Sunday Times Bestseller author Jessie Elland’s second novel, Lament, will hit bookstore shelves next spring.
“I am so proud of the uncanny little world I have created with Lament, and I am so excited to share it with you,” the former Emmerdale actress shared on her Instagram (@jessieelland).
Set in 1824, the novel follows Alfie, who – after watching in helpless agony as the two people he loves most are submerged in freezing water – is shunned by the town of Streanshalt, just like the ‘Alum Witches’ before him…
Crediting Whitby, a seaside town in Yorkshire, as the inspiration behind the fictional town of Streanshalt, Elland commended the haunting landscape: “Lament would not exist without the gothic place that is Whitby.”
Infamous inspiration for horror
This is not the first time that the picturesque seaside town has been used as the inspiration for a gothic novel.
Bram Stoker, the man behind the dark classic Dracula, was inspired by the dramatic ruins of Whitby Abbey and its public library.
It was there he found a book that mentioned 15th century prince Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula, Son of the Dragon.
Stoker noted down the infamous name, alongside the date, and the rest is history.
North East gets its overdue credit
Born in Darlington, Elland is no stranger to shining a torch on the underappreciated region she calls home.
Her debut novel, The Ladie Upstairs, is based on various landscapes in the North East, including Preston Park in Stockton on Tees as the fictional Ropner Hall.
She joins international bestselling author LJ Ross in putting the North East’s wild and wonderful history on the modern map.
From Holy Island to Penshaw, Ross has inspired thousands to visit the region through her esteemed DCI Ryan crime series.
In fact, in her Facebook group, the LJ Ross Book Club, it is hard to scroll without seeing another reader posing for photos at one of the iconic northern sites in her books.
During an interview with The Books and Travel Podcast, Ross remarked: “I think my head and heart were always grounded in this part of the world.”
Championing cultural significance
However, the North East has not always been recognised in a glowing light.
In 1960, the Arts Council of Great Britain called the North East of England a “cultural desert”, despite the region boasting over 70 castles and iconic modern architectural landmarks such as Penshaw Monument and the Tyne Bridge.
That is why it is incredibly encouraging to see writers such as LJ Ross and Jessie Elland champion the region in their stories and Lament will be no exception.
Describing her upcoming release as “born and bred in the North East”, Elland is all set to transport readers into the supernatural folklore embedded in the area’s rich history.
A credit to the region and a breath of fresh northern air, Jessie Elland is certainly an author to keep an eye on.
Lament is available for pre-order now: Lament by Jessie Elland | Waterstones
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