research, Writing

Leprechaun Folklore

The stereotype of the leprechaun is of lucky charms and pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. But leprechauns are members of the Fairy folk, a type of sidhe and are unusual because leprechauns are almost exclusively always male. The name leprechaun derives from the Gaelic leith brog “one shoemaker.” The leprechaun is… Continue reading Leprechaun Folklore

research, Writing

The Anden Cóndor Myth

The Condor is a mythic Trickster figure in the legends of the local people of the Andes. There is a myth which accompanies the Condor recounted below from source unknown. There was once a an old shepherd who lived with his beautiful young daughter in a little village at the top of the Andes. The… Continue reading The Anden Cóndor Myth

research, Writing

The Red String of Fate

The Red Thread of Fate, refers to an ancient Asian myth of love. The Red Thread of Fate also referred to as the Red Thread of Marriage, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from a Chinese legend. In Chinese mythology, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of those… Continue reading The Red String of Fate

research, Writing

The Roggenmuhme

German folklore Seeing parts of a rye crop suddenly move is according to old German folklore, not caused by the wind or animals, but by the Roggenmuhme, a witch-like monster who resides within rye fields. Literally translated, the name means ‘rye mother’. Like many folklore and fairytales, it originated as a cautionary tale to discourage… Continue reading The Roggenmuhme

research, Writing

Eros and Psyche

The myth of Eros and Psyche is probably one of the best known love stories in Greek mythology. Eros, the son of Aphrodite and personification of intense desire threw arrows to to hit a person’s heart and make them fall in love. Psyche was a beautiful maiden, who accordingly personified the human soul. She becomes… Continue reading Eros and Psyche

Short Fiction, stories

New Release! Dark Christmas

An updated and quality full-colour paperback of the second edition of my illustrated chapbook and ebook Dark Christmas were released on February 15, 2023. Dark Christmas marks the first in my new chapbook series Quick Bites Chapbooks published under my imprint Quill Lore. These chapbooks are a combination of short stories or microfiction on a… Continue reading New Release! Dark Christmas

reads, Recent Reads

Braid

Publisher’s Description Decades after escaping the tower, Zel makes her living as a healer and wise-woman, travelling the lands with her family and the sentient, serpentine braid that still carries a touch of the witch's magic. Short-haired and happy, Zel prepares for the birth of her first great-grandchild, only to find herself shaken by unexpected… Continue reading Braid

reads, Recent Reads

Into the Forest

Publisher’s Description Deep in the dark forest, in a cottage that spins on birds' legs behind a fence topped with human skulls, lives the Baba Yaga. A guardian of the water of life, she lives with her sisters and takes to the skies in a giant mortar and pestle, creating tempests as she goes. Those… Continue reading Into the Forest

research, Writing

The Banshee

A Banshee is a fairy in Irish legend and her scream is believed to be an omen of death. The scream is also called ‘caoine’ which means ‘keening’ and is a warning that there will be an imminent death in the family. As the Irish families blended over time, it is said that each family… Continue reading The Banshee

research, Writing

Mirror Folklore

In folklore, a mirror is a doorway or portal through which spirits, including ghosts and demons can gain access to the physical world where demonic infestations and hauntings occur. In prehistory, any shiny surface was regarded as a spirit doorway and used to summon spirits into the world. They also are used for seeing visions… Continue reading Mirror Folklore