“Savage Lake” is author Nick Medina’s ode to the cabin in the woods.
“I’ve been a longtime fan of cabin-in-the-woods horror stories, and ‘Savage Lake’ is my contribution to the subgenre,” he said during a recent email interview. “It’s instantly isolating, and — for the most part — it’s easy to buy into, making it relatable, which makes it even scarier in turn. I tend to be drawn to scary stories in which the horror lurks within the mundane parts of everyday life.”
The trope has seen many variations in horror books and films throughout the years, from the campy and fairytale-based to the terrifying and heartbreaking. Medina’s fourth novel, out Oct. 27 from Berkley, leans more towards the latter with the story of a family tragedy.
“Savage Lake” is much more than just a tale about a mother and son trapped in a maybe haunted cabin by the lake, though.
“‘Savage Lake’ tackles issues of racism, generational trauma, and mental illness,” Medina said. “The story started as an exploration into things beyond eye color, facial features, and hair type that might get passed from a parent to a child, and how those things might carry consequences that continue to do harm.”
A member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, the Chicago native has become known for pairing crime and horror tales with stories about social issues and folklore. He’s one of a growing number of Native American authors using their voice through horror to discuss real-life issues.
“If nothing else, I’d love for readers to walk away feeling fulfilled and enriched by what they read. I want them to be scared, surprised, and thrilled, but I also hope they recognize that the social issues I address,” Medina said, “ranging from missing and murdered Indigenous and Native women and girls to the lack of adequate healthcare in Native and Indigenous communities, and the potentially crippling effects of generational trauma — are very real and that these issues have a devastating impact on many people in the United States every single day.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q. First, can you tell us a little about “Savage Lake” and how it came about?
It’s about a mother and son who travel to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to offload their decrepit family cabin and end up getting trapped there on the shore of so-called Savage Lake, where more than just horrific memories linger. Part murder mystery, part slasher, part Bigfoot tale.
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Q. At its heart, “Savage Lake” is about family. What made you decide to turn it into a horror story?
It didn’t really seem like a decision. Although the initial idea didn’t involve murder or supernatural elements, those types of things always seem to find their way into my writing. I think of story development as a puzzle. Gradually, the pieces fall into place, and it’s never quite clear how a story will appear in its final form. The pieces to “Savage Lake” just kept pushing the story toward horror.
Q. What kind of research went into writing “Savage Lake”? Were you already familiar with the story of Sabe?
A lot of research went into “Savage Lake.” I had to learn about invasive species, boats, allotment acts, fishing, Latin, and a lot more. I was familiar with the story of Sabe — an Indigenous version of Bigfoot — but I did end up reading a lot more about the big guy while developing the story.
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Q. There’s a quote from “Savage Lake” that really stuck with me: “And someday he’d realize that he never really liked all the blood and guts or the sad and stressful situations depicted in the movies he watched, but that it was his exposure to them that taught him how to cope, providing him weapons with which to combat the inherited monsters in his head.” I, personally, have found that horror helps me deal with grief. What do you think it is about horror that helps people cope?
Horror shows us that as bad as things get, there’s always a way forward, always an escape, always a way to conquer whatever it is that’s haunting or hurting us. Horror reinforces why we must stay strong. It shows us the consequences of succumbing. And, in many instances, it shows us why we should never lose hope.
Q. “Savage Lake” is full of horror movie references. What are some of your favorite horror films to draw inspiration from?
I could list countless horror films that impacted me over the years. Off the top of my head … “Sleepy Hollow,” “Misery,” “Halloween,” “Frankenstein,” “Scream,” “Bring Her Back,” “Mungo Lake,” and “Heretic.” I’ve most definitely been inspired by these films. They challenge me to find aspects of horror that haven’t yet been explored.
Q. Is there anything else you’re currently working on that you’d like to talk about?
For fans of my previous books, I will be heading back to the Takoda Reservation for another scary story — it involves a Native witch this time. And I think I’ll be taking another trip to Savage Lake.
(Medina’s first three books — “Sisters of the Lost Nation,” “Indian Burial Ground” and “The Whistler” — all take place on the fictional Takoda Reservation.)
Q. What is something about your work that you wish people knew?
I plant a lot of Easter eggs in my books, along with hints as to what my next book will be about. It’s fun for me, and I get a kick out of it when someone lets me know that they’ve put certain pieces together.
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