Author Archives: SamHirst

Day 2 #AScareADay Challenge – Bride of Corinth

Welcome back to day 2! You can find today’s poem here This is the first of this month’s vampire texts. The Bride of Corinth (original – Die Braut Von Korinth) was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1797. It’s one of the many pieces of poetry, drama and ‘horrid’ writing that made it’s wayContinue reading “Day 2 #AScareADay Challenge – Bride of Corinth”

Day 1 #AScareADay challenge – ‘The Lay of the Werewolf’

This is the second annual, story a day challenge for October. You can find the whole list here. I’m also trying something new by blogging about each story (when I can manage to around other commitments). I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments as well. Last year, we started in the eighteenth century.Continue reading “Day 1 #AScareADay challenge – ‘The Lay of the Werewolf’”

The October #AScareADay Challenge

Last year, we had our first Romancing the Gothic October read-a-long #AGhostADay. This year, we’re changing the title to #AScareADay because I can’t always promise ghosts! To be fair, not every story or poem is scary either. Some are creepy, some are haunting, some might simply chill you to the bone… Each day in October,Continue reading “The October #AScareADay Challenge”

A Vampire Tale that Inspired Lord Byron

In his notes to The Giaour (1813), Byron gives us some brief notes on the vampire. The Vampire superstition is still general in the Levant. Honest Tournefort tells a long story about these ‘Vroucolachas’, as he calls them. The Romaic term is ‘Vardoulacha’. I recollect a whole family being terrified by the scream of aContinue reading “A Vampire Tale that Inspired Lord Byron”

Devils and Justified Sinners – 2024 Conference

An ONLINE conference on 24th and 25th August 2024 marking the 200th anniversary of James Hogg’s Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner REVISED SUBMISSION DATE: 31st MARCH 2024 The conference is entirely online and is open to scholars and experts from around the world. In 1824, the Ettrick Shepherd, James Hogg, wrote hisContinue reading “Devils and Justified Sinners – 2024 Conference”

Abstract Writing Workshop

This year’s Romancing the Gothic is happening in August. You can find more information here on ‘The Supernatural and Witchcraft in Belief, Practice and Depiction’. We know that it might be people’s first time applying to a conference or the first using British conventions. You might just not be feeling confident about abstract writing. ToContinue reading “Abstract Writing Workshop”

Romancing the Gothic 5 Star Reads (2022)

Every week here at Romancing the Gothic, we have a reading group. We read a mix of novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels and web comics, throwing in some tv shows and podcasts in and among! We also like to play the odd role-playing game as a group. We like to mix it up! ThisContinue reading “Romancing the Gothic 5 Star Reads (2022)”

Romancing the Gothic Conference 2023 – The Supernatural and Witchcraft in belief, practice and depiction

In 1848, William Harrison Ainsworth published his novel The Lancashire Witches based on the real-life witch-trials in Pendle in 1612. Exploring the background of the trials and executions, it was heavily based on Thomas Potts’ Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancashire (1613). 1848 also saw the publication of Catherine Crowe’s The Night-SideContinue reading “Romancing the Gothic Conference 2023 – The Supernatural and Witchcraft in belief, practice and depiction”