The following is an interview with Anaheim Public Library Communications Manager Alessandra Gonzalez and Teen Librarian M.G. Maloney regarding the library’s inaugural Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture festival taking place on September 27, 2025. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Gonzalez and Maloney about the programming and other activities that attendees can anticipate from the festival, the shared creative process in bringing the event to life, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: The Anaheim Public Library will be celebrating frightfully fantastic stories at its inaugural Spinal Dread: Horror Literature and Culture festival on September 27. What can you share with us about the genesis behind this event?
Alessandra Gonzalez: As our Communications Manager, [I’m] an avid horror fan and ha[ve] been speaking about hosting a horror event at the library, very similar to AnaCon. It wasn’t until our Anaheim Poet Laureate, Camille Hernandez, mentioned trying to host author Tananarive Due at APL that [my] head was spinning with ideas. [I] thought this was the perfect opportunity to combine the two. With a pitch to our Anaheim Public Library Foundation, which funds all our amazing programs, we secured the funding and got rolling. Through Camille’s suave email skills and the opportunity to host an event in the fall, this all came together like a lovely fear and blood-filled present.
M.G. Maloney: Horror is super popular right now in books and films! Giving our patrons what their imaginations crave in this particular moment in time is really exciting. Working with teens, horror has long been an entry gate genre for young people falling in love with reading. Think Goosebumps, Stephen King, Scary Stories, Holly Black, or does anyone remember Christopher Pike?
BD: What will attendees have in store in terms of the creators, panels, and other activities available for this year’s festival?
AG: Attendees will have the opportunity to check our local indie horror authors, bookstores, creators, and more. Thanks to the Anaheim Library Foundation, we will have presentations from many amazing storytellers!
MGM: I mean, it cannot be over-stated enough that our keynote speaker is the international goddess of horror right now—Tananarive Due! In addition to her award-winning novels, she’s a screenwriter and has worked with Jordan Peele on his reboot of The Twilight Zone and other projects. She will be in conversation with Anaheim’s Poet Laureate, Camille Hernandez, who graciously connected us to Ms. Due.
‘90s cult-favorite SoCal young adult author Francesca Lia Block will be presenting a mini seminar on Gothic Literature with a creative writing exercise. She’s also a big deal, given the awards she’s received for her speculative writing: Spectrum Award, American Library Association Rainbow Award, and the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award.
Not to be missed is also Erica Preus who works in TV and film as a makeup and special effects artist. She will be demonstrating a horror makeup creation all-day and then talking to the audience about her process at the end of the day.
Additionally, some really cool local academics will be presenting on aspects of horror—Darcy Staniforth on “Spirits Among the Stacks: Tales of Haunted Libraries” and Susan Johnson on “Monsters in Storytelling.”
Library staff members are also going to be facilitating some fun activities for attendees: “Ghoulish Gameplay” presentation, a horror pop culture trivia contest with prizes, and a spooky craft! So, we have a lot planned for our community to have a fun, free, creative day in downtown Anaheim!
BD: An event of this size and scale is only made possible through a team effort. What can you share with us about the individuals who helped to bring Spinal Dread to life this year?
AG: Y’all baddies.
MGM: First and forefront is Alessandra Gonzalez who envisioned this festival years ago. At her right-hand side is Byron Adams who hand-drew the evocative poster art of Spinal Dread. Word is, it came to him in a dream. All of the marketing and promotion comes out of this award-winning Communications team, led by Gonzalez. Jon Andersen is Central Library’s principal librarian, and he’s also a musician who co-hosts our monthly Open Mic night. We also have two creative librarians from our Sunkist Branch, Carly Cretney and Jenn Cox. From our Euclid branch is library assistant Madisyn Cote who facilitates a number of teen and children’s programs.
From our Bookmobile is library technician Nicole Klingensmith who also facilitates a teen D&D program at Central Library. Finally, this is very awkward but I’m M. G. Maloney, and I’m APL’s overly enthusiastic Teen Librarian.
BD: The Anaheim Public Library is always engaging its patrons with wonderful programming and events throughout the year. Are there any other upcoming events that you would like to highlight for our readers?
MGM: Oh wow, thank you, Fanbase Press! To be honest, it is hard to see past Spinal Dread at this moment. But, yes, we always have original programs brewing for our communities! And the large-scale annual events such AnaCon: Comics & Sci-Fi at the Library on May 16, 2026. So, save the date for another free festival in the spring!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about this year’s Spinal Dread festival and the Anaheim Public Library?
AG: Y’ALL BETTER COME THROUGH.
MGM: And… the Library’s Instagram is really the best way to stay up-to-date, @AnaheimLibrary. But for people off social media, check out our website.
Thank you so much for helping us spread the word, Fanbase Press! We so appreciate your support and your books!
