One of the earliest appearances of ghouls is in The Arabian Nights, or One Thousand and One Nights, portrayed as dangerous, flesh-eating demons. But how have they changed over time?
Tag Archives: gothic
Gor Blimey, it’s the Gorbals Vampire and a Writing Update
A rumour circulated in 1954 in Gorbals, Glasgow that a vampire haunted the old Southern Necropolis. It took a group of feisty kids and a newspaper story to defeat it. However, there are still whispers of its existence in the city…
A Lost Haunted House
Paranormal enthusiasts will likely have heard of Borley Rectory, one of the most haunted old buildings in Essex, England. However, very little remains of it today. What was its story, and whatever happened to it? Read on to find out.
Art & The Sleep Demon
Last week we delved into the causes of sleep paralysis, what it is, its influence on literature and folklore, and how it was viewed in history. But how has it been portrayed visually?
The Sleep Demon, part 2
Yesterday we took a look at what sleep paralysis is, its possible causes, and how to cope with it. Now let’s see how sleep paralysis was viewed in history and folklore, and its influence on literature. Because why not?
The Versailles Incident
A supernatural journey through time by two Edwardian headmistresses
Haunted Stately Piles in the UK
Sounds painful, doesn’t it? Anyhow, this is a list of some of the most ghost-ridden old buildings in the UK.
I’m Owl About Them Owls
After reading Alan Garner’s “The Owl Service” recently I went on to learn about the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd. Then I went on a deep-dive into the folklore surrounding owls…
All That Remains of Ghost Towns
The book I’m currently rewriting contains a shanty town that plays an important role in the story, so let’s take a look at some ghost towns…
The Crow King and the Tengu
Whilst I was halfway through writing a book of short stories (still a work in progress) about a particular character, “The Crow King” – a sort of minor bird-god – that I found out about the Tengu, and noticed a bizarre and uncanny resemblance. I thought I’d share my findings and how this serendipity occurred here.
Most Haunted Places in the UK and Its Environs
Some ghostly and historical tidbits about the most haunted locations in the country in which I fester (and places surrounding that).
The Coldness of Ghosts
A sudden drop in temperature is often associated with hauntings. The question is why? We also look at Mary King’s Close.
Wintry Reading
Now come the days of taking shelter with something booky with the heating turned up or swathed in a duvet chrysalis. Here are some of the books I like to revisit in autumn and winter.
Poems & Writings for the Dark Season
A selection of poems and excerpts for Halloween and the dark Gothic season that falls afterwards along with website and YouTube channel recommendations
Review: Welcome to Meadowbrook by Cassandra L. Thompson
4 out of 5 stars Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of death, violence, and abuse. There is a trigger index at the back of the book. Welcome to Meadowbrook is a story of stories, beginning with a short poem by the author on how hotels are liminal spaces, which turns out to be importantContinue reading “Review: Welcome to Meadowbrook by Cassandra L. Thompson”
Nightwalks 