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"The first time I visited Whitby, I stepped off the train and knew I was somewhere very special. It was a grey, drizzling day but that only added to the haunting beauty and lonely atmosphere of the place. Listening to Carmina Burana on my headphones, I explored the ruined abbey on the clifftop. The place was a fantastic inspiration.
In the Whitby Witches I have interwoven many of the existing local legends, such as the frightening Barguest, whilst inventing a few of my own, most notably the aufwaders."
"The appearance of the fisher-folk was based on the inhabitants of Victorian Whitby as captured in the wonderful sepia photographs of the time. Looking down from the cliff, I could imagine the wind burned and weather beaten aufwaders wandering the sands and peering into rock pools.
What were they searching for? Why was their existence hidden? What did they fear, and what were the secrets of their tribe? It was an intriguing puzzle to fathom, and one that fascinated me more as the trilogy evolved. In my mind Whitby was beset by all manner of terrors and enemies - could those simple creatures defeat the advancing storm, and escape their doom?" |