Cat Scully, the acclaimed New England artist and debut horror author, is set to release her chilling new novel, Below The Grand Hotel, on May 6th, 2025. This haunting tale is set against the glittering backdrop of 1920s New York and follows Mabel Rose Dixon, a young woman desperate to become a Ziegfeld girl, even if it means resorting to petty crime to fund her dream. However, when she targets the wrong victims, Mabel tumbles into a demonic art deco hotel where fame is eternal—but so is the price.
Every night, Mabel finds herself starring in a full house. But the spotlight is cursed. Mabel must reclaim her stolen soul before the Grand’s sinister May’s Eve Ball, or else become one of its demonic residents forever.
With Below The Grand Hotel, Scully brings her unique gothic aesthetic to life, featuring her own stunning illustrations. This novel is a must-read for fans of horror, dark fantasy, and historical fiction with a supernatural twist.
In celebration of the book’s release, SCREAM sat down with Scully, who discussed the inspiration behind her book’s commentary on the allure of fame, how her experience in the video game industry influenced the novel’s structure, and what led her to set the story inside the Grand Hotel, which symbolises a refuge from the changing times and the fear of being forgotten.
WORDS: Howard Gorman
