MANDY L. CANTRELL specializes in true-to-life storytelling that reaches below the surface, digging deep into backstories and hidden motives. Her debut, Trace'n the Devil: A Novella, quickly garnered attention, gaining a cult following, with "Trace events" and merchandise. This interest led to the creation of the ongoing series, The Trace Books, which has been hailed as being "Reminiscent of an old Twilight Zone episode," also, according to some readers, evoking the spirit of retro favorites like "Tales from the Darkside" and "Tales from the Crypt." 

In 2025, her novel, Spiderflies, a deep dive into the conflict of five friends in the midst of an unraveling "web" of deception and affliction in the summer of 1996, received ample attention after being nominated for Georgia Author of the Year. 

A Fair in August, a "slow-burn" thriller, sets the stage for the last traveling fair that has just opened in a small southern town, featuring dark and dangerous characters, who charade against the backdrop of delightful childhood nostalgia. 

Her short stories include: Perry's Gift, Super Chicken and the Wild Bunch,  Pen Pal (A Reflection), Ventures of Fruitless Wanders (The attraction of a Simp),  Coriander, The Manor, and most recently, Growing Up. 

In recent interviews, Cantrell admits that many of her stories blend an altered reality of truth and fiction, using imagery and nuance to set the tone. Praised as “The unequivocal master of dialogue” for her unique conversational style, Cantrell has found a way to make even the most outrageous stories seem credible and the most dreadful characters, captivating. 

Cantrell lives in the quaint town of Adairsville, Georgia, with her husband, Heath, son Johnny, and their two dogs, Eevee and Onyx.

Mandy L. Cantrell's books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in select bookstores.