Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: Chloe Spencer shows us the true horrors of influencers in her novella Mewing. Can you tell us about your story, Chloe?

Chloe: Mewing is a body-horror novella which centers on a small-time Instagram model named Vix who joins a co-op of influencers led by a mysterious and charismatic supermodel, Margo. After Margo takes Vix under her wing—and into her bed—Vixen’s success comes hard and fast, but the glitz and glamor comes with a price that may cost her her sanity… and her life.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Chloe: Oh gosh! A lot of things inspired me to write this book. My thesis film for my MFA program, a body horror film entitled Serotonin, explored concepts of influencer worship and body dysmorphia, and I wanted to expand on it. I’m also inspired by Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue and Eric LaRocca’s Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. I have body dysmorphia, so some of my own experiences influenced the book as well.

Sabitha: Do you have a playlist for your book?

Chloe: I actually do! As a sapphic story, Mewing is inspired by a lot of sapphic icons and popstars. Given that it’s also grounded in a toxic romance, there’re a lot of songs that tug at your heartstrings. I’ve included Chappell Roan’s Casual and FLETCHER’s Bitter. I’ve also included songs about influencer culture and stardom, such as Allie X’s Girl of the Year.

Sabitha: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Chloe: To Margo, I would say, “Shame on you!” and to Vix, I wouldn’t say anything, I’d give her a big hug.

Sabitha: How much research did you need to do for your book?

Chloe: A ton! Despite the fact that Mewing is approximately 100 pages, it was research intensive. It’s meant to touch on a variety of issues related to body image disorders and influencer culture, but honestly, only scratches at the surface. I had to research things related to how managers/agents work, modeling history, and medical stuff.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Chloe: My next book, Haunting Melody, releases October 2024, actually! It’s a spooky fantasy YA about a ghost hunter that teams up with a ghost girl in order to solve a grisly mystery in a small island town. It’s got some scares, but mostly just Halloweentown vibes: cozy and cute!

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
Chloe: You can find out more about me at my website. I’m also available on Instagram and TikTok @heyitschloespencer, and on Twitter as @chloespencerdev.