From the Hollow

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities—a collection of gothic history, strange traditions, haunted places, forgotten folklore, dark symbolism, and the stories hidden behind art and books.

Here you’ll find ancient festivals, eerie legends, Victorian oddities, supernatural inspiration, book reviews, collector features, and the beautifully strange details that shape my worlds. From haunted Pittsburgh to poisonous gardens, from ravens and roses to old rituals and whispered ghost stories, this is where mystery, history, and art meet.

If you love gothic atmosphere, dark fiction, and the allure of the unusual, you’re in the right place.

The Paris Catacombs: History, Hauntings & Gothic Legends Beneath Paris

Paris is often called the City of Light. Images of elegant cafés, grand boulevards, world-famous museums, and the glittering Eiffel Tower come to mind. Yet beneath those bustling streets lies another Paris—one of silence, darkness, and millions of forgotten souls. Hidden beneath the city's beauty is a labyrinth of tunnels known as the Paris Catacombs, one of the world's most fascinating—and unsettling—historical sites. Whether viewed as a masterpiece of engineering, a cemeter

3 days ago6 min read

Kronia: Ancient Greece's Festival of Equality, Harvest, and the Golden Age

In the heat of the Athenian summer, as the grain harvest drew to a close and the hard work of the fields gave way to celebration, the people of ancient Greece observed one of their most remarkable festivals: Kronia. Held in honor of the Titan Cronus (Kronos), the festival was more than a thanksgiving for a successful harvest. It was a brief glimpse into an idealized past—a time the Greeks believed humanity lived in peace, prosperity, and equality. Unlike many religious festiv

4 days ago4 min read

Mirrors as Portals: Folklore, Horror, and the Symbolism of Reflections

Few objects have earned as much suspicion throughout history as the ordinary mirror. Every home has one. We use them without thinking, trusting that the reflection staring back belongs to us. Yet for thousands of years, cultures around the world have treated mirrors with caution. They have been covered after deaths, avoided during certain rituals, blamed for trapping spirits, and imagined as doorways between worlds. Perhaps that is because mirrors challenge something fundamen

7 days ago6 min read

Neptunalia: Ancient Rome's Festival of Water, Shade, and Summer Survival

As the heat of midsummer settled over ancient Rome, the Roman calendar turned to a festival unlike any other. On July 23, Romans celebrated Neptunalia, a day dedicated to Neptune, the god of fresh water and the sea. While Neptune is often remembered today as the Roman counterpart to the Greek god Poseidon, the festival that honored him was not simply about the ocean. Instead, Neptunalia reflected a society deeply aware of the life-giving importance of water during the hottest

Jul 234 min read

Jorōgumo: Japan's Beautiful Spider Demon

Beauty has always had a way of lowering our guard. Some of the world's oldest stories remind us that danger rarely announces itself with claws and fangs. Instead, it smiles. It charms. It invites us a little closer before revealing its true nature. Few legends embody that idea more perfectly than the Jorōgumo. Part beautiful woman, part monstrous spider, the Jorōgumo has woven her way through Japanese folklore for centuries. She is seductive without being romantic, terrifying

Jul 224 min read

Witch Bottles: The Strange History of Protective Magic & Hidden Charms

Long before security cameras, alarm systems, and motion sensors, people protected their homes with something far stranger. They buried bottles filled with nails, pins, hair, urine, herbs, and other mysterious ingredients beneath fireplaces, thresholds, and walls, believing these hidden charms could trap evil before it entered the home. These curious objects, known today as witch bottles, have puzzled archaeologists for decades and continue to fascinate historians, occult enth

Jul 205 min read

Painting Atmosphere in Portraits: Creating Unease

A portrait does not have to simply show a person. It can tell a story, create a feeling, or leave the viewer with a question they cannot quite answer. While expression and pose play an important role, some of the strongest emotional reactions come from what surrounds the subject: the atmosphere. A carefully chosen shadow, an unexpected color shift, or an area of empty space can transform an ordinary portrait into something haunting, mysterious, or unsettling. Creating unease

Jul 174 min read

The Athenian New Year: Welcoming a New Year in Ancient Greece

Long before fireworks, countdowns, and midnight celebrations became New Year's traditions, the people of ancient Athens welcomed the beginning of a new year by looking not to a calendar hanging on the wall, but to the heavens above. The Athenian New Year began with the first new moon following the summer solstice, ushering in the month of Hekatombaion and marking the start of a new civic and religious year. Unlike the modern Gregorian calendar, which fixes New Year's Day on J

Jul 163 min read

The Banshee: Ireland’s Messenger of Death

Few figures in folklore create such an immediate image as the banshee. A woman in white or gray, wandering beneath the moonlight. Long hair blowing in the wind. A haunting cry echoing across the countryside. A warning that death is near. For centuries, stories of the banshee have captured the imagination of storytellers, artists, and writers. She has appeared in ghost stories, horror films, fantasy novels, and popular culture as a terrifying supernatural being. But the origin

Jul 153 min read

Book Review: Erebus-13 by David Wellington

I didn’t realize when I picked up Erebus-13 that it was actually the third book in David Wellington’s Red Space trilogy. The good news is that Wellington does a solid job of writing this installment in a way that allows readers to follow the story without feeling completely lost if they haven’t read the previous books. The story follows Petrova and her crew as they face the release of Erebus, an ancient entity of pure darkness threatening humanity and the galaxy itself. What

Jul 141 min read

Aokigahara Forest: Japan’s Sea of Trees, Spirits, and Shadows

At the northern base of Mount Fuji lies a forest unlike any other in Japan. Dense, silent, and almost unnaturally still, Aokigahara stretches across nearly 12 square miles of ancient volcanic terrain. Known as Jukai—“the Sea of Trees”—the forest appears endless, with towering evergreens, thick moss, and twisted roots spreading across the hardened lava fields left behind by Mount Fuji’s eruptions. Jukai (樹海), “Sea of Trees,” is almost a folklore phrase by itself. The image of

Jul 135 min read

The Witch’s Familiar: Myth, Magic, and Misunderstanding

Few figures in folklore are as quietly misunderstood as the witch’s familiar. Depending on the time period, the familiar has been described as a magical assistant, a demon in animal form, a supernatural spy, or simply an ordinary creature caught in extraordinary accusations. Like many elements of witchcraft folklore, the truth depends less on evidence and more on fear, interpretation, and the stories people chose to believe. And that is what makes the familiar so fascinating.

Jul 104 min read

Henry Fuseli and the Birth of Nightmare Art

Long before horror films learned how to frighten audiences with shadows, sound, and suggestion, painters were already experimenting with fear. One of the most influential among them was Henry Fuseli. His work didn’t just depict nightmares—it defined what nightmares would look like in Western art for centuries to come. I’ve always been drawn to the intersection between art history and horror. The same imagery that inspires ghost stories and folklore often shows up in painting

Jul 84 min read

Tanabata: Japan's Star Festival of Wishes, Love, and the Meeting of the Heavens

Every summer, colorful strips of paper flutter from bamboo branches across Japan, carrying handwritten wishes toward the sky. Streets become adorned with vibrant streamers, towns host lively festivals, and families gather beneath the stars to celebrate one of Japan's most beloved seasonal traditions: Tanabata, the Star Festival. Observed annually on July 7—though some regions celebrate according to the lunar calendar in August—Tanabata blends astronomy, folklore, and centurie

Jul 74 min read

Nonae Caprotinae: The Ancient Roman Festival of Juno, Freedom, and a Heroic Deception

The Roman calendar is filled with festivals honoring gods, military victories, and the changing of the seasons. Yet among these observances is one of the most unusual celebrations in all of ancient Rome: Nonae Caprotinae. Observed annually on July 7, this lesser-known festival honored Juno Caprotina while commemorating a legendary act of courage that, according to Roman tradition, helped save the city itself. Unlike many Roman festivals that centered on senators, priests, or

Jul 74 min read

Book Review: The Whisper Man by Alex North

I bought The Whisper Man by Alex North when it was first released in hardcover, read the opening chapter… and then, like too many books on my shelf, it quietly slipped into my TBR pile for far too long. I finally picked it up again during a break between ARCs while I was working through older unread books—and I can honestly say my only regret is not finishing it sooner. The story follows Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake, who move to the town of Featherbank after a personal

Jul 62 min read

Cosmic Horror: Why the Unknown Terrifies Us More Than Monsters

Monsters have rules. They may be impossible to kill. They may lurk in the shadows or emerge beneath a full moon. They might hide beneath your bed, stalk the woods, or wait in abandoned buildings. But even the most terrifying monsters usually have a motive. Hunger. Revenge. Survival. Territory. We understand them. Cosmic horror doesn't give us that comfort. That's why it frightens us. I've always been drawn to science fiction horror. Whether it's through books, movies, or tele

Jul 64 min read

Book Review: Last of the First by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

If you're a fan of fantasy or science fiction, chances are you've come across the name L.E. Modesitt, Jr. His bibliography is extensive for a reason—he consistently delivers engaging characters, intricate political intrigue, and some of the most thoughtfully constructed worlds in the genre. Last of the First is the conclusion to a four-book story arc within the long-running Saga of Recluce. While this is roughly the twenty-seventh novel in the overall series, one of Modesitt'

Jul 52 min read

The Kitsune Folklore: Trickster, Protector, and Master of Illusion

Some legends refuse to fit neatly into a single category. The Kitsune is one of them. I've always been fascinated by fox spirits. Like the Black Dog and many other legendary creatures, the Kitsune eventually found its way into one of my own stories in Pandora's Legacy. What drew me to the legend wasn't simply its supernatural abilities, but the complexity behind it. Depending on the story, a Kitsune can be wise or mischievous, compassionate or cruel, a loyal guardian or a dan

Jul 34 min read

Creating Monsters: How Folklore Shapes My Art & Fiction

People often ask where my monsters come from. The easy answer is folklore. The longer answer begins decades earlier, with a little girl who never seemed to tire of ghost stories. I've always been a reader, and I credit that love almost entirely to my mother. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of books filling the house, and my mom, sister, and I sharing novels to read. Looking back, I realize those moments weren't just about passing the time. They taught me that stori

Jul 14 min read