Heather Herrman's fiction blends beauty and the macabre. She loves prairie winds, tales of wicked women, and landscapes that look like they could eat you. She holds an MFA in fiction from New Mexico State University and is an active member of the Horror Writers Association. Heather currently lives outside Dallas, Texas.

PITCH-PERFECT ATMOSPHERIC WRITING: Heather's writing is commercial and pacey. Heather expertly captures the haunting, dark underbelly of Philadelphia in the 1850s and the slow-burn tension will have readers devouring her every word. Even at the creepiest and most unsettling moments there is an undeniable sense of wonder and beauty in her writing.

COMMERCIAL APPEAL: Full of twists and turns, this is a historical mystery that will keep readers on their toes and is perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series. The light romance in the story is also immensely satisfying and has its foundation in mutual respect and consent between the characters.

FEMINIST THEMES: This is a powerful and layered story with potential crossover appeal. Rich with deep and thought provoking questions about what it means to be a woman, to have ownership over your own body, to live with agency, and thrive in a male-dominated society will have readers of feminist thrillers like Wilder Girls and The Grace Year reaching for this next.

HISTORICAL INSPIRATION: While fiction, this story is rooted in historical fact. Body snatchers, also known as Resurrectionists, stole, shipped, and sold corpses across the country on the black market for medical students to use for anatomy lessons throughout the 1800s in the US, England, and Scotland. The historical truth underlying the narrative makes the setting and mystery that much more compelling.

EXQUISITE YA DEBUT: Though Heather is the author of an adult horror e-book original published on the Random House side, The Corpse Queen will be her YA and print debut and marks her arrival as an exciting new voice in YA.

MORE TO COME: We have another historical mystery standalone signed up with her, so more to come soon from this talented author.