supernatural elements to serve a purpose. I believe that there is an invisible world that is as real as the one we can experience with our limited senses, and also that there are good and bad aspects of it. I wanted the theme to be the star of the show, with the supernatural elements there to support it with metaphor.

• As a native of West Virginia, which aspects of the state’s landscape, history, and living culture were most important for you to capture through Ina’s story?

The battle of Blair Mountain was an important event in history, and the largest armed uprising in the country besides the Civil War. At its heart was economic exploitation and the willingness of the workers to fight for their own dignity. Industry won, and the story was wiped from the history books. Today, most people do not know what happened. That idea of people continuing to be exploited through ignorance is what was important for me to capture. I also wanted to show the beautiful pieces of country life; there is a true community present in many places, and the people there make helping their neighbors a high priority in their lives. It’s something we can all learn from.

• With its isolated homesteads, hidden motives, and atmospheric dread, the novel embraces classic Gothic elements and presents them exquisitely. What are a few of your personal favorite Gothic tropes?

I’ve always liked the setting as a character, though I haven’t written that one yet! In this one, I really enjoyed the process of writing the creeping dread by sprinkling in questions that can only be answered by turning the pages.

• If you could spend an afternoon with any character from Hymn for the Forsaken, who would it be, and what would you ask them?

Definitely Nan. I am lucky enough to have the real-life version of her in my own life, and I take advantage by calling her several times a week. As a character, Nan is really a blend of my own grandmother and my Aunt Grace; they have both always inspired me by encouraging me to enjoy my life as it is now, not to wait for an external reason to be happy. I suppose if I were to spend time with the character of Nan, I’d want to walk around the woods and ask her to teach me all of the plants whose names and functions I still don’t know!

bTS of Hymn for the forsaken

• What was the most unexpected realization you had while writing this novel in terms of characters, your own creative process, or the development of the plot?

It was a real “I contain multitudes” moment when I realized I was every character! There are elements of my own personality in every character, whether they are villains or heroes.

• Did any major plot lines or character trajectories shift significantly from your original plan once the writing was underway?

Actually, no! Many other elements of the story changed, but the characters are all still very much aligned to the original idea.

• How did you cultivate the novel’s unique mood while writing? Did you rely on specific music, writing habits, or environmental cues to stay in that Gothic headspace?

I can’t be too precious about my writing practice. For as long as I’ve been writing seriously, I’ve been a mother whose writing time can be interrupted at any minute, so there’s no music or candles for me yet. I am still a big reader, and I read a ton of American gothic fiction while I was originally drafting this. I also wrote my critical thesis on modern American gothic at the same time. I guess the mood was lodged in my head! 

• Receiving the T.A. Barron Prize for Fiction with progressive themes prior to publication is a remarkable honor. What does this early recognition mean to you?

In my mind, I still sometimes revisit the memory of when my manuscript title was announced as the winner. It was an affirmation of hard work and an acknowledgement that the people I was writing about and for really mattered. It was an incredibly meaningful moment for me.

• What would you say to a reader who does not typically pick up Gothic fiction, but is curious about Hymn for the Forsaken?

I’d encourage them to give it a chance in case there’s a shot they’d see themselves in it. And if exploitation is getting under your skin lately, you might find it satisfying!

• What kind of reader do you hope finds a piece of themselves in this story?

I do hope that people who don’t read a lot of American Gothic will pick up this book. It’s such a cool genre, and I think it’s becoming more and more important in our world, where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting angrier.

• Finally, what lingering questions or feelings do you hope stay with readers after they finish your book?

Some that spring to mind are: what is possible if I join other people who are working to make a better world? How can I be a better neighbor? What am I struggling with that my community might be able to help me with? I’m also hoping they come away with an updated understanding of some of the people of Appalachia, especially because the negative stereotype of barefoot, ignorant hillbillies voting against their own interests has persisted ever since the coal industry started it one hundred years ago. I’d like for readers to have a firmer belief in the inherent dignity of every human being.

• Favorite Gothic setting: an abandoned manor, a fog-choked forest, a ruined church, or something else entirely?

I like old half structures you sometimes find in the woods! Stone or brick remains of walls, wells…sometimes an old chimney.

• Which book do you wish you could experience for the first time all over again?

THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tart

• What is your go-to reading snack or beverage?

Frothed coffee with soy milk!

• Which three words best capture the essence of Hymn for the Forsaken?

Lush, cozy, dangerous

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A huge thank you to author Megan Lynch for agreeing to do this interview with me, taking the time to talk about her writing career, her shift from YA and middle grade dystopian fiction into a much darker territory, and the Appalachian roots and inspirations behind her newest novel. I’m incredibly grateful for the honest insights, fascinating behind-the-scenes details, and a glimpse into the creative mind behind this exciting new release that is coming our way very soon!

If you’re a fan of Appalachian Gothic, atmospheric horror, eerie settings, and stories that blend darkness with emotional depth, make sure you mark your calendars for October 20, 2026, and get ready to discover Megan Lynch’s haunting new novel, Hymn for the Forsaken!

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