When writing a novel, research can be fun providing we don't get bogged down. Demonology and witchcraft was on my list for The Shadow Fabric, and it's time to share a few threads.
About twenty years before the city of London was ravaged by the Great Fire
in 1666, a reign of unceremonious witch hunts took place. In the eastern counties of Britain, a group of witchfinders led by Matthew Hopkins, the self-appointed
Witchfinder General, were responsible for the ruthless persecution of countless
witches.
The Witchfinder General soon became notorious and sent to the gallows more witches than any other witch hunter. He
was only twenty-four at the time and his career spanned little more than a
year. There were many easy targets. The accused were often elderly women living
as outcasts from the local community. Never a problem for anyone to accuse an
unfriendly neighbour with a deep frown or too many wrinkles. Or eyebrows joining
in the middle. Anyone with an unfortunate and unattractive appearance was a
candidate for trial.
Another cause for suspicion was the Devil’s
Mark, as was called, which came in obvious forms such as warts and moles.
Birthmarks, of course. A blemish, no matter how faint, would suggest the Devil
has marked them as one of his own. Any such mark would confirm suspicion. The
theory was, every witch who kept a familiar—a demon disguised as an animal—fed
it with drops of their own blood. These imps would feed at special teats.
A
wart or raised mole would prove suitable.
Nice, huh?
The Witchfinder’s death remains a mystery, however legend suggests it was connected to the Shadow Fabric. Having used an hourglass to collect the shadowleaves from witches he put on trial, this proved his undoing.
THE SHADOW FABRIC release dates
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Paperback version - 18th October 2014
Kindle version - 31st October 2014
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| Author photo (c)Christopher Shoebridge |
Mark Cassell lives in a rural part of the UK with his wife and a number of animals. He often dreams of dystopian futures, peculiar creatures, and flitting shadows. Primarily a horror writer, his steampunk, fantasy, and SF stories have featured in several anthologies and ezines.
His debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is a supernatural story and is available from Amazon.
Twitter: @Mark_Cassell ~ Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell
His debut novel, The Shadow Fabric, is a supernatural story and is available from Amazon.
Twitter: @Mark_Cassell ~ Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkCassell
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