The author with her book on display at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central, Fiction Department
Update: Contest has been extended to October 16th!
Where the Briars Sleep is the Forest Fiction Fan Club selection for Fall 2021. As the oppressive heat gives way to crisp fall leaves, cloudy days and cozy nights its time to curl up with a good book. I've always been partial to a classical Gothic novel, like Where the Briars Sleep by Emma Beaven. A tale of terror about a girl and her haunted wardrobe with a romantic twist.. We recently got together for a virtual victorian tea party to celebrate the book's release...
Baltimore is well known for its Gothic literary scene, from the infamous Poe to more modern authors such as Justinna Ireland or debut author Emma Beaven. Now that hot ghost summer is winding down and we get ready for spooky season and fall reading, check out this supernatural horror romance...
Ariel Greenwood: Good afternoon Emma, thank you so much for joining me today. I am so excited to discuss your novel! I've prepared a spectacular spread of tea and lemon tarts. I even made a playlist that pairs well with the story meant to listen to while reading. Let's get started. What category of gothic fiction do you write- mystery, victorian, romance, paranormal, magical realism, contemporary, or any other genres?
Emma Beaven: I typically write paranormal pieces. I have a great love for gothic romance and in Where the Briars Sleep, I was attempting to emulate this style.
Ariel: What is your favorite gothic romance or another book you think your readers would enjoy? What is your favorite classic victorian gothic story?
Emma: To be honest, I don't read much modern gothic romance and tend to prefer the classics. For supernatural horror with a nsty twist, I would reccomend The Bedeviled by Thomas Cullian or The Patience of Dead Man by Michael Clark. My favorite classic novel is, of course, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. There are also quite a few short stories from the nineteenth century, for instance The Romance of Certain Old Clothes, also by Henry James, and Elizabath Gaskell's The Old Nurse's Tale.
Ariel: Oh I love Elizabeth Gaskell! My favorite book by her is North and South. What Maisie Knew by Henry James is a book I have been wanting to read. What other authors are similar to your story?
Emma: At it's core, Where the Briars Sleep is a haunted house story and haunted house stories are my absolute favorite. Richard Matheson's Hell House is must read if you are into that sub-genre. Ania Ahlborn's If You See Her is another great, spooky read.
Ariel: What inspired you to write this particular haunted house tale?
Emma: I suppose there were a couple of things. First, my intense love for classic gothic romance which I consumed voraciously for many years. Second was the wardrobe. When I was a child, I lived in a house built in the 1870's. The house was huge and had undergone very little renovation since its creation. There were no closets, as was traditional for historical homes, and so I had a huge wardrobe in my room to store my clothing. One of the doors would close fairy firmly but the right hand door did not. There was no latch and the door did not fit firmly within its frame so it was always open just a crack. My friends feared sleeping in my room because they heard the hangers rattling at night.
Ariel: Your descriptions of the nineteenth century fashions are so lush and descriptive. How did you resarch these old clothing styles?
Emma: I used historical fashion books, museum collections and old fashion templates to inspire the clothes my characters wore. Museum collections were especially helpful as they normally have a thorough description and background information.
Ariel: Wonderful! Now, let's sample some of these treats. I'll have some tea and a tart. Speaking of tea, what do you think is the perfect tea to drink while reading and writing?
Emma: Well, I have always enjoyed the traditional teas like Earl Grey and English Breakfast. Occasionally I will drink lavender tea which is quite relaxing.
Ariel: I prefer green tea when writing or working, and something relaxing while reading such as chamomile. Do you like the lemon tarts?
Emma: I love them!!!
Ariel: Well, it was my first time making them. I used a shortbread crust. I couldn't help but be inspired by your story, the main character loved lemon tarts...
Ariel: Do you listen to music while you read or write? I do. I made a small playlist of songs to listen to while reading Where the Briars Sleep:
Rose Red - Emilie Autumn
Witches - Switchblade Symphony
Haunted - Disturbed
Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
I Know Where You Sleep - Emilie Autumn
Emma: Typically I have the television on as background when I write. Though I do find certain songs inspiring. Frequently I will have Alice in Chains songs running through my head. I feel the rawness of those songs helps me write my characters.
Ariel: You're always working hard. Between a full time career at the library, a family, and a thriving nightlife, how do you manage to find time to write?
Emma: It can certinly be difficult, but I believe if you truly have a passion for writing, you will make time to write. When I was working on my book, I was spending late evenings each night writing. After that, I began writing every evening starting at 9:00 PM. It definitley leaves very little time to relax after work but for me, it was worth it.
Ariel: I loved reading all the references to Baltimore in the story, such as the shopping scene in Inner Harbor. What other areas of Baltimore inspired you?
Emma: When visualizing the house and grounds, I was inspired by my old house in South Calvert County. Howeer, I preferred to set the story much closer to the city. When looking through nineteenth century copies of the Baltimore Sun, I was quite transfixed by the ads in the papers and these inspired me to recreate the city in a historical context.
Ariel: What was your research process like? Any unique or interesting sources?
Emma: I have always been interested in non-fiction set in the nineteenth century, both clothing and architecture as well as true crime. One book I found particularly helpful was Bowing to Necessities: A History of Manners in America 1620-1860 by C. Dallet Hemphill. As you may have noticed in my story, I was very interested in the fashion of that era and studied it rather vigorously in order to fully realize my idea.
Ariel: Where the Briars Sleep features the protagonist Rose experiencing symptoms similar to sleep paralysis, which can be very frightening! Do you have any experience with the phenomenon?
Emma: I have had sleep paralysis twice in my life. The first time was not long after my daughter was born. I awoke but could not move. I could see a terribly bright light in front of me and then I felt the bed sag as someone crawled into it with me. I suspect this episode occured due to general sleeplesness.
The second time I can think of no reason why it could have occured. I had been taking a nap on my bed, my cat on the pillows above me. When I awoke I could not move. Above me, the ceiling became quickly covered in thin black cracks, almost like a spider's web. I tried to call out over and over, but found that I had no voice. Somewhere around me, a deep voice was speaking to me, mocking me. I tried to move but instantaneously felt my wrists had been clamped down and I was being pressed into the bed. Beside me then, the voice spoke into my ear and laughed at me. I truly hope never to repeat this experience.
Ariel: A terrifying experience as anyone who has been though it would know! Now, this story may be too scary for some readers. Have you ever recieved any critisicm about the content of your stories being too dark?
Emma: I have not, but I hope to recieve that criticism at some point in my writing career.
Ariel: Do you have a favorite gothic literary quote?
Emma: "No, no- there are depths, depths! The more I go over it, the more I see in it, and the more I see in it, the more I fear. I don't know what I don't see- what I don't fear!" from the Turn of the Screw by Henry James is my favorite quote.
Ariel: And the best line you wrote in this book, or the one that holds the most meaning to you?
Emma: My favorite quote is from Where the Briars Sleep is on the cover: "She couldn't imagine being alone in the dark, the wardrobe looming over her, its door creaking, hangers rattling. Anything could sneak up on you in the dark. Anything.
Ariel: What would you say is the theme of the story?
Emma: The sin of omission is just as terrible as the sin of comission.
Ariel: That is certainly something to mull over. Do you have any plans for a sequel?
Emma: Probably not. The ending of my novel feels very final to me. Though I would not be opossed to writing more historical hauntings...
Ariel: Well, that about wraps it up. I do have one last surprise up my sleeve. I am going to be giving one lucky reader a signed paperback copy of your book. To enter, comment on this post why you would like to read this story. Then, follow @authoremmabeaven on instagram. Email arieltheauthor@gmail.com once you have completed both steps. One lucky winner will be announced on Friday, October 16th!
If you enjoy Where the Briars Sleep, you many also like:
Are there any Gothic moooovies you would recommend? or songs?
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