MARLA – Jonathan Janz

In every generation, there comes a gifted author who not only has talent, but whose writing captures our attention immediately. From Poe to Shelley, Lovecraft, Matheson, King, Hill, and Chizmar, to name a few, we seem to be enthralled to the point that we’re anxiously awaiting more. You can add author Jonathan Janz to this impressive list, as he does just that with his latest novel, Marla.

It’s been nearly two years since I discovered Janz’s works. His novel, Veil, was my first read, and I can honestly say it is a page-turner that I couldn’t put down. To say it bluntly, it blew me away! Now he’s back with his newest release, a fantastic novel entitled… Marla.

Marla… is a beauty AND a beast! She’s a female character who’s kin to the likes of Stephen King’s Annie Wilkes from the novel Misery. As diabolical as she is, I found myself drawn in by her sweet and shy innocence, the same as I was by the character Carrie White from another of Stephen King’s novels, Carrie, as well as Rose the Hat from Doctor Sleep. Both are beauties, yet pure evil. Marla is a story set in the small town of King’s Branch, Indiana. Of course, in every small town across America, there is always that one house you avoid. That one creepy house everyone in town talks about, gossips about, and questions for years to come. The kind of house you drive past quickly, or children run past, walk a block out of the way to avoid someone or something entirely.

Irene Gorman and her daughter, Marla, live in this particular house. For years, locals have said the house was haunted; terrible acts of gore and violence happened inside, and it has become the local legend of mystery that “haunted” houses are known for. When murders suddenly occur in King’s Branch, fear blankets the town like a cold chill in the dead of night. Detective Carl Lancaster investigates the strange happenings. Annie Frost, the local social worker, is dragged into this nightmare and must help Detective Lancaster solve this horrific mystery while uncovering her own personal connection to the Gorman House. The body count rises, fear sweeps the area like a rampant virus, but it’s going to take a small band of locals not only to solve this horrific nightmare, but to be brave enough to face Marla!

I’m going to be honest; it takes a lot to scare me, especially when it comes to horror novels. I’ve read many books by several influential horror authors of our time, and they’ve scared me. I’m happy to add Jonathan Janz to my list of favorite authors. Marla had me on edge immediately! It’s creepy, suspenseful, thrilling, intense, at times very realistic, and the scare factor? Oh yes, indeed!

Janz has created wonderful characters you learn to like, dislike, or are terrified of. As I read on, the character Marla became almost likable, attractive, someone anyone could find appealing, but when you least expect it, the nightmare gets so dark and intense that those feelings turn to sheer terror! Marla is one of the best, or worst, female villains I’ve read about in quite a while. Her beauty, seduction, and erotic ways have a price, and that price goes beyond what nightmares are made of.

Jonathan Janz has hit the ball out of the park, so to speak! Marla is easily one of the top reads of 2026! I highly recommend you grab a copy before Marla grabs… YOU! I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing Jonathan Janz, the author of Marla. I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it.

Anthony W. Northrup – Thank you, Jonathan, for taking the time to be with us today. For those readers who may not be familiar with your work, please share a little about yourself.

Jonathan Janz – Hello, my friend. Thank you so much for having me! I’m an author, which folks have probably already gathered. I’m a husband, father, and public school teacher (Film Lit, Creative Writing, and English). I’m represented for TV & Film by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and my literary agent is Lane Heymont. I love animals, nature, books, movies, and working out. Really, I’m pretty dull and predictable in real life, but I’m very happy.

AN – The horror genre seems to be your preferred subject. Your last hit novel, VEIL, proves it once again. What specifically attracted you to the horror genre so many years ago?

JJ – Thank you for saying that! I really think horror chose me. I was born four days before Halloween. My childhood home was on the edge of town, nestled between a dark forest and a graveyard. My mom was a huge Twilight Zone fan who would often bring home the works of Edgar Allan Poe, which we’d listen to on our record player. So basically, I think I was born into horror, and I’m so thankful that I was.

AN – Let’s talk about your latest novel, MARLA. Who is she and what can you tell us about her?

JJ – Well, that’s an awesome question, but it’s the one thing I can’t answer because Marla is many things to many people. To some, she’s a witch. To others, she’s a prisoner. She’s a hundred other things to a hundred other people, but no one knows for sure. All we know is that there are brutal, terrifying murders occurring in King’s Branch, Indiana, and Marla is somehow involved. Sorry, I can’t be more specific than that, but I want readers to discover her story for themselves. I think they’ll find her as seductive and terrifying as some of my characters find her.

AN – I noticed there are many nods to the horror icon Stephen King throughout the book. Was Stephen King an inspiration for this novel, and if so, in which way? Have you always been a King fan?

JJ – YES! I’m so happy to hear that my Constant Reader-ness shined through in the novel. As you alluded to, some of Carrie White’s DNA is in my story. There are also hints of Derry and Castle Rock in my town, King’s Branch (absolutely named after SK). As you alluded to, I’ve been a Stephen King fan since I was fourteen. He changed my life back then by writing stories that kept me engaged and made me feel like I wasn’t alone. Since then, I’ve read nearly every book he has written. I’ll be a lifelong fan.

AN – I read that the character Annie (Frost) has somewhat of a personal connection to you. Is this true? How so?

JJ – I do think the stuff Annie Frost goes through in the book resembles some of the stuff my mom had to endure when I was growing up. I’ve also (unfortunately) seen many instances of awesome women in marriages with crappy men, and that’s certainly the case with Annie. So yes, I do feel a strong affection for Annie and feel deeply invested in her story.

AN – The novel has some deep and dark scares, as well as some wonderful characters that you learn to like, and some you hate. What specifically did you want to bring to the table this time around that not only is different from your other stories, but scares the readers even more so than before?

JJ – Thank you! I honestly set out to scare readers as much as Marla scares me. She’s such a powerful, mysterious presence that I felt her throughout the book, no matter whose eyes I was telling the story through. She haunts King’s Branch the same way she has haunted my imagination for several years. And I think you’re right-this is definitely one of my scariest books. And thanks for digging my characters too. As you mentioned, some are cool, and some are awful, but I do think they’re all interesting and dimensional.

AN – The character Marla is truly terrifying! Will we see her again in a sequel or possibly a prequel? And how about a film adaptation? Is that a possibility in the future? If so, who would you like to see play the role of ‘Marla’?

JJ – Thank you for saying that about Marla! I love these questions, and I think all the answers are… yes. I wrote a prequel novelette called “Moonflowers” that’s available in the gorgeous hardcover edition, as well as the audiobook. It’s sounding more and more like there will be a sequel. And we’re currently working on a streaming series. My movie reps have found an absolutely brilliant showrunner, and she and I communicate about MARLA multiple times per week. There’s no guarantee it will come to fruition, but I genuinely believe in it, and if it happens, it will be extraordinary. As for who might play Marla, I’d better not say right now, but it’s so much fun to speculate about!

AN – Lastly, which projects or events do you have coming up that our readers can look forward to? Where can readers purchase a copy of MARLA?

JJ – I’ve got essays in both of the Stephen King IT 40th Anniversary anthologies. I’ve also got tons of short stories, novelettes, and novellas on the way. My next novel release will occur in July of 2027, which will be a winter tale novel called THE STARS HAVE LEFT THE SKIES. There’s so much more coming that I’m not allowed to talk about yet, but my readers have so much to look forward to!

AN – Thank you, Jonathan, for sharing with us today. We, and I do include myself in the “we”, certainly look forward to your future projects and novels coming our way.

JJ – Thank you so much for hosting me, Anthony, and thank you for all your support of MARLA!