Bookwild

True Crime, False Memories, and Family Secrets: Tara Goedjen's Please Enjoy Your Stay

Episode Notes

In this episode, I talk with Tara Goedjen about her new gothic triller Please Enjoy Your Stay.

We had some technical difficulties at the end, so it ends somewhat abruptly!

Listen to hear about:

• How Tara Goedjen's love of gothic fiction, mysteries, and horror inspired her adult debut, Please Enjoy Your Stay.
• The inspiration behind the novel's atmospheric Austrian castle setting and its blend of true crime, psychological suspense, and supernatural horror.
• The complicated ethics of true crime entertainment, from the impact on victims' families to the power of public perception.
• How unreliable memories, buried trauma, and family secrets shape the stories we tell ourselves—and the truths we're willing to believe.
• A behind-the-scenes look at Tara's writing process, including dual timelines, crafting twists, and learning to embrace discomfort while writing.