Podcast Summary: New Books Network Episode: Dana Mele, "The Beast You Let In" (Sourcebooks, 2026) Host: Rebecca Buchanan Guest: Dana Mele Release Date: April 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the New Books Network features an in-depth conversation between host Rebecca Buchanan and author Dana Mele about Mele’s new young adult novel, The Beast You Let In. The book delves into themes of queer identity, rural isolation, family secrets, and the legacy of small-town myth and murder. Blending contemporary realism with thriller and supernatural horror elements, Mele’s novel uses the story of two queer twins and a decades-old murder legend to explore questions of belonging, trust, and self-acceptance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Book Synopsis and Central Mystery

• Twin Queer Protagonists in Isolation: The story centers on two closeted queer twins, Hazel and Beth, living in a “very isolated mountain community” in upstate New York. Their environment is deeply conservative, making even familial trust fraught (03:44).

• Town Legend and Real-Life Stakes: A murder that took place about 20 years prior, when their parents were teens, has grown into a “mythic” town legend. One sibling becomes fascinated by this unsolved crime.

• Supernatural Twist: After a Halloween party, one twin disappears and reappears claiming to be Veronica, the murder victim, raising questions of possession, truth, and identity (03:49).

“Is my sibling just lying to me?... Or is this an actual possession? And then, you know, the spooky stuff really starts.”
— Dana Mele (03:49)

2. Genesis of the Novel

• Atmosphere Before Plot: Dana explains she often thinks “atmosphere or the setting comes first...the plot...came second.” The claustrophobia of conservative rural life and its impact on queer teenagers was a driving force for her (04:26).

• Themes of Belief and Identity: The possession storyline allowed Mele to ask questions about self-identification, trust, and the tendency of society—especially in transphobic contexts—to doubt people’s self-knowledge.

“Unfortunately, with transphobia in the United States right now, a lot of people are doubting that people are who they say they are...the answer, of course, is always believe people when they say who they are.”
— Dana Mele (06:36)

3. The Use of Twins as Protagonists

• Mirroring and Divergence: The twins, while sharing environment and upbringing, experience identity and oppression differently. One twin is neurodivergent, the other neurotypical; one clings to home and denial, the other forcibly confronts reality (07:52, 10:07).

“I wrote them as twins. They are both living the same exact...experiences... But on the other hand...in a town where people sort of smile to your face, but then behind your back...vote against your existence.”
— Dana Mele (07:52)

• Stages of Grief: The twins’ relationship is likened to “different points in the stages of grief” as their understanding of their own lives and community evolves (10:06).

4. The Role of Rural Isolation

• Hyper-Rural Reality: Mele describes the unique and “absolutely its own world” experience of queer youth in isolated areas, distinguishing between red/blue state generalizations and the real, lived experience of being cut off (12:20–16:35).

“I purposely set it in a place...a red dot in a very isolated area of a blue state...It's like living on Pluto, right?...you're in your own planet, you're in your own world. And if you don't have a community within those worlds, it's...absolutely its own world.”
— Dana Mele (12:20–16:35)

5. Structure and Narrative Devices

• Multiple POVs and Found Diary: The novel features alternating viewpoints and “snippets” from Veronica’s diary—written in “bad teenage poetry”—which serve to personify the long-dead murder victim and anchor the supernatural and emotional stakes (19:36–23:30).

“Veronica is such an important character, even though Veronica is now 20 years dead...the diary entries were a way to bring her onto the page.”
— Dana Mele (19:36)

• Authenticity of Teenage Voice: Mele intentionally uses confessional, “bad poetry”—as she wrote in her own youth—to authentically capture adolescence (23:07).

6. Crafting Veronica as a Character

• More Than a Legend: Veronica is made real through her diary, deepening readers’ empathy as her vulnerability and courage come to light (23:36–27:00).
• Reflections of the Twins: Both Hazel and Beth see parts of themselves in Veronica—a narrative choice that heightens both their personal stake and the book’s emotional depth (25:45–27:00).

7. Research and Inspirations: Spiritualism and Lore

• Upstate NY Spiritualism: The plot draws on local upstate New York lore, including the real-life Fox sisters and the history of American spiritualism, as well as classic possession/occult motifs (28:13–30:14).

“I love to set books in upstate New York...it’s kind of an interesting lore...spiritualism and...the Fox sisters...paralleled the book in a lot of ways.”
— Dana Mele (28:13–30:14)

8. Representation and Voice: Neurodivergent Characters

• Hazel’s Authenticity: Hazel’s neurodivergence and internal challenges are drawn directly from Mele’s own experiences. The character’s voice is “just my voice...how I think and that's how I talk.” (32:24)

• Finding Community: By the novel’s end, themes of chosen family and the quest for authentic community are highlighted as sources of hope and transformation (33:57–34:23).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The mystery is the mystery of who you are...and who is in this town that I can relate to, even if it’s...the mystery of how [the twins] get back to each other.”
  — Dana Mele (04:26)

• “It was very accepted to be kind of openly...gay jokes were kind of like, watch a sitcom from the 90s and you’ll kind of know what I mean. And there’s a little bit of full circle going on right now in a very sad way.”
  — Dana Mele (09:46)

• “If you're not like third generation, you’re a newcomer. And that’s absolutely the way it is.”
  — Dana Mele (16:23)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:44 | Dana Mele summarizes the novel’s central premise | | 06:36 | On identity and the need to believe people’s narratives | | 07:52 | Using twins to explore shared and divergent queer experience | | 12:20 | Deep dive into rural isolation and its effects | | 19:36 | Structure: POVs and the use of Veronica’s diary | | 23:07 | Authenticity of “bad teenage poetry” and diary elements | | 28:13 | On researching spiritualism, local folklore and the Fox sisters| | 32:24 | Writing a neurodivergent character from personal experience | | 34:50–39:09 | Live excerpt reading of the novel (Veronica Green’s diary) | | 39:23 | Upcoming projects and next book hint: Salem-inspired with witches |

Live Reading Highlight

Dana reads from The Beast You Let In, sharing an early diary entry by Veronica that sets a dark, vengeful tone while depicting awkward social dynamics, supernatural games, and the distorted normalcy of rural teen parties (34:50–39:09). The passage is rich in authentic, confessional voice and establishes both the supernatural and emotional stakes.

Closing & Upcoming Projects

• The book is available for pre-order, with signed copies at Oblong Books (39:32).
• Dana Mele teases her next project—a cross-genre novel inspired by witch trials and The Crucible, combining historical and supernatural elements in a modern setting (39:23–40:40).

Episode Takeaways

• The Beast You Let In is a young adult thriller/horror that uses the mystery genre to probe deeper questions of identity, belief, and community.
• Mele’s own experiences as a queer, neurodivergent person in both rural and urban environments inform the realism and emotional intensity of the novel.
• The blend of supernatural lore, authentic character voice, and contemporary social struggles creates a poignant, timely narrative—one that resonates for both teens and adults navigating issues of identity and belonging.