Night Writer - Renee Ross

If you thought Gothic Romance was dead, think again and keep reading. Gothic Romance is not just remembered as a distant memory, but is alive and kicking and is as chilling as ever. Come down the dark hallway with me and meet Gothic Romance Author Renee Ross.

About Renee Ross

I was born in October of 1961. Growing up in the era of the 60’s and 70’s, I was influenced by the Gothic romance writers of the day: Dorothy Eden, Victoria Holt, Virginia Coffman and many others. I was obsessed with the Dark Shadows original series – the Gothic soap opera that ran from 1966 to 1971. In those days, we didn’t have any means of recording programs so, every weekday at 3:15, I would run the few blocks home from elementary school just in time to see the commercials before the music and credits rolled up the screen. I was able to watch whole episodes during the summer months, at least. And today, I have every episode on DVD.

I was a big fan of Vincent Price, Christopher Plummer, and Boris Karloff. In particular, movies made from the novels of Edgar Allan Poe, of whom I’m also a fan. One of my best memories of childhood was the pajama party I had with my mother every Saturday night when we watched those movies in a dark living room with just the flicker of the television screen. I was an only child – very shy and introverted so, I didn’t have many friends. I always preferred solitude, books, and animals over people.

I’ve written six Gothic novels since 2005. My stories and my writing are evolving, with each book in the Thornehaven series becoming darker. I read both the Gothics of old as well as the domestic noir novels of today and find that the former often hasn’t the level of suspense I’m looking for and the latter hasn’t the level of foreboding. In this series, I’ve done a little genre-bending. I’ve kept the heavy Gothic atmosphere that readers expect while cranking up the excitement and plot twists.

Basically, I write the kind of books I want to read: Wuthering Heights meets Alfred Hitchcock. And, as both a writer and a reader, I look forward to what I hope will be the Gothic romance revival of the 21st century.

Can you tell us a bit about what you are currently working on?

I am working on my 4-volume Thornehaven series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone or in any order the reader chooses.

The Reincarnation of Anna, Book 1

When Corinne marries into the Thorne family, she's no match for her cold-hearted step-daughter who has daddy wrapped around her little finger. Julianna is an exact replica of her exquisitely beautiful mother, Anna, who died giving birth. Anna's identical twin sister - grotesquely disfigured in a fire - is convinced that Anna's soul entered Julianna's body as she left this world and her daughter entered it. Corinne finds this hard to believe until the evidence mounts and the threat against her life and that of her unborn child becomes horrifyingly real.

The Haunting of Delilah, Book 2

Lured by the imposing castle on a cliff, the first mistress of Thornehaven's untimely death marked the beginning of many tragedies that would befall its future inhabitants. Delilah, the second wife of handsome, brooding Jonathan Thorne, watches helplessly as unimaginable twists of fate strike those closest to them. When her husband turns his back on her, not even the fact that she's carrying his child is enough to break through the barriers of misunderstanding and smoldering resentment that divide them. As the birth of the long-awaited heir approaches, the wheels of cursed fate are set in motion, and the events that follow are so horrific that no one would blame the young bride if she lost her mind.

The Torment of Cassandra, Book 3 – Soon to be released.

Cassandra Powell is a young woman used to getting her way. So when she falls in love with Jeremy - a man in need of an heir - she keeps her infertility a secret. Not until she's living with the Thorne family does she learn of its horrifying history and about the room at the top of the stairs she's forbidden to enter. Her defiance sets off a fresh wave of tragic events and pushes their fragile marriage to the brink. After a year without conceiving, Jeremy grows darker and more distant than ever. When she intercepts a letter from his pregnant mistress, she hatches a diabolical plan to rid herself of the problem and have the baby she's always wanted. Only this time the price of having her way is so high, death would be a mercy.

The Possession of Juliet, Book 4 – still in the plot planning stage.

What is your favorite Dark/Gothic novel?

I would have to say Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. It proves that the Gothic romance is a genre that appeals to a wide audience and maintains its popularity over time. Books like The Turn of the Screw, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre are also good examples of Gothic romance classics.

What is your favorite Gothic motif/theme/element? Any particular reason why?

I can’t choose just one because I love them all. Especially thunderstorms, graveyards, large Victorian mansions, and black cats. I can’t say why either, but things like that have appealed to me in books, television, and movies for as far back as I can remember.

Which resource/s helped you the most in researching or writing your dark stories?

As well as Dark Shadows, I also enjoy watching classic Gothic films on YouTube. Films and books are a great way to study story structure. I love to create storyboards on Pinterest, collect character inspiration, historical fashion, as well as great writing tips.

Do you have plans to continue writing in this genre? If so, is there anything about it you would be willing to share?

Yes. I’ll be writing the final book of my Thornehaven series and then I’ll be sticking with single Gothic romance novels for a while.

Do you have any advice or insights for other Dark or Gothic writers?

Stay true to your preferred genre, and don’t let anyone tell you that Gothic books don’t sell or don’t have an audience. Write what you love, read what you love, and believe in your passion. There will always be a market for dark literature.

Please let us know where we can stalk you.

You can find me on my website reneerossbooks.com. I don’t blog, but please join my mailing list so I can let you know when I have a new release or if my other books are temporarily discounted or free.

I’m on Pinterest as Gothic Romance Remembered. There you can find storyboards for all the books I’ve written. Including The Ghost of Emily Grey and The Craft of the Wise.

I’m on Facebook and Twitter as Gothic Romance Remembred@reneerossbooks. I post Gothic romance covers of the 1960’s and 1970’s. People my age are so nostalgic about these books and I’m surprised and delighted at the number of young people who love them too.

You can also follow me on Amazon and Goodreads.

Thank you so much for sharing with us!

As always, Night Writers, stay Beautifully Haunted,

♥ Shadow.

A Naughty Victorian Primer for Dark Fiction

The Dark and Gothic genres have always dealt with human depravity and included themes of taboo relations and sexual deviance. In the Victorian Gothic this was especially sensational, though in an age that appeared prudish they were anything but.

According to this post by Professor Calamity and Margaret Killjoy for Tor.com, there were approximately 23 patents on fully mechanical dildos in the 19th century, some steam powered. Ouch. Strap-ons, dildos, and a sundry of other devices were available, along with all manners of kink, fetish and BDSM. Also, here is a list provided by Listverse of kinky books written by Victorians, that should give you an idea of just how not prudish they really were.

While I will not be going all Marquis de Sade here, I thought I'd share with you some bawdy terms, as well as a few other resources to assist you in your research. Though if you want to delve into the darkest of dark, reading Marquis de Sade would certainly assist you. He was not a Victorian nor is his work erotic, but both he and his writing are one hundred percent human depravity and sexual deviance.

A Short List of Bawdy Victorian Terms

Abbess - a Madame
Abbot - a Madame's favorite client
Bordello - brothel
Backgammoner - anal sex
Bagpiping - blowjob
Ballocks -  man's testicles
Bawbles -  man's testicles
Cooler - arse
Dollymop - a part-time prostitute
Dugs - breasts
French Envelope - condom
Fruitful Vine - vulva
Harlot - a whore
Knee Trembler - sexual intercourse standing up
Left-Handed Wife - a mistress
Mary-Anne - a male sex worker; homosexual

Night Flower - a prostitute

Prigging - sexual intercourse

Quail-pipe - a woman's tongue

Quim - vulva
Sheath - condom
Tart - an immoral woman
Tip the Velvet - going down on a woman
Toffer - a high-class prostitute
Tool - penis
Tom - a masculine lesbian


For more Victorian slang, I recommend checking out this post by quailbellmagazine.com and the Dictionary of Victorian Slang. There is also the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue which dates back to before the Victorian Era, but still a great resource.

Recommended Blogs, Websites and Books

TheWhoresofYore.com

ListVerse: 10 Fascinating Facts about Prostitution in the Victorian Era

The Pearl: An almost complete collection of the Victorian Erotic Newspaper (1879-1881)

HistoryUndressed.com

The Dictionary of Victorian London

The Victorian Guide to Sex: Desire and Deviance in the 19th Century by Fern Riddell

Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill


What other helpful resources have you come across in your writing research? Let me know in the comments and I'll make sure to add it to my list.

Stay Beautifully Haunted, Night Writers,

♥ Shadow.

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Opposites Attract: 20+ Character Duos for Dark Fiction

It is no secret that Friction creates great Fiction. So, choosing a hero and a heroine from the opposite sides of the spectrum makes for the best heart rending stories. I've listed here some possible opposites for those Read in the Dark couples, though they can also be used for hero and villain combinations. Note: Genders are interchangeable.

20+ Opposites that Attract:

Bad Boy/Good Girl - 

This one is a classic, Byronic or Anti-Hero/Damsel, a similar combo is Jaded/Innocent

Master/Servant

Mad/Sane

Passivist/Warrior-

Similar combos are Nun/Knight, Nurse/Soldier

Holy/Sinner-

Includes Angel/Demon and Priest/Witch

Believer/Non-Believer

A similar combo is Psychic or Magical/Skeptic

Law/Criminal

Includes Warden or Jailer/Prisoner

Criminal/Victim

Beast or Creature/Human

Doctor or Nurse/Patient

Magical/Illusionist or Charlatan

Life/Death

Includes Death and the Maiden, Hades/Persephone and Ghost/Living

Couples from feuding families

Different Classes

Includes Ethnicity, Religion, Rich/Poor, Nobility/Peasant

Sexual Taboo couples

Old/Young, Incestual

Spy or Clandestine/Journalist

Politician/Revolutionist

Professor/Student

Bounty Hunter or Hit Man/Contract or Target

Creator/Creation

What other ones can you think of? Do you have a favorite Dark Duo that you read or write a lot about? This is just a jumping off spot, dive into your imagination and let me know what you find in the comments below.

Follow your HeArt and Stay Beautifully Haunted, Night Writers,

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The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Dark Fiction.

Dark Fiction, let's define. Fiction that is dark in both setting and themes which explore the more grim side of humanity. It may contain elements of Horror, but it isn't written with the sole purpose of scaring the reader. Since Dark refers more to a story's mood and themes it can be applied to a variety of different genres. Herein lies the confusion, for me anyway.

So, if you write Dark Fiction and have a difficult time deciding which genre your story falls into, know you are not alone. Several genres have similar elements, and then there are like a bajillion sub-genres and sub-sub-genres that it is hard to decipher. Okay, I might be over-exaggerating, but still, there is a ton to wade through, and why does it matter?

Well, besides telling booksellers where to shelf your book, genres are also about readers expectations. Each genre has its own set of conventions that a reader expects to find when they pick up that book and if it doesn't meet those expectations, then you can expect some scathing reviews and a myriad of other unfavorable things could happen. Needless to say, it behooves an author to do their research and pick a suitable genre for their work. A good place to start researching genres, in general, is at Book-Genres.com. They also have examples of books for each category which is very useful.

To help decipher the different Dark Fiction genres, I created this cheat sheet which focuses on the main element/s that drives a particular story. While it by no means covers every possible genre and sub-genre it focuses on those which tend to cross elements and can be the most confusing.

What do you think, Night Writers, are there other Dark Fiction genres that have crossover elements you find hard to determine? Are there any other unique identifiers that should be added to these genres? Let me know what think in the comments.

As always, Night Writers, stay beautifully haunted!

❤ Shadow.

Night Writer - Kathryn Hills

Romance author, ghost hunter, and lover of things that go bump in the night.

Kathryn Hills ~ Hauntingly Romantic

I am about to give you a treat. It's Thanksgiving and I'm so thankful to have been introduced to the Hauntingly Romantic Author, Kathryn Hills and her book Haunting Highland House. I think you will be too.

About Kathryn

The rich history and many mysteries of New England are the perfect backdrop for Kathryn’s books. Winding roads lined by old stone walls, forgotten cemeteries, grand homes with shadowy pasts... All sparks for her imagination. Whether it’s a quaint seaside town or the vibrant city of Boston, it’s easy for this “hauntingly romantic” author to envision the past mingling with the present.

Taking it further—to have her characters experience the past or present, opposite to “when” they belong—is the fun part. No surprise, some of Kathryn’s favorite stories involve time travel. And ghosts! Sprinkle in some magic, and you’re off on a great adventure.

When not writing, she’s exploring history and taking photographs of the beautiful landscape that surrounds her. Kathryn shares her colonial home with those she loves most—her wonderful husband, daughter, and three crazy dogs.

Haunting Highland House

She’s looking to escape her man troubles. Instead, she finds the man of her dreams.

There’s only one problem. He’s dead.

Living in a haunted house and uncovering a gateway in time were not in the job description when Samantha Merrill agreed to be the property manager of Highland House. Old photos of the reclusive master of the manor captivate her, yet she’s terrified when he appears out of nowhere. How can Robert Pennington be making love to her by the parlor fireplace when he died over a century ago? 

Robert Pennington is a powerful industrialist charged with caring for an ailing father, a meddling mother, and two wayward siblings. Weary of his burdens, he longs for change. Is he ready for a woman from the future? His disciplined world turns upside down when the mysterious Samantha Merrill crashes his sister’s birthday ball. He is wildly attracted to this intriguing beauty, but is it magic or mischief motivating her? When Sam vanishes before his eyes, he knows only one thing for certain.  He wants her back.

Excerpt

Dressed in the same clothes she remembered—tight pants and boots, a billowing white shirt—tonight the shirt was open exposing his chest. And what a chest. Thick muscles tapered down to well-defined abs. Dark hair trailed into a thin line, disappearing beneath his waistband. She swallowed hard, redirecting her stare to his profile. His hair was longer, more unruly, his jaw darkened by a beard. It had only been one day since she’d seen him, and yet he looked weary and worn now.

Summoning all her strength, she stepped into the light before him. Her heart pounded as if it would explode right out of her chest. “Why are you haunting me?” she demanded in her bravest ghost hunter voice.

“Haunting?” He gave a bitter laugh though he still did not look at her. “Is that what I am doing? I believed you to be the spirit, sent to torment me.” Vacant eyes traveled up her body and then widened. “Samantha!” He jumped to his feet and snared her wrist. “Dear God, where have you been?”

“Let me go,” she cried, twisting in his grasp.

“But Samantha, it’s me.” He pulled her close.

“Help!” She yelled, though no one would hear.

“I’ll not harm you, I swear.” His arms encircled her. “How could I hurt the woman I love?”

“No,” she cried fighting with renewed strength. “I don’t know you.”

“You do, Samantha, remember. Remember me,” he commanded. He captured her face, forcing her to look at him. His voice dropped to a pleading whisper. “It’s just the doorway working its evil. You know me. You must.”

Sam went still. She dared to meet his gaze. He was sinfully gorgeous, like some dark fallen angel. Golden firelight flickered across his features. It was madness. She was alone in a far off mansion with a stranger, and yet…

Sanity fought for a toehold. “I’m not who you think I am,” she rasped barely able to speak.

He caressed her cheek. “I know everything about you.”

“Don’t,” she warned, looking away. She squirmed against him until he released her with a tortured groan.

“Then all is lost. There is nothing more.” Wavering as if about to collapse, he sank to the couch. “You are only a dream then, another hallucination. Fool doctors with their laudanum.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “I’ve longed for you, night after night, alone in the darkness. Prayed you would come back to me.” His gaze roamed over her. “I remember everything. Your hair falling over me, the smell of your skin, your sweet lips parting. How can you not?”

Mesmerized, Sam was powerless against the dark magic he wove. Solid ground crumbled beneath her feet. Her body pulsed where they had touched. The very air around them seemed electrified.

With a low growl, he pulled her down into the space between his legs and wrapped his arms around her again. This time, she didn’t fight. “You knew me once, took me deep into your body. Let me love you. If only we could travel back in time.”

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHKO-9pgdQE&feature=youtu.be

What’s next from Kathryn?

Hellfire and Handbaskets – A Time Traveler’s Journey (Book 2), published by The Wild Rose Press, is set to release in early 2018.

Here’s a teaser...

Hellfire and Handbaskets

Halloween night is the wildest shift anyone can pull. It’s hell in the ER. Dr. Rick Hauser wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s an Army veteran, a hardened combat medic, who thinks he’s seen it all. Until she storms into his life.

What’s left of Hauser’s heart is still on the battlefield. Last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a mystery woman. But when Rick finds Amelia on the streets, he ignores the warning shots, firing off in his head, and takes her home. In less than twenty-four hours, she’s upended his self-protected world. Even his dog, Rocky, is in love.

Amelia Pennington is not just a pretty face. She’s a time-traveler. A medical student from 1895, forced to flee a madman. She’s been in trouble before, but this time everything she loves is at risk. Can a reluctant hero be the key she’s searching for?

-->

Q & A:

Was there anything specific that drew you to this genre?

It was a dark and stormy night. Funny, I know. And oh so cliché, but for me those words always spark interest. A heroine (hero, or both), alone in a haunted mansion or scary castle. Unknown dangers. The weird, mysterious, and frightening. Strange things, lurking around dark corners. Shivers, and goosebumps, and I love it!

My affair with gothic romance started early. While others in elementary school were reading babysitting adventures, tales about animals, and biographies of famous people, my favorite books were spooky. Kids versions of Dracula and Frankenstein. My poor mother. Makes me wonder if she had to sit through teacher conferences, hearing about my odd taste in reading material. Although, she never said. Probably because she loved a good story as much as me.

In my teen years, I discovered mainstream romance. I became a big fan of the romance genre overall. Historicals, contemporaries, mysteries, and later paranormals as they grew in popularity. Far-off lands, grandiose adventures. Plus, the guarantee of a happily-ever-after made romances my go-to reads throughout college, and still to this day. Yet I’ve never forgotten my roots as a gothic reader.

What is your favorite Dark/Gothic novel?

I have so many, it’s hard to pick just one. They span centuries. But, as I mentioned, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (1817) Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820), Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles (1902) Daphne de Maurier’s Jamaica Inn (1936), Ann Rice’s Interview With A Vampire (1976) and The Mummy or Ramses the Damned (1989), and Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian (2005) make my list of all-time favorites.

I’ll share one more—a favorite because my mother introduced me to it—The Uninvited by Dorothy Macardle (1942). Here’s the teaser from my old book’s tattered jacket…

One exuberant April morning Roderick Fitzgerald and his sister Pamela were exploring the famous cliffs of North Devon in search of a house. An alluring gorse-lined smuggler’s lane led them to the derelict but beautiful Cliff End, untenanted for fifteen years. The owner spoke vaguely of “disturbances” the last tenant had experienced…

Yup, hooked! There’s also a 1944 movie version, starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, if you enjoy black and white cinema.

What is your favorite Gothic motif/theme/element? Any particular reason why?

Hands down, the haunted mansion. I love exploring great homes with troubled pasts. Haunted settings, for me, are especially exciting when characters can’t escape the conflict unless they work together, face their worst fears, take on the ghosts, slay the monsters. Mysterious, secluded, abandoned, often diseased, or decaying destinations… Step it up hero and heroine if you want your happy ending!

Which resource/s helped you the most in researching for or writing your series?

I rely heavily on personal experiences, many of which are paranormal. Exploring haunted locations is a regular thing for me. Living in New England, there are ample opportunities. Once impressions are set in my mind—my muse kicked into overdrive after a spooky adventure—I set about researching the history. For example, Haunting Highland House was inspired by a Victorian mansion on Cape Cod–Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA. It’s a real place. You can visit. The history surrounding the time-setting (the late 1800’s) is something I explored later, through countless books and in every form of research material I could find. Facts meld with my imagination and personal experiences to create a book world.

Do you have plans to continue writing in this genre? If so, is there anything you would be willing to share about it?

Absolutely! These types of stories, inspired by paranormal investigations and haunted history, are a huge part of what I’ve got coming up. Book 2 in my Time Traveler’s Journey series (Hellfire and Handbaskets) lures readers deeper into the frightening world of time-travel and the dark magic that created it. The setting is the city of Boston, a modern-day hospital, and a medical school in 1895. And, the “Lair of Lucifer” a.k.a. America’s first subway system. An ominous place, under construction beneath the teeming city streets.

These books also explore woman’s issues—aspirations, sexuality, and their inevitable clashes with the values of society. Central themes of Gothic romance, going back to stories like Dracula. I challenge the notion of a “woman’s place,” both in turbulent Victorian America and today. Whether she’s a modern woman traveling back in time, or a lady from the 1800’s stuck in our present day, it’s tough for my heroines. But their heroes get dragged along for the ride, so it’s all good. 😊

Any advice or insights for other Gothic writers?

Write what you love. And if possible, experience first-hand what you’re writing about. A wise man—renowned paranormal investigator John E.L. Tenney—told me something inspiring. Paraphrasing here, he said… “If you can visit a haunted house, explore the mysteries of the universe, experience the paranormal safely, then do it. Your life will be richer for it.” Obviously, don’t put yourself in harm’s way or break any laws, but get out there. Visit a place, hear the sounds, smell the air. Feel it.

I hope my writing is enriched by my personal experiences. I know my imagination skyrockets when I hunt ghosts or stumble through history’s mysteries. I also hope I’ve inspired you (the reader and/or writer) to explore that “dark and stormy night.” You never know what you’ll discover. Maybe the best, new story. One I’ll put on my “favorites list.”

Where you can find Kathryn. 

Like, Follow, do what you must to stay connected, you will not regret it.

Website: www.kathrynhills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKathrynHills

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKathrynH  @AuthorKathrynH

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kathrynhillsaut/haunting-highland-house/

The Wild Rose Press Author Page: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2221_kathryn-hills

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Hills/e/B01LBDCVVU

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15860681.Kathryn_Hills

Thank you so much for sharing, Kathryn!

And Thank You, Night Writers, as always, Stay Beautifully Haunted!

♥ Shadow