DarkLight On... Melanie Pickering!

Welcome Melanie!

You write urban gothic romance. What attracted you to this genre?

I've always loved mysteries that were a little bit spooky and once I was old enough to appreciate romance, I went looking for stories that blended the two. From Scooby-Doo to Scream, we know that feeling scared can intensify romantic feelings!

Writing gothic romance allows me to indulge both these loves while producing the sorts of stories I always wanted to read, but could never find.

You also have YA stories. Can you tell us about them? How is the market for them?

I cut my teeth writing YA. Adrift (part of the Mermaid Kisses anthology) was my very first publication and based on a nightmare I had about a mermaid couple who lured humans into the sea, so they could drown them and use their bodies on land.

My debut novel, Spill, was a homage to everything I loved - ghosts, teenage first love, and an ambiguous timeline. It's angsty, gritty and doesn't shy away from bad language or hard-hitting themes - one of which was self-harm. It was difficult to market and I still don't think it's found its audience.

Then came Ghosted, a purely-indulgent Holiday romance. It's light and sweet but with a whimsically dark edge. A Christmas Carol / Groundhog Day mashup set during a typical Aussie summer - it is illustrated by my daughter, Hannah, so will always have a special place in my heart.

While I've parked writing YA for the time being to focus on regular adult stories, I still have a couple to write.

Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?

I started out as a meticulous plotter, but suffered paralysis-by-analysis when I didn't know what came next or if I veered off track. Now I am about 90% Pantser. I still need to write out everything I know about the idea of a story - this usually ends up being my synopsis or blurb - and I always do this first. Just don't ask me about GMC, or beats, etc. as I tend to figure these out organically, in my head, and having to think about them will have me running from the room (and you)!

Do you have advice for aspiring writers?

Write your own way - and don't be afraid to try a multitude of ways before you find "your" way. Trust your instincts - you'll know when something's right for you or not.

How do you fill the creative well?

I love to make things, but working full-time has run the well a bit dry. When I need inspiration, I like to head outside for a walk. The shower is also a good substitute. It's ridiculous the amount of ideas that come to me when I'm showering! I also read every single night before bed - without exception.

What is next in the future for you?

I'm currently working on a 6-part workplace-romance-psychic-mystery series, called Deadly Possessions, about a collection of ill-fated antiques and their secret histories.

Tell us about your latest release and your inspiration behind it. 

I've just released Book 1 in the Deadly Possessions series: Hounding the Truth. The whole series was inspired by the idea that our possessions - be they ordinary objects or heirlooms - carry stories that refuse to fade, intertwining with the lives of those who uncover them. If your antiques could talk, what stories would they tell?

Melanie Pickering

Hounding the Truth

Book 1, Deadly Possessions

Like your cozy mysteries a little dark, with bite, and slow burn sizzling romance?

When Emily Sloane starts her new job at Jared Bell’s prestigious auction house, she’s thrilled to prove herself with a high-profile assignment: cataloging the life-sized bronze statue of a hellhound once owned by notorious gothic horror writer, Victor Barrow. But as Emily delves into the statue’s history and taps into her uncanny ability to sense its past, she uncovers dark secrets linked to Barrow’s untimely death.

As the auction draws near, Emily and Jared are drawn into a dangerous game involving a ruthless publisher and a ghostwriter with a grudge. Amidst the gothic gloom of Barrow’s legacy and the growing attraction between them, Emily and Jared find themselves entangled in a web of danger that threatens their very safety.

Will they unravel the dark secrets of the Barrow estate in time, or will they become the latest victims trapped within their own gothic nightmare?

Hounding the Truth is the thrilling first addition to the Deadly Possessions series, where each antique hides a dangerous secret, and revealing the truth comes with its own distinct price.

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Melanie Pickering

Melanie Pickering writes urban gothic thrillers with mystery, romance, and a supernatural twist. Her new dark cozy series, Deadly Possessions, follows psychic art historian Emily Sloane and her dangerously charming boss as they uncover the cursed secrets behind a trail of deadly antiques.

If you like your mysteries with bite, your romance slow but sultry, and your heirlooms haunted, Book One: Hounding the Truth is out now!


Visit Melanie at: melaniepickering.com

 

DarkLight On...Debbie Johansson!

 

Welcome Debbie!

How did you come to write gothic fiction? What attracted you to the genre?

I grew up watching a lot of horror and suspense movies, and anything from Alfred Hitchcock or starring Vincent Price were always a favourite. Seeing Picnic at Hanging Rock for the first time on the big screen captured my attention when it came to Australian Gothic, but it wasn’t until I discovered the book Dragonwyck by Anya Seton, that my love of the genre was absolute. I enjoyed the supernatural elements, the mystery, suspense, and dark themes throughout both stories, and of-course, the horror. One portrayed the horror both within a home and within us all, while the other displayed the unknown horrors of the Australian landscape. Gothic Fiction incorporates many different genres and draws on our emotions, making it fun to write. So, within the gothic genre, anything is possible!

What do you love about writing short stories?

Short stories are quicker to write than a novel (notice I didn’t say easier) and can be used in a variety of different ways, such as reader magnets for newsletters, anthologies, competitions, or they can be published independently. They’re also a great way to tighten your writing when it comes to the novel.

Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?

I’m probably somewhere in-between. I’m what Becca Syme calls a “bread machine,” as I need to cook ideas/scenes/characters, etc long before writing anything down. It can take me some time before writing anything! Once I’ve started to get to know my characters and the story plot, I then jot down the main points I want to see happen in each chapter or scene from beginning to end. By this time, the characters have started taking on a life of their own, but I tend to keep a bit of a hold on them to go along with the plot. However, if they steer me in a direction that would make the story and/or them better, I’m happy to go along with it.

Do you have a favourite of your characters?

I’d say it would have to be Eleanor from my short story, The Ghost at Willow Creek. It was the first story I indie published in 2019. Being my first published book, it holds a special place, and because I felt an emotional bond with her (and yes, I did cry a few times while writing it). Inspired by a grave at a relation’s property, I could relate to her as a mother and as a farmer’s wife.

Do you have advice for emerging writers?

If you want to be published, you need to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. With that in mind, stick to writing what you love, in the genre you love. The general advice out there is to write with a particular reader in mind, but I believe that can be distracting when first starting out. Instead, focus on writing for yourself. Have fun!

Tell us about your latest release?

The Witch’s Curse is the short story prequel to my Marsden Hall novella series. It is based on a true story I discovered from a book on Australian ghosts. Apparently, during early settlement in South Australia, a religious community believed one of them was a witch. I found it a fascinating piece of history, and I knew there was a story (or in this case, a few stories), I could gleam from it.

What are you currently reading/watching?

Lately, I’ve decided to revisit some Victoria Andrews novels. I read the Flowers in the Attic series when I was a teenager, but that’s all (and I have only a vague memory of it). Recently, a writing buddy told me they could see me writing something like Victoria Andrews, so now I’m reading My Sweet Audrina, which I’ve heard is different to her usual books.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently working on my first Gothic novel. It’s a bit different to anything I’ve previously written, so I’m excited to see how it all turns out.  

The Witch's Curse
Prequel, Marsden Hall

Their crimes are her revenge.

After the death of her husband, Abigail Muller yearns for a peaceful life. The community, led by the lecherous Pastor Thomas, believe she is in the thrall of the devil.

Will her protestations save her life, or will the community be cursed forever?

A short story, this is the prequel to the Marsden Hall novella series.

Warning: Includes scenes that may disturb some readers.

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Debbie Johansson

Debbie Johansson is a writer of Gothic Fiction and Romance.

She is fascinated by the paranormal, mysteries, and the unexplained. Debbie loves history, exploring old houses, cemeteries, and abandoned buildings.

​In recent years, she has experienced ghostly encounters at various haunted locations, including Monte Cristo Homestead and Q Station, Sydney.

When not writing, you can usually find her either gardening or going for nature walks, daydreaming the stories in her head.

Debbie lives in rural New South Wales with her husband, two children, and a dog named Fox.. 

Find Debbie at her website: debbie-johansson.com