Q&A: Ania Ahlborn, Author of ‘The Unseen’

We chat with author Ania Ahlborn about The Unseen, which is a haunting tale that walks the line between the familiar and the unknown, drawing us into a chilling narrative where reality itself feels just out of reach.

Hi, Ania! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m a horror author with a love for old houses, but not renovation; I like unsettling silences, especially when I’m the only one in the room; and I adore stories that leave you with just a shadow of haunted regret. I drink way too many lattes, avoid overhead lighting like a plague, and spend an alarming amount of time thinking about how our weird world could be even more bizarre. Writing is probably the only thing I’m good at, so I never read reviews to avoid an existential crisis. Beyond that, I’ve been told I’m pretty cool? But my imposter syndrome says, “No way.” So, me in a nutshell.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was maybe ten years old and bored out of my mind during a long summer at my grandmother’s house. My cousin and I found a ream of college-ruled paper and started writing a story longhand. After something like three hundred pages of passing it back and forth, I realized, “Hey, I like this.” And that was the end of any hope of my becoming a normal, responsible adult.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin.

Your new novel, The Unseen, is out August 19th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Creepy boy destroys the world.

What can readers expect?

Expect the typical Ahlborn menu: something that starts as quietly unnerving and ends up tearing the roof off the entire story. The Unseen plays in the uncanny valley, where everything looks almost normal, but you’re constantly feeling like you’re crawling out of your skin. It’s eerie, emotional, and a little existential, and hopefully, you’ll end up too freaked out to stand in your kitchen with the lights off.

Where did the inspiration for The Unseen come from?

It began with a single image: a boy stepping out of the woods, nonverbal, nameless, and no one looking for him. And opposite him, a family that says, “Hey, look! A creepy nonverbal boy coming out of the woods. He’d be perfect as an extra family member!” It’s the classic horror setup: everyday folks doing incredibly inadvisable things.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

This book is full of scenes that worm their way under your skin, so it’s hard to pick favorites. However, I must admit that I have a soft spot for motion-sensor night lights turning on in rooms that are supposed to be empty, and children’s toys turning on in the dead of night. As for characters, this book has a full cast. There’s a personality for everyone to relate to, I think. Some are heartbreaking, others are quirky and brooding, and some are hopeful and innocent. And of course, one is utterly weird and unsettling.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Writing is a challenge in itself. As the old saying goes, if it doesn’t hurt, you’re doing it wrong. For me, the hardest part is staying in the chair long enough to figure out what the story is really about. Doubt creeps in. Life gets loud. But I’ve learned that if I keep showing up, the story eventually shows up too.

What’s next for you?

I’m going to Stepford with a demon in my back pocket.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’m a sucker for a Stephen King short story collection, so You Like It Darker hit the spot. It was twisted, punchy, and unsettling in all the best ways. As for what I’m looking forward to, there are so many incredible books on the horizon, I’d rather not name just one. That’s how literary feuds start, you know, and I’m trying to stay off the blacklist. At least for now.

Will you be picking up The Unseen? Tell us in the comments below!