Cat Scully, the talented New England artist and debut author of horror fiction, has just released her chilling new novel, Below The Grand Hotel, on May 6th, 2025. Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1920s New York, the story centers around Mabel Rose Dixon, a young woman determined to become a Ziegfeld girl. However, her ambition drives her to petty crime to fund her dream. When Mabel targets the wrong victims, she ends up in a mysterious art deco hotel, where fame is everlasting—but so is its dark cost.
Mabel’s life takes a twisted turn when she finds herself the star of a nightly show, though the spotlight comes with a curse. She must recover her stolen soul before the ominous May’s Eve Ball at the Grand Hotel or risk being trapped as one of its demonic inhabitants forever.
In Below The Grand Hotel, Scully brings her signature gothic style to the page, accompanied by her own captivating illustrations. This novel is a must-read for those who love horror, dark fantasy, and historical fiction with a supernatural edge.
To mark the book’s release, in an interview with Scully, the author shared insight into the novel’s exploration of fame’s dangerous allure, how her background in the video game industry influenced the book’s structure, and the decision to set the story at the Grand Hotel — a symbol of sanctuary amidst changing times and the anxiety of being forgotten.
