Five titles where black women are doing the most

Neena Viel is a horror writer who lives in a cabin in the Washingtonian woods with her husband. She has a canine assistant who fundamentally disrespects the creative process.

Viel grew up between Newburgh, New York and Jonesboro, Arkansas. She holds a Master’s in Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies from Arkansas State University. Her passion for philanthropy (almost) rivals her love for ghost stories.

Listen To Your Sister is her debut novel.

At CrimeReads the author tagged "five books featuring...exhausted Black women who should leave everyone to deal with their own bullshit and take a nap." One title on the list:

The Girl With All The Gifts, M.R. Carey

To many, this may be Melanie’s story, but you’ll never convince me that Helen Justinaeu isn’t the goat. If escorting a white zombie child across an apocalyptic wasteland isn’t doing the most, then what is? As Helen comes to see the humanity in her feral young charge, she clashes with raiders, scientists, and military bros. I first read this at a time when Black people in zombie stories were still mostly appetizers, so Helen’s journey left a deep impact on me.

Read about another entry on the list.

The Girl with All the Gifts is among Vanessa Armstrong's seven frightening books featuring fungi, C.J. Tudor's eight thrillers featuring a child with a mysterious supernatural power, Keith Yatsuhashi's five gateway books that opened the door for him to specific genres and C. A. Higgins's top five books with plot twists that flip your perception.

--Marshal Zeringue