Q&A with Juliette Price - Ten burning questions

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, which may not seem like a horror in the pure sense, but definitely has supernatural vibes, and the atmosphere gives me the chills. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson embodies so many weirdly ghostly elements that come with a creepy old house. Although very different to the novel, the TV adaptation was done so

well and embodied a modern gothic vibe perfectly.

The Shining by Stephen King, although not set around a creepy old castle, there is no denying the Overlook hotel is supernaturally sinister. The locked in element, and Jack's descent into madness is synonymous with the Gothic trope.

I do enjoy a good Dracula film, I love the cinematography of Bram Stokers Dracula (1992), Gary Oldman’s portrayal makes the film. Crimson Peak has to be one of my top films, from the blood red earth, the decaying mansion, and truly villainous villains. It’s a feast for the eyes, and the mind.

When doing research for my family tree, I became interested in the birth place of my grandfather. His father was a park keeper, and the whole family lived and worked in a large Gothic styled building. This was among many buildings across the UK that fell into disrepair and became known as lost buildings. I see this as tragic, which caused me to think about the tragedies people experience. The idea for Alverly’s Lament had been brewing in my mind for over a decade before I began writing it.

Probably a bit of both, I recall a wonderful day sitting quietly in my garden, and a family of robins were venturing out. They are such bold little birds, and it was such a calming experience, I felt compelled to include them in Alverly’s Lament. I’ve always had very vivid dreams, and I keep a dream journal, some ideas and characters come from my own weird subconsciousness.

I am very interested in what makes people tick, why they do the things they do, or behave in a certain way. Having an awareness of emotional difficulties, or psychological distress, and how that can impact is useful when developing characters who are stuck in an unthinkable situation.

I love castles, and its hard to choose just one. The castle nearest to me is Portchester Castle, and each time I visit it, I learn something new, and see it slightly differently. I absolutely loved visiting Harlech Castle in north Wales, it sits on top of the steepest road in Wales

(and possibly Europe). My Grandmother was Welsh, and I feel the Celtic pull whenever I’m there, the views are absolutely stunning, and the castle itself is an architectural wonder.

Graveyards are so fascinating, it really sparks my imagination, I often wonder about the people who are there and what their lives were like.

Without giving spoilers, I can say it has supernatural entities, a decaying old building and inherited guilt. Alverly’s Lament is told in a dual timeline and connects two people from different periods. There are many themes within Alverly’s Lament, first and foremost it’s a tragedy, following the tragic existence of a 19th century woman. However, that particular theme is not exclusive to a person. I am delighted that Cloaked Press will be publishing Alverly’s Lament in 2026.

I’m currently working on magical realism story set in Cornwall, which includes witches and folklore in a retro setting.

Stephen King is my favourite and I also love Anne Rice. There are a lot of stories I’ve enjoyed reading from a variety of other authors.

All of the above.

I have a desk and a space to spread out and write, this is a combination of written notes, and writing directly into a word doc. I have just painted a wall in chalkboard paint, which now has the timeline for my current WIP scribbled on it. I often go on creative retreats, which can be very inspiring, sometimes just being in a different environment can encourage a different energy or vibe. I listen to music often when writing, usually this is nature sounds, or background (instrumental music) so I can tune out the world, and distractions, and tune in to the story. During times when I’m not writing I listen to a playlist of songs/ music that inspire me with that particular story or characters.

I’m not sure if these are weird, but they are facts!

1. I once flew a (Cessna) plane, very briefly for a few moments without any training.
2. I crowd surfed for the first time, when I was 51 years old
3. I have a playlist for every occasion, you name it, I’ve got it. I think this stems from years of making mix tapes as a kid.