Mary Rajotte - dReadCon Author Spotlight

We couldn't be any more pleased to see you attending this years dReadCon in Burlington this September.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what books we can expect to see at dReadCon, and where we can find you on social media. 

I’m an author from Toronto, and I write dark fantasy and Gothic fiction with elements of folklore and superstition. I’ll be selling signed copies of my debut dark fantasy novel The Bone Key, which came out in October 2024 from Quill & Crow Publishing House. It follows Valera Salcedo, a member of a coven of owl shifters, as she goes on a journey of self-discovery while trying to protect herself and those she loves from a group of hunters intent on stealing the coven’s power. I’ll also have bundles of my Gothic LitZine, Frightmarish, which features dark fiction, poetry, articles and activity pages, as well as some cool freebies.

Why is DreadCon important for horror and dark fiction authors?

Having local events like DreadCon makes it easy for authors to find a new community of readers. It also alleviates some of the pressure that an individual signing can have and allows newer writers to learn from seasoned pros. Plus, online selling and social media can be not only fickle but impersonal. Being able to meet readers face-to-face makes the experience much more personal and special. 

Do you have a favourite character you have written? If so, what book are they in and will it be at dReadCon?

Obviously, I love my main character Valeria in my book The Bone Key – but I think writing her cousin Desi was a completely different and entertaining experience. Valeria was very focused and intense at times, but Desi offered not only some comic relief, but he was also there to call Valeria out when he thought she was being reckless. Of course, this added some extra tension to the book, but as family and as members of the same coven, Val and Desi always had one another’s backs, which was very much needed as they fought to protect themselves from the hunters who are intent on eliminating the witches.

And yes! I’ll have signed copies of The Bone Key at DreadCon!

If readers take away one thing from your books, what do you hope it is?

A lot of my stories feature characters fighting against cruelty and injustice, often patriarchal oppression. But there’s always an underlying message of knowing and fighting for one’s worth and summoning one’s power. I think weaving these themes into The Bone Key gave it a rich foundation and allowed my owl witch Valeria to uncover the true source of her power and how it ties to her family legacy.

What makes a truly unforgettable villain or monster in dark fiction?

Giving them motivations other than simply being the “Big Bad”. Even if their motivations seem strange or misguided to the other characters. Making them believe in the choices they make and adding depth to their reasoning beyond simple revenge can really make readers react and remember your villain, especially if they love to hate them, or even start rooting for them. 

What advice would you give to new writers trying to break into the genre?

Try to approach it from your own unique angle. Is it by setting grim tales in not-so-grim locations? Is it taking a well-known plot and turning it on its head? Finding that thing you do well, that you love, and that shows off your personality as a writer is the best way to create memorable stories. 

My own unique angle is taking folklore, superstitions and myth and weaving those threads into everything I write, including The Bone Key, where I included Mexican folklore of both La Lechuza (the owl witch) and black witch moths (harbingers of death and danger). 

What type of music if any do you listen to while writing?

It really depends on the story or book. When I was working on my Dystopian horror novel, I listened to a lot of old industrial music. With The Bone Key, there’s a lot of Chelsea Wolfe, Ethel Cain, and Agnes Obel on my playlist. Other times, I choose dark ambient or dark drum and bass – atmospheric music with no lyrics to keep me distraction-free. It helps me get in the zone, something that can be a challenge, even on a good day!