About

Meet Cilla McCain

I grew up in the American South, where stories have a way of traveling three counties before nightfall and improving with every telling.

Today, I'm an author and ghostwriter whose work explores the intersection of true crime, forgotten history, Southern Gothic fiction, and the strange corners of the human experience.

I've also detoured through military true crime projects, helping bring complex investigations and untold stories to the page. I continue to advocate for bereaved military families.

A lifelong love of classic literature led me to create The Literary Lady Podcast, where I share and celebrate the timeless works of writers whose stories continue to captivate readers generations after they were written.

I'm the creator of The Haint Blue Archive, a fledgling endeavor where old crimes, odd history, folklore, and fiction gather under one roof. Whether I'm digging through archives, chasing obscure newspaper clippings, reading classic novels, or writing late into the night, I'm always looking for the stories that refuse to stay buried.

By the time a project is finished, I've usually accumulated enough useless knowledge to alarm relatives and ruin perfectly good supper conversations.

I still believe every town has a story nobody is telling. Those are the stories I'm most interested in finding.

Agent: Frank Weimann, Folio Literary Management

My friend and colleague Cilla McCain is a consummate professional, gifted writer, compassionate soul, and an altogether outstanding human being! Over the past several years, we collaborated on some very sensitive national security issues, and, without fail, she demonstrated impeccable judgment, unfailing integrity, and balanced composure as we delved into some difficult and controversial issues. Cilla stands her ground, but does so in a way that allows the truth to prevail rather than any opinion. Her writing, for which she is renowned, is powerful, persuasive, and engaging. Her book, Murder in Baker Company, is a standout work of investigative journalism and an excellent piece of writing. Cilla's upcoming opus on Col. Mike Stahlman's death in Iraq will be an eye-opener. If you get the chance to collaborate with Cilla, you will be blessed and the better for it!

Stuart W. Bowen Jr., Attorney,

Fmr. Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and White House Counsel