Payton McCarty-Simas is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. They grew up in Massachusetts devouring Stephen King novels, Edgar Allan Poe stories, and Scooby Doo on VHS. Payton holds a masters degree in film and media studies from Columbia University and her work focuses on horror film, psychedelia, and the occult in particular. Their first book, One Step Short of Crazy: National Treasure and the Landscape of American Conspiracy Culture, is due for release in November.