Day 10 of my bookish gift guide. Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore by @katyhoran.bsky.social. For readers drawn to darker threads of folk tradition, for those who want their music history served with cultural critique and gorgeous art, and who understand how tragedy and myth become song.
hey thanks!!!
The cover of Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore by Katy Horan
Uh yeah, this book rules
@katyhoran.bsky.social
Books I loved in waning daylight:
🌙Our Share of Night, Mariana Enriquez
🥀Literary Witches, Taisia Kitaiskaia & @katyhoran.bsky.social
🕳️Portalmania, @debbieurbanski.bsky.social
👾The Sky Didn’t Load Today, Rich Larson
📚The Illness Lesson, @clarebeams.bsky.social
🕌The White Mosque, Sofia Samatar
Thrilled to see Murder Ballads by @katyhoran.bsky.social included on the 2025 Books We Love list by @npr.org!
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
I chat to Katy Horan about murder ballads, discussing what they are, how they work within folk music, how contemporary musicians have tried to reclaim the tradition, and the issues with examining ballads when all you might have is the lyrics!
youtu.be/7jb_4K_Q60w?...
If you enjoy the insights of Megan Kaminski, the magic of Taisia Kitaiskaia & Katy Horan, Fen Inkwright's world-building, and Edgar Lee Masters' folklore...
Check out The Elsewhere Oracle by Michele Battiste, releasing with Black Lawrence Press on August 12! Pre-order now: buff.ly/r84XaIE
So happy you are enjoying it!!!!
@paulduane.bsky.social @sineadgleeson.bsky.social @katyhoran.bsky.social
This beauty just arrived! Ideal reading (and listening) for long hot summer days…
THE BLOODY GARDENER is an old ballad. Rich in imagery and narrative, it was one of the first ballads I took to when I started researching the subject over 10 years ago. Learn more in MURDER BALLADS: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore out now from @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social
bookshop.org/p/books/murd...
Xoxoxo!
Beautiful new book MURDER BALLADS an illustrated history by Katy Horan, the artist of LITERARY WITCHES, as well as my folk horror map and the YELLOW WALLPAPER audio recording I did. 🖤
I interviewed @katyhoran.bsky.social about her new book, Murder Ballads scarlettwoman.substack.com/p/murder-bal...
‘In the Pines’ Illustration from @katyhoran.bsky.social’s Murder Ballads book, which many will know as Nirvana’s Lead Belly cover of ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’. m.youtube.com/watch?v=hEMm...
I knew IN THE PINES long before the conception of this book thanks to Nirvana’s unplugged album. My research for the book then led me down a very elusive history. Learn more in MURDER BALLADS: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore out now from @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social
bookshop.org/p/books/murd...
Picture of the book “Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore” by Katy Horan
This book.😍
Some murder ballads come from lore, and others tell true tales of a killing, like that of Naomi Wise. There is the true story of Naomie and there is the ballad of Omie Wise. Read about both in MURDER BALLADS: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore, out now @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social bookshop.org/p/books/murd...
Some murder ballads come from lore, and others tell true tales of a killing, like that of Naomi Wise. There is the true story of Naomie and there is the ballad of Omie Wise. Read about both in MURDER BALLADS: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore, out now @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social bookshop.org/p/books/murd...
I love that so much! I think I remember you mentioning it!
The audiobook of Murder Ballads is also out AND it includes renditions of some of the songs by Marissa Nadler, Okkervil River, and Lizzie No!
Scroll down to AUDIO for listening options!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Murder...
Marissa Nadler and Milky Burgess – The Bloody Gardener Review
Murder ballads are given an ethereal rootsy inimagining.
I am so late to posting this here, but Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore is out now! Thank you for everything @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Murder...
I love that you have that print! It was one of the original illustrations for the pitch of my book Murder Ballads that just came out. That image is very special to me, and I’m happy you love her too!
Book 65: Murder Ballads by @katyhoran.bsky.social
The Unquiet Grave from @katyhoran.bsky.social's Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore. @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social
Page spread of a zine featuring an interview with some guy Richard Wells.
Front cover of Issue three of The Wandering Wizard zine, surrounded by branded stickers.
I did some daft chat for issue three of The Wandering Wizard zine, which was nice. Also featuring @greenlungband.bsky.social and @katyhoran.bsky.social ✨..
Ep. 348D is here! Katy Horan stops by to chat about MURDER BALLADS: ILLUSTRATED LYRICS & LORE. We discuss the history of murder ballads, some prominent examples, and their influence on media today. @katyhoran.bsky.social @simonandschuster.bsky.social
turnthepage.blubrry.net/2025/05/01/t...
Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore enters the world next Tues 4/29 from
Preorder link in bio!
Austin Frenz: come to Book People on 4/29 at 7pm to celebrate with me. I will be in conversation with THE Laurie Gallardo from KUTX I hope to see you there!!!!
This week, Lindsay chats with Katy Horan about her book, "Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore," which will be released on April 29th. Listen to the episode now at pod.link/yeoldecrime and pre-order a copy at bookshop.org/p/books/murd.... #HistoryPodcast
This is what organizing over 1,200 events in a few weeks looks like.
This is what democracy looks like.
Join the more than half a million of us who will be taking to the streets tomorrow to stand up against Trump’s unprecedented power grab: handsoff2025.com?SQF_SOURCE=i...
