Night Writer - London Clarke

I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce you to author of chills, London Clarke. We're bringing back Gothic Suspense, and I hope you've brought a torch because it is going to get dark in here. 🔦

Author London Clarke

About London

Obsessed with vampires and haunted houses from a young age, London grew up reading gothic tales featuring romantic and tragic heroes like Wuthering Heights and Dracula. She considers herself a recovering runaway and confesses that she once moved to England in search of a man who was the perfect amalgamation of Dracula, Hamlet, Heathcliff, and Mr. Rochester. London graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Music and M.F.A in Creative Writing and has had an eclectic array of jobs including receptionist, legal secretary, literary assistant, high school English teacher, and freelance editor.

London lives in a Washington, DC suburb with her husband and two greyhounds. She’s happiest when she’s writing novels, reading books, or re-watching her favorite programs like The Vampire Diaries or Being Human.

About London's Books

Get it Here

WILDFELL

Anne Fleming is running away.

An ill-fated relationship with her graduate school professor drives Anne to dispose of all her possessions, assume a new identity, and board a London-bound plane. But a chance meeting on that flight leads her to Wildfell, a gothic mansion with a cast of strange characters and a long history of disappearances and deaths.

While living at Wildfell, Anne is plagued by voices, ghostly mists, and a mute girl with a sketchbook full of murders. She only remains because of her strong attraction to a fellow inhabitant—gorgeous actor Bain Tierney. But when Wildfell tenants begin disappearing one by one, Anne must decide if she trusts Bain. Is anyone in the house who they claim to be? Or are there are other forces at work inside Wildfell? And will they ever let her leave?

Get it Here

THE MEADOWS

A decades-old murder. A blood-thirsty cult. And a house full of spirits.

When songwriter Scarlett DeHaven leaves Nashville and her old life behind, it’s supposed to be a new beginning, a fresh start in the Shenandoah Valley, where her memories aren’t riddled with drug addiction and rehab. There’s the possibility for healing, tranquility, and love. But after purchasing an abandoned house with a checkered past in the hopes of transforming it into a luxury bed and breakfast, strange things start to happen. Disturbing voices and noises interrupt her new life. Strangers appear, bearing cryptic warnings. A tunnel is discovered underneath the house—one historically used for a local cult’s rituals. After a late-night encounter with an entity that leaves her injured, Scarlett realizes she is being targeted by violent spirits.

Driven to the edge of despair, Scarlett vows to fight back—but she has no idea what she’s really battling. And her nightmare is just beginning…

The Meadows is a gripping supernatural thriller in which the monsters may be
vampires, demons, or flesh and blood. It is a nightmare that will make you
believe it could easily happen to you.

My Q&A with London

Was there anything specific that drew you to this genre?

I’ve been drawn to scary books and stories since I was in the second grade. I think it started with my grandfather asking me to write a ghost story. After that, I read any scary books I could get my hands on. When I was in the fourth grade, ABC started playing re-runs of the 1960s soap opera Dark Shadows, and I became obsessed with Collingwood and Barnabas Collins, and then my whole vampire obsession began. And it has never ended. ☺

What is your favorite Paranormal/Dark/Gothic novel?

Actually, by today’s standards, this probably wouldn’t be considered paranormal, but it’s definitely gothic. Wuthering Heights is really my favorite novel ever. A close second would be Dracula, and then I love all modern/contemporary gothic stuff.

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

Yes. The house. I love the house on the hill or by the ocean, and the weather’s always stormy and the house itself is creepy and perhaps has supernatural occurrences going on. Maybe it’s actually haunted or maybe it just has the appearance of being so—either way works for me. I adore vampires, of course, and then the idea of the “madwoman in the attic” made so popular by Jane Eyre. Insanity in any form always works well with this genre. These motifs are spooky, mysterious, romantic, and they may or may not have a resolution or a reason for them, but they make for page-turning stories. I love the atmospheric element of the gothic—it’s an escape.

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

Wildfell was set in London, so I relied on some of my British friends to give me details about places and procedural things. I lived in London for a little while, so I had some idea of areas and layout, but I needed specific streets and answers to “what would happen if…” I also did a lot of Google searches for tube maps and bus schedules.

For The Meadows, I did more research about paranormal groups and their investigations. I watched a lot of Paranormal Witness and A Haunting episodes. I also had to do a bit of research on rural Virginia, but I don’t live to far from the supposed spot of The Meadows, so that wasn’t very hard. Reading popular and bestselling mystery and thriller authors actually helps me a lot with reinforcing my story arc and dialogue.

What’s next for you? Is there anything you can tell us about it?

Yes. Next up is Whickering Place, the second book in the Legacy of Darkness series. It’s the follow-on novel to The Meadows, although it’s set in Asheville, North Carolina. It casts mostly different characters from The Meadows, but demonologist Hunter Massabrook will reappear in the second one as well. It should be out by April. After that, I have a standalone, Dunraven, which will be set in Wales. That one will come out toward the end of the year.

And finally, is there anything else you would like to share with others who write or are looking to write Paranormal/Dark/Gothic Romance? Any tips? Any groups they should be checking out? Any places they should be visiting, etc.

I’m really glad that gothic/scary books are making a comeback. I feel like there has been a huge dearth of such books in the past, and I hope there will be many more people writing them in the future. I suggest Paranormal Romance Guild as a group to join. They’re awesome people, very helpful, and they offer lots of resources to writers in this genre. And I recommend reading the oldies but goodies. Victoria Holt’s gothic romances are just the best. And of course, V.C. Andrews original books. They’re great examples of originality and world-building.

If you can visit England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, do. There is no end to the gothic inspiration in those settings.

Where can we stalk you on the web?

Yes! I love web-stalkers. You'll quickly find out ALL my obsessions.

Website: LondonClarke.com

Facebook: London Clarke

Twitter: @londonclarke2

Pinterest: @londonclarkeauthor


Thank you so much for sharing, London!

Stay beautifully haunted, Night Writers,

🖤 Shadow.

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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http://bit.ly/ShadowsWebNews 

20 Ghost Romance Plot Ideas & Writing Prompts

'Tis the season for Ghosts, and I'm in the mood for some Christmas Spirits. How about you?
The days are shorter and the nights longer, colder and the perfect time to cuddle up with a ghost story.

Nothing rends my heart than that of love stories, a love that transcends everything even death. The euphoria of falling in love and being consumed by it only to find out you can't be with that person you love because of a myriad of ghostly reasons; they're a ghost, you're a ghost, a ghost doesn't want you to be together and might kill if you are. Let the devastation and heartache ensue. I'm talking about Ghost Romance.

Ghost Romance usually falls under the genre Paranormal Romance, but also could be Gothic Romance. Which means that the story needs to follow the Romance genre's conventions and not written with the main intent to scare, as it is in horror. That is not to say your story can't be creepy or scary. I much prefer the ones that are. But the driving force of a Ghost Romance should be the love story. You know, two people meet, they fall in love and ain't love a bitch. The one hard and fast rule for romance is the HEA, or the happily ever after ending and therein lies the challenge for the author, finding a way for it all to work out and making the HEA believable. Sometimes it truly takes a Christmas miracle. 

So, Night Writer, if you up for the challenge here are some Ghost Romance Plot Ideas and Writing Prompts for some inspiration.

1. Her marriage is on the rocks and while preparing to put her childhood vacation home up for sale she is visited by her old dead flame.
2. As a medium, she is no stranger to ghosts but there is one who has visited her on and off throughout her life. Like a guardian angel, he’s gotten her out of some sticky situations. Then one day he comes with news that she is going to be murdered or some other evil is going to befall her and he doesn’t know if he can save her this time. 
3. She’s finally committed to him and said yes to marriage, but she may not make it down the aisle because of his dead ex-girlfriend.
4. She’s been dead for decades and no one has ever seen her until now and he isn’t easily spooked. But their romance might be short-lived when an exorcist is brought in. 
5. He has a reoccurring dream of a woman’s demise only to find evidence that it really happened and now she’s come to him for help.
6. After surviving a catastrophic event, i.e. train wreck, airplane, a couple find solace in each other only to find out that one of them didn’t actually survive.
7. She died from a seeming accident, and now she must warn her boyfriend before he comes to same fate.
8. She’s loved that old house for years and finally buys it only to find it already inhabited by a gentleman who says he’s been waiting for her return.
9. An evil curse keeps his soul trapped inside that house but she may be the one that can set him free.
10. He’s given a second chance at life only to be haunted by the one that gave it to him.
11. Attending an addiction recovery group in the basement of an old church, she becomes drawn to and connects with another member only to find he died years prior from an overdose.
12. On a business trip, he acquires a 100-year-old antique watch, ring, etc. and its original owner has returned to reclaim it. 
13. Cleaning out the attic she comes across centuries-old letters or journals. As she falls in love with the words, the man who wrote them comes for a visit.
14. A deal with the devil or a spell can bring the one he loves back but at what cost and how she has changed.
15. He’s made the ultimate sacrifice, but as a ghost, he regrets it until he meets a descendant of one he’s saved.
16. An archaeologist digs up a long-forgotten tomb to find it inhabited by a ghost who now feels indebted/resentful.
17. The angry residences of a ghost town are out for the developer who is determined to bring it back to its glory days, but one dead cowboy comes to her rescue or is he just a distraction.
18. She was saved at high sea by a swashbuckling pirate, but when the ship ports she was the only one alive on board.
19. Stuck in the Underworld he finds one who can help him escape, but now he’s not sure if he wants to if it will mean he’ll have to leave her behind.
20. While visiting a fountain, mirror, painting, etc. she hears a voice call to her through it. Is it possessed or is it something else?

Read any good Ghost Romance stories lately? Leave me your recommendations in the comments, I'd love to hear about them if you have. 

Wishing you the best this Holiday Season!🌟

Stay Beautifully Haunted!

♥ Shadow.

Writing Fear

“Find out what you’re afraid of and go live there.” – Chuck Palahniuk

I’ve always loved the aesthetics, the atmosphere and many of the themes surrounding gothic lore. I could wrap it all around me like a warm blanket. I'm seduced by the melancholia and the romance of this genre, and nothing pulls at my heart strings like forbidden or tragic love stories. Matter of fact, that is what draws me the most. Gothic Romance has wormed its way into my heart and gnawed its edges raw.

I’ve dreamt of writing stories that leave readers as haunted as I’ve been, but at first, the thought of writing a Gothic Romance intimidated me.  Capturing the details and the mood and finding the courage to dig into those uncomfortable places, took skills I didn’t think I possessed. Yet, there were stories that took residence in my brain and haunted me night and day to be written. I struggled with finding the right plot, the right twists and of course, the language didn’t come easy. Unfortunately, while there is a lot of information on defining what dark and gothic fiction are, there isn’t a whole lot on how to write it.

But that hasn’t stopped me, I continue to read and research and write . . . and live in fear. Which, as it turns out, is not a bad thing. Fear doesn’t have to be debilitating, it can be a great motivator, and it can go beyond just being insecure about the work. Scrying the dark pool of our psyche in search of what scares us can also germinate stories.

While, I don’t believe Gothic and Dark Fiction is synonymous with Horror (as explained in my last post), inspecting those things that scare us or give us a sense of dread or we simply find disturbing, is still what lies at the heart of any dark tale. Stephen King calls these “phobic pressure points” in his book “Danse Macabre” and they can be personal fears and phobias or societal ones. And though we want to evoke these emotions in our readers, it starts at the source, the writer. To haunt a reader, it takes a haunted writer.

So, this month I’ll be exploring the theme Fear.

How about you? Do you draw on your own fears to generate story ideas? Are there certain topics that intimidate or frighten you?

Reading Recommendation: Danse Macabre by Stephen King