When I’m asked to describe the kind of fiction I write, I usually go for ‘modern folk horror’, and then when people look puzzled, I explain that I like taking the ideas from traditional folk stories and playing with what those would be like in a modern setting. Think ancient evil summoned through iPhone apps, or QR codes that mysteriously appear etched in the bark of trees in an ominous, silent forest.
Last year, when I decided I was going to start taking writing more seriously, I signed up to a frankly ridiculous number of different courses – anything I spotted that looked appealing, I’d put myself down for it! So, when Comma Press announced that they were running a Modern Folklore course, I signed up like a shot. Mat is a brilliant writer, and he was a fantastic tutor for the twelve weeks we were together.
Every two weeks, a group of us would get together and work on dark and unsettling stories, all set in the same imaginary town. It’s called Aberstowe, it doesn’t exist, but it feels like we all lived there for a while! We even had a map with local landmarks, and that idea of locating us in a shared space was genius – we could overlap our stories with each other, and even have some of our characters make cameo appearances!
We all had the chance to include our stories in an anthology, and the reason I’m posting this today is because I’m delighted to be able to say that our book has just been published!
My story, Bless The Light, is all about what happens when you ignore the warnings you don’t understand.
Ruth came to Aberstowe for a fresh start – a cheap cottage, a quiet winter, and time to work out what comes next. But she’s an outsider in a town built on old secrets, and when she turns her back on the help she’s offered, she sets herself on a path she can’t escape. As the storms close in and the lights go out, Ruth discovers what the townsfolk have always known: some legends don’t stay buried. And in the darkness beyond the candlelight, something is waiting for her.
It’s a story about pride, belonging, and the terrible price of safety… basically, a cautionary tale for the modern age, wrapped in frost, folklore, and the shadow of a creature born of fire.
I had so much fun writing this! If you do give it a try, I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment below, or get in touch.
Discover more from City of Secrets
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply