Author Note

The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall was born of a single image, the ominous house on the hill, and my enduring love for the great gothic novels of the nineteenth century.

The exploration of liminal spaces found in these novels, between the natural and supernatural, good and evil, love and obsession, has always fascinated me. Gothic provides a space for us to explore the darkest recesses of our souls, challenging us at every turn to believe.

The story then grew as I delved into research about soaps, servants and architecture, admittedly losing myself in the history of the fur trade, which saw a boom in the Pacific Northwest during the nineteenth century. It is a long and complicated history, and one that should always be viewed in the context of First Peoples history. It is vital to remember the impact European invasions had on the First Peoples and their land, and to constantly challenge the gaze through which we view history.

On a historical note, the poems Liam gifts Rebecca are, for those not familiar with them, by Edgar Allan Poe. Tamerlane and Other Poems by a Bostonian was released in 1827 and is considered to be Poe’s first published work.

Thank you for reading Rebecca and Liam’s story. I do hope you enjoy it.