Tiffany Royster — Interview | Echoes of the Forgotten | Broken Spine | 16 June 2026 |

Tiffany Royster wrote her first stories at eight, already spooked by clowns after a childhood meeting with Stephen King’s It, and she has spent thirty-two years building a backlog most writers would envy. Now she has made something larger than a single book. Echoes of the Forgotten, the folk horror series she launched on 12 June 2026, collects a dozen titles from the Broken Spine collective, a group she pulled together in twenty-four hours and turned into a permanent family. We spoke to Royster about horror folklore, building a home for writers, and why this anthology is only the opening move.

Twenty-four hours, twelve horror writers, and one folklore series that won’t stay buried.

Andreas Giesbert: Dear Tiffany, thank you for taking the time for this short interview. You are a horror author and the creator of Echoes of the Forgotten, a horror book series that was released on June 12 this year (2026). Let’s start with you: could you tell us a little about your background, your projects, and what fascinates you about horror?

Tiffany Royster: I have been writing since I was 8 years old. Being an author has always been a dream of mine. One that I never once believed I could make come true. This journey has been such a blessing. Horror has always been something I have enjoyed. My first horror movie I was ever introduced to when I was a child was Stephen King’s ‘It’. Needless to say, I have a phobia of clowns. Horror allows me entertainment, while knowing I’m safe.

Andreas: Let’s jump right in. Echoes of the Forgotten began as your idea. What was the initial spark behind the series, and what part of the concept was most intriguing to you?

Tiffany: I have worked on previous multi-author projects before, and I have to say that I fell in love with it. I felt like I was ready to create my own and see how it went. I love the thought of bringing multiple authors in to tell their stories. I knew that I wanted to create more than a team. I wanted to create a safe place for a group of us to work and grow together. Each person has their own voice, which makes it all that much better.

Andreas: Turning that vision into reality meant bringing together a large group of different authors. How did you go about finding the right people for the project? How did the creative process work? Did each author develop their story independently, or was there a shared effort to shape the series as a whole?

Tiffany: To be honest, it literally only took 24 hours for the group to be formed as a whole. I made a post on Facebook in a few different places, seeking out anyone who may be interested. I did make it clear what I was looking for in regards to the collection. And it was originally going to be a one-time series. Once the group got together, I let everyone know that we are all equal and everyone’s voice matters.

I wanted everyone’s thoughts and opinions on every aspect of the project. I wanted everyone to feel included. Even though I created Broken Spine, I did not want anyone to feel as though this would be a dictatorship. The team, as a whole, decided to make this a permanent group. We have become more than acquaintances who met on social media. We became a family. As for the development, we created polls, asked questions, gave opinions and ideas. Everything you see by Broken Spine is created by every single Broken Spine author. 

Andreas: Echoes of the Forgotten is a very evocative title. What does that phrase mean to you personally? What is the common thread that connects all the books in the series?

Tiffany: To me, ‘Echoes of the Forgotten’ is about the way old stories and fears survive long after people stop talking about them. In folklore, the past never stays buried. It leaves echoes that continue to haunt the present, and that’s where some of the most compelling horror begins. We made votes on the first theme and ‘horror folklore’ won. Each story is either about an existing horror folklore or one created by our own twisted minds.

Andreas: There are currently 12 books in the series. How closely are they connected? Is there a recommended reading order? And do you have plans to expand the series in the future?

Tiffany: There is no reading order for this collection. Each story is their own and can be read in any order. As far as expanding the series, Broken Spine has not discussed that yet, but I wouldn’t say it’s not possible.

Andreas: Setting Echoes of the Forgotten aside for a moment, what are your personal plans for the future? Are there any new books or projects currently in the works?

Tiffany: I have a few books coming out this year that I have been waiting to publish. Writers always have so many projects just waiting to be put out there. I have a huge backlog of books I plan on releasing in the future. Considering the fact that I have been writing for 32 years, you can only imagine how many unpublished works I have. As for Broken Spine, we will be releasing future projects. The team is permanent and will continue to bless everyone with our stories. So, keep an eye out. We are only getting started. You won’t want to miss this.

FURTHER READING

https://angelrsanchez.com/broken-spine-a-collective-of-horror-voices

‘Echoes of the Forgotten’ Amazon Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW18M8J8

‘Broken Spine’ Facebook Group Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/188GSsCEow/

Echoes of the Forgotten (8 book series)

What happens when 12 storytellers unleash their darkest visions? You don’t just read it. You experience it. ‘Echoes of the Forgotten’ is a multi-author series that will stay with you long after the final page. 12 Authors. 12 Books. Zero escape.

Web of Malevolence:

Winter, 1971. Grief drives teenager Michael Tedesco into exile—straight into the arms of a grandfather he barely knows, hidden deep within the sun-bleached isolation of the Florida Keys. At first glance, the island feels like paradise. But paradise has a memory. The locals watch too closely. Speak too little. And when they do speak, it’s only in hushed warnings—stories of Naia Tomes, a witch who once stalked the island… a woman said to have fed on human flesh before the newcomers put her down. Buried. Forgotten.

Or so they claim. Because something is stirring again. The wind carries whispers that shouldn’t exist. Shadows linger where nothing should stand. And Michael begins to realize the truth the island has been hiding: Naia Tomes is not finished. As the past claws its way back into the present, Michael is pulled deeper into a suffocating nightmare—one woven from secrets, superstition, and blood. The kind of horror that doesn’t just haunt you… It waits for you. And on this island, revenge is not a story. It’s a ritual.

Make sure to check out the rest of the books in the ‘Echoes of the Forgotten’ collection. You don’t want to miss them!!

Tiffany Royster

Tiffany lives in Rockford, Illinois. Writing has always been her passion ever since she was a little girl. “Everyone Has A Secret” is her first self-published book in 2019, which is part of a series. All of her books can be found on Amazon.