Brazen Folk Horror

Twisting History

We’ve spent many hours researching in the dusty corners of “Delevan House.”

When we decided our story would cross genres, the challenge of writing with a broader audience of readers in mind, in addition to our usual dark speculative styles, became glaringly obvious.

 We’ve learned to meet any challenge together head-on!

Dealing with mythology, which is often shared verbally through early storytellers (bards), and even more well-known snippets of folklore, we’ve learned that many studies are necessary. We’ve had to figure out how to twist fact and fiction together to create our novel, that’s authentic, fresh and fantastical. Factual accountings may influence our characters, but it’s the parts we imagine that make them original and fascinating!

Through photographs, classic literature, and archaeological descriptions, we’ve been able to construct a setting and weave historical accountings into our work. It’s perfectly acceptable in fiction to simplify and omit; this is where the creativity and fun blends into the eye-blurring work of research: our story, our way, with whispers of accuracy and, more importantly to us, entertaining reading.

Natasha and I both live in rural areas, but as we started writing, it became apparent that the rich portrayal of “Delevan House” is better suited for the mood of the peatlands, lochs, crags, bens, and bogs of her beloved Scotland.

It suffices to say that Texas does have its’ fascinating past, and we could (and may eventually) twist and bat around until it suits our purposes. But, once we dove into research for the plot we had in mind, what we uncovered was more exciting and, yes, older and more terrifying in some ways on her side of the pond!

We’re looking forward to sharing some of these visual and written inspirations with you as our planned release comes closer.

Sometimes, the devil is in the details, and we continue to discover enough material for several books in these small secrets.

We’re coming out of the thicket. Ignoring any thorns and into the light of “Delevan House”; however, some things are better left in the shadows.

Or by the light of a dreadful moon.