Welcome to a new October series I’m hosting called Delicious Horror! I’ve asked my guests to pair some recommended horror reads with a meal, treat, or drink inspired by the work! The submissions have been amazing, and I can’t wait to share them all! To start us off, please welcome the lovely, talented, and deadly V. Castro!

V. Castro is a Mexican American woman originally from Texas now residing in the UK. You can find out more about her books at www.vvcastro.com or on Twitter and IG – @vlatinalondon

She is also the co-founder of www.frightgirlsummer.com. This is a website dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices in dark fiction.  

The following are her forthcoming releases.
Goddess of Filth – Creature Publishing (March 2021)
The Queen of The Cicadas – Flame Tree Press (June 2021)
Mestiza Blood – Flame Tree Press (2022)

Tell us what horror book you chose to highlight and why it’s a favorite of yours:

I chose to highlight three Latinx books because it is Latinx Heritage Month until October 15^th!

Loteria by Cina Pelayo is a wonderful collection of horror stories influenced by Latinx culture. Her writing is rich and poetic.

Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias is a beautiful and heartbreaking journey through the Texas/ Mexican border. The prose is elegant yet gut wrenching.

Hairspray and Switchblades is my Chicana shifter story set in Texas. Jaguars were very important in Aztec belief and I wanted to reflect that. It is also a story about living in skin that is more than it seems. This is my experience as a woman of color. We are often judged before we are truly known.

What did you decide to make to pair with the books, and what from the books inspired your delicious treat?

It’s a Devil’s Margarita! The Margarita because I’m Mexican and it’s my favorite drink when I’m back in Texas. It’s topped with red wine that I also love. How cool are the split colors!

Can you share the recipe or a link to the recipe?

Devil’s Margarita

• 1 1/2 ounce blanco tequila
• 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce red wine (ideally a fruity medium-bodied wine such as cabernet franc)
• In a shaker filled with ice, pour in tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup.
• Shake until chilled and pour into glass of choice.
• Set a spoon at a 45 degree angle barely placed inside of the margarita. The back of the spoon should be facing the ceiling.
• Pinch the top of the wine bottle with your finger and slowly pour red wine onto the back of the spoon and let it drizzle on the surface of the margarita.
• Pour until you have about 1/4 inch of red wine in the glass.

Thank you so much to V. Castro for sharing these excellent books with us (seriously, all amazing authors that you need on your shelves if you’re missing any of them.) Who will be next and what delicious horror will they share? Find out very soon!