Kristin Temple

I’ve been at Tor since 2016 and am exclusively acquiring adult horror for Nightfire. I edit novels and novellas, and am very eager for underrepresented voices, with a huge soft spot for queer themes and characters.

I love commercial, character-driven horror that’s full of normal people making impossible choices. My favorite type of horror is grounded in close friendships/found family—Stephen King’s IT was a formative work for me, and I’m always on the lookout for the next Losers Club to fall in love with. I also love twisted, complicated family dynamics—think Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts, the movie Hereditary, and Netflix’s adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House.

I love the familiar horror tropes, but I’m also looking for books that push the boundaries of the genre. I want to see authors use horror to tackle modern-day anxieties in fresh, unique ways (e.g. Jordan Peele’s movies and Alison Rumfitt’s Tell Me I’m Worthless).

I can stomach (and love!) some pretty dark stuff, but my favorite kind of horror is ultimately hopeful. I want to watch characters face their fears and win. Make impossible choices and survive. Rescue each other and rescue themselves.

I’m not usually the best fit for gothic, literary, or historical horror (though, of course, there are always exceptions!). I’m also a hard sell on the classic monsters—vampires, werewolves, zombies—unless there’s a very unique twist. I’m more interested in unknown creatures, or folklore that hasn’t been explored yet. I’m also open to sci-fi horror and dark fantasy, but the horror elements have to be very strong (1st BISAC horror).

Submission Guidelines

Kristin only accepts agented submissions at this time.

Nightfire holds open submission periods. Guidelines here.

Tor/Forge Books accepts unsolicited submissions. Guidelines here.