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Play That Funky Music
Howlin' Wolf, Kehlani, and 19th-century Boston
This year has been a whirlwind of blaring chaos and quiet struggle, marked by bright moments of companionship and courage. This wasn’t the year any of us planned. Still, I won’t shy away from (and will at times cling to) the joy and comfort that still exists in the world—in my world, specifically. In this newsletter, I’ll share some of them with you.
First, a bunny.

A picture of a grey-brown bunny in a tree’s shadow. This isn’t pictured, but this bunny was munching on the pinecones in this picture.
My debut Southern Gothic horror novel, I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU, will be published on November 18, 2025. If you haven’t, please pre-order here.

The book I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker is displayed against a red, forested background. The book cover shows a skull made of roots leading up to a church in the woods against a bright red sky.
After SPECTACLE, Kokila will publish my non-fiction picture book about Charley Pride, America’s first Black country superstar, in May 2026. I will, of course, let you know when pre-orders are available and when the cover is revealed.
Aside from these two, I am hard at work on the historical fiction I discussed in my last newsletter. I am fascinated by 19th-century Black life in Boston. Specifically, the St. Pierre and Ruffin family, which included the first Black American graduate of Harvard Law School, the founder of Boston Zion Church, and the editor and publisher of The Woman’s Era, the first national newspaper published by and for Black American women.
This book entails significant online (and, eventually, IRL) research, which I thoroughly enjoy. I spend many hours scouring census and life event records, so this is par for the course!
Let’s talk fragrance. If you’ll recall from my last newsletter (in which I included two scent combination tables), I have a passion for fragrance.
This time, I’ll give you a list of my top 5 eau de parfums in my collection!
You’ll notice the links to the perfumes for all but the last will take you to a site where you can order samples of each.
Angels’ Share by Kilian
Notes: Cognac, Tonka Bean, Oak Wood
Thoughts: This is a boozy cinnamon whiskey scent of which I’ll never tire. It’s sharp enough to be biting but still mellow enough not to be overbearing.

Me holding my travel-size bottle of Angel’s Share by Killian.
Bianco Latte by Giardini Di Toscana
Notes: Caramel, Coumarin, Honey, Vanilla, White Musk
Thoughts: I want to fall into an everlasting waterfall of sweet caramel, honey crystals, and creamy vanilla, don’t you? This perfume is the ultimate caramel gourmand. The ultimate gourmand period.
Eden Juicy Apple by KAYALI
Notes: Juicy Red Apple, Wild Berries, Jasmine
Thoughts: Apple is my favorite fruit scent, and KAYALI does fruity notes so well. The apple slightly overpowers the berries, but not enough that you don’t get a burst of dark berry when you spray.
Clementine Dream by The 7 Virtues
Notes: Clementine, Magnolia, Vanilla
Thoughts: The magnolia and vanilla beautifully soften the clementine’s citrus.
Bubble Bath by Replica
Notes: Soap Bubble Accord, Rose Superessence, White Musk, Coconut Milk Accord
Thoughts: This smells exactly like it sounds. Soft bubbles that are given some oomph and body from the coconut milk accord. This is what I turn to when I want to smell like I've just stepped out of a sudsy shower.
Let’s talk music.
What have I been listening to lately? And what music can you expect in I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU?
The top 3 songs I’m listening to right now:
“Folded” by Kehlani
Notes: I’m a contralto, so this mid-tempo, R&B song filled with yearning and vocal riffs is perfect for me. If my social media research is accurate, we can expect another version of this song that features even more riffs, layers, and harmonies. I'm excited to hear it! I believe I hear an interpolation of "One Wish" by Ray J. This song, along with "Sexy Can I," was a staple for me in the 2000s.
“Lunchroom” by Daisha McBride
Notes: This song is an explosion of confidence and creative pride. Daisha is from my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, and she’s a huge talent in hip-hop. I can’t wait for her to blow up. She’s an incredible lyricist, and I can tell her flow is inspired by Queen Latifah, so, ya know, it’s top tier.
“YITTY ON YO TITTYS (FREESTYLE)” by Lizzo
Notes: Did anyone else see the evolution of this song happen in real-time on TikTok? This is “inspired by” “WHIM WHAMIEE” by PLUTO and YKNIECE, but Lizzo has put her own spin on the track, and it is chef’s kiss. I love the upbeat energy here. It’s perfect for a morning workout.

Let’s talk about the music in "I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU." Since the novel is set at a college, specifically a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), it was essential to me that the music reflects the characters and their emotions, as well as the romantic, terrifying, and enlightening experiences they undergo in the book. Additionally, I wanted to pay homage to the rich culture of Black Southern folk and gospel music.
With that said, below are some of the songs from SPECTACLE.
Here is a link to the Spotify playlist with 50 songs.

The cover and first few songs for the playlist for “I’ll Make a Spectacle of You”. “Evil (Is Going On” by Howlin’ Wolf, “John Henry - 2” by Lesley Riddle, “i get high” by JORDY feat. Joy Oladokun, and “Down to the River” by The War and Treaty.
Speaking of I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU, let’s talk blurbs! You’re seeing these first, before I and/or my team put them in elsewhere. Here they are!! People liked my book!!
“Pulsing with tension, Beatrice Winifred Iker’s I'll Make a Spectacle of You is a chilling, richly layered debut where folklore, academia, and ancestral trauma collide. With the weaving together of horror and history, this story hooks its hold from the very first page as it reminds readers how the past never stays silent for long.” –LaTanya McQueen, author of When the Reckoning Comes
"Steeped in Southern folklore and religious traditions, this gothic debut examines the cost of protection, the strength of belief, and the bloody truth that hides in the past of even the safest of havens. Beatrice Winifred Iker is a phenomenal new voice in Adult horror."
—Kamilah Cole, Lodestar Award finalist and bestselling author of the Divine Traitors duology“A nuanced and propulsive tale told with great care. Weaving frightening set pieces with such lovingly depicted characters is a tough balancing act; Iker pulls it off flawlessly. Anyone who reads this debut will anxiously await anything this writer does next! I’m talking about me. I am anyone. Add this to your library ASAP!” —Lamar Giles, author of The Getaway
“Iker weaves a sinister slow-burn gothic mystery from the strands of family, faith, and the forgotten history of Black Appalachia. Twisty, brooding, and unpredictable—as deliciously creepy as a long walk home through a darkened wood!” —Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow
“A compelling blend of Appalachian folklore and dark academia. Iker weaves rootwork and secret societies into a chilling tale that examines the price we're willing to pay for protection—and power. I’ll Make a Spectacle of You establishes Iker as a smart new voice in horror.” —Alisa Alering, author of Smothermoss
“Immersive, inventive, and scary as hell! With impeccable folklore and lush writing, Iker's fresh, insistent voice will remind you of all the reasons you should stay out of the woods." —Neena Viel, author of Listen to Your Sister
"A mesmerizing debut filled with compelling, complicated characters and steeped in deeply nuanced worldbuilding, I'LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU will pull you in with exquisite claws from the first breath to the final page. Terrifying, heartbreaking, and unflinchingly honest storytelling. Beatrice Winifred Iker's unparalleled talent dares you not to cancel your weekend plans."—DaVaun Sanders, author of Keynan Masters and The Peerless Magic Crew
"Heart-pounding tension, edge of your seat thrills and excellent prose, Beatrice Iker’s I'LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU was a book I just couldn’t put down. If you love folkloric horror and always wonder if the shadows are looking back at you, this is the book for you."—Kosoko Jackson, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of The Forest Demands Its Due
Lastly, Run For It/Orbit Books, my publisher for I’LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF YOU announced that my book would be part of a book bundle at the San Diego Comic-Con from July 24-27th!!!
Below are the screenshots I snagged from my publisher because I am still so, so thrilled my book will be there.

A screenshot of Orbit Books’ Instagram announcement saying to visit them at the San Diego Comic-Con. Booth #1118 from July 24th-27th.

A screenshot of the four books in the Orbit Books bundle at the San Diego Comic-Con. It says, “Buy a Book and Receive an ARC!”. There are covers for “The Isle in the Silver Sea” by Tasha Suri, “Savage Blooms” by S.T. Gibson, “I’ll Make a Spectacle of You” by Beatrice Winifred Iker, and “Slow Gods” by Claire North.
Thank you for reading my latest newsletter!
I’m most active on Instagram, so follow me (@beatricewinifrediker) there for updates in between newsletters.