Welcome to another Friday night episode of The Writing Community Chat Show! In our growing archive of over 400 interviews, we've had the pleasure of sitting down with everyone from brilliant indie authors to household names—and today's guest is nothing short of spectacular.
Join us as we welcome
New York Times best-selling author Essie Fox for a deep dive into the shadowy, mesmerising world of Gothic historical fiction. Essie shares her incredible journey from a 20-year career as a home-based illustrator to taking a leap of faith on a three-month creative writing course that changed her life.
We unpack her brilliant passion project,
Katherine—an audacious and emotional retelling of
Wuthering Heights from the perspective of a ghost—and discuss how to find the spaces between the pages of classic literature. We also delve into the wild history of Lord Byron, the literary origins of the vampire, and how to balance meticulous historical research with deeply human character arcs.
Plus, we've got an exciting update on our upcoming 12-week novel-writing challenge where the community is teaming up to write 800 words a day. Whether you are a dedicated historical fiction writer or just love a twisting, atmospheric tale, this episode is packed with inspiration.Thank you for tuning in and helping make us one of the top writing podcasts in the UK! Grab a drink, settle in, and let's get into it.
In this episode, we explore:- The Path to Publication: Essie's transition from an illustrator to a bestselling author and the perseverance required to break into the industry.
- Finding the Story: The serendipity of historical research and uncovering a novel idea right under your own floorboards.
- Reimagining a Classic: Unpacking the complex, humanizing layers of Wuthering Heights and why Essie had to write her own version.
- Vampires & Lord Byron: How John Polidori's The Vampyre and the infamous "Summer of Darkness" inspired Essie's historical thriller.
- Gothic Recommendations: Essie's top three Gothic novel recommendations for every writer and reader.
Links & Resources:- Follow Essie Fox on Instagram: @essiefox_author
- Listen to Essie's podcast on Substack: Talking the Gothic
- Pick up a copy of Katherine and Essie's other novels at your local indie bookshop, or here.
- Join our community Discord and Substack to participate in the upcoming 12-Week Novel Writing Challenge!
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