#british folklore

I'm Yana, or Hez, whichever takes your fancy. I've spent seven years getting a PhD in Creative Writing (specifically portal fiction), sixteen years writing fanfiction, and over thirty years telling stories in general.

While you can find my fanfiction (Night World by L. J. Smith, Dragon Age, RWBY) over on AO3, you can also see the first few pieces of my original work, Hold Me Fast.

The Kenyon family have spent years defending the public from the more malevolent supernatural figures of British folklore, from hungry each-uisges to heading off the Wild Hunt itself. When their young daughter goes missing, they get a rude introduction to the more benevolent creatures in the form of Muriol, a Gurt Dog and Lía's new self-assigned nanny.

While they adapt to this new worldview, and welcome new supernatural members of the family, the fae remain as dangerous as ever. When Alistair goes missing after a hunt, Lía is left with only the word of her Moddey Dhoo that he is alive, and a desperation to get him back.

If you want to read more, the first few chapters are here.

Been tinkering on and off with this for years, but I've finally bit the bullet and published my <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Hjwalsh/posts/welcome-164918972?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link">Patreon</a> page. It'll be largely fiction, or articles on writing, craft, world building, etc.

If you've ever read any of my fanfics and liked what you saw, come check it out! First few posts are free, and my tiers are pretty low cost. I won't be a very frequent poster (life is just too hectic with work, wedding planning, and running a household right now), but I am aiming to put something out once a month.

My first project will be playing with the folklore in the British Isles, and the broader story arc will be like the unholy cross between Incryptid, Sabriel, and Pokemon, so have fun with that one.

Rough sketch to outline on the canvas! 🎨

My take on the legend of Peg Powler, a fearsome hag/water spirit who takes people if they get too close to the water’s edge, supposedly inhabiting the River Tees near me.

Six shapes, six clues — reckon you can name the monsters? 👀

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Yesterday, I finally got properly stuck into the book — fully sorted the layout, form, and typography in it, and later on got into the fun bit… the MONSTERS.

From Scotland, to Wales, to England, to the Crown Dependencies and the overseas territories, I wanted to bring monsters I rarely saw in the books I grew up reading — so there may be some you’ve heard of, and some you might not.

For the next four, I’m heading up into Scotland (definitely already know which creature for there), down into England, across into Wales, and then off to somewhere sunny… or not so sunny… for the final overseas territory pick. Haven’t decided which one yet haha.

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From Anglo-Saxon times and long before, all the way to the present day — there have always been stories of things that fly, slither, burrow, and glide through walls… and many stranger beings besides.