Interview: Mallory Arnold talks about characterization and how she approached Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die
With the recent theatrical release of Evil Dead Burn and streaming release of Backrooms, this is a great week for horror. But the treats aren't limited to screen only.
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die is the latest novel from Mallory Arnold, the author of 2025's How to Survive a Horror Story.
The book's official summary from Poisoned Pen Press reads;
"One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One plan to get even.
When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover that they've each been dating the same man, what starts as outrage quickly spirals into a plot for revenge. Together they hatch a plan to lure their boyfriend to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin at the top of a snow-covered mountain.
Only what was meant to be harmless payback soon takes a chilling turn when their not-so-adoring boyfriend is found dead in the cabin.
Stranded and snowed in, the women begin to look at each other with increasing suspicion. And as tensions rise, hidden motives come to light. To survive, each woman must confront her own demons as they fight to uncover if one of them is the killer, or if something else lurks in the freezing wilderness, waiting to pick them off one by one."
I had the opportunity to read Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die last month and found myself both entertained and enthralled. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mallory Arnold about her characters and what went into her second novel.
This interview was edited slightly for clarity.
The Horror Lounge: How to Survive a Horror Story was an excellent modern macabre that was character-driven and went beyond black and white characterization. It was also very inspired! While reading it I felt undertones of Shirley Jackson. Did you draw any inspiration from a particular author or work for Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die?
Mallory Arnold: I wouldn’t say I was drawing inspiration from any particular author or work, but I definitely nestled into that “trapped” trope, which I know a ton of writers have done so well with.
The Horror Lounge: At any point during the writing of Cross My Heart did you leave a part out because it was too dark or terrifying?
Mallory Arnold: Nope! There were a few more details about the photographs of the cult that revealed a little more about the inner workings—depictions of social hierarchies and torture ceremonies—but I removed them because it felt too in the weeds, not because it was too dark.
The Horror Lounge: How to Survive a Horror Story was your debut novel. What were the biggest differences in the writing process for your second novel? Did your debut’s publication alone give you a different approach with Cross My Heart?
Mallory Arnold: How to Survive a Horror Story had a lot of moving pieces—it was a very mystery-centered, riddle-filled book. Planning it out was pretty meticulous. With Cross My Heart, I got to take a more grounded approach and really sink my teeth into my three protagonists. I also wanted it to be a bit more realistic compared to a man-eating house. Of course, the description of “campy” has sort of stuck with my style, so you’ll definitely still find that.
The Horror Lounge: You clearly love your characters—that’s conveyed very well in your writing—how, in your opinion, can characters be morally grey or even downright unlikeable but still so interesting?
Mallory Arnold: I think unlikeable people are just as interesting, if not more so, than the most moral people. I find morally grey characters have a bit more to peel back and investigate. Like, “Why are you an asshole?” And, honestly, to me, they can be just as relatable.
Also, creating somewhat unlikeable characters is fun in horror, specifically because the readers get to decide how to feel about anything terrible that happens to them. For example, in the Halloween movies, Bob Simms and Lynda Van Der Klok are downright unbearable in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean their deaths are any less gruesome or terrifying. (For those who don’t remember, Bob Simms is pinned to the kitchen wall with a knife in the chest.) Having a diverse cast of good vs. bad (which, honestly, who are we to decide that anyway?) gives everyone an even playing field, especially when it comes to slashers.
The Horror Lounge: You’ve established yourself as a passionate runner—do you ever draft stories or simple ideas in your mind while running? Did anything from Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die come to you during a run?
Mallory Arnold: When I’m really stuck on something, I’ll go for a run without headphones so I can work it out in my head. There’s a surprising amount of clarity when your body is so focused on breathing and getting through a tough workout. I definitely drummed up some plot points on my long runs.
The Horror Lounge: Of course I have to ask; what can we expect next from your creative mind?
Mallory Arnold: I’ve been super fascinated by animal behavior and sociobiology—there are patterns in nature that are both beautiful and downright horrifying that I’m totally inspired by.
Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die is currently available from Poisoned Pen Press.
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