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.

Hera: Queen of the Gods & Goddess of Marriage

Hera is one of the most recognizable figures in Greek mythology, yet she is also one of the most frequently misunderstood. She is usually introduced as the wife of Zeus, goddess of marriage, and the perpetually furious divine spouse whose husband's infidelities leave a trail of unfortunate mortals and demigods in their wake. Those stories certainly belong to Hera's mythology, but they represent only one part of a much older and considerably more complicated goddess. Long befo

Sep 2014 min read

The Dullahan: Ireland's Headless Horseman

Few creatures in Irish folklore are quite as visually unforgettable as the Dullahan. A headless rider dressed in black, galloping through the countryside on a dark horse while carrying his own severed head beneath one arm. The Dullahan sounds almost too perfectly designed for a Gothic horror story. Yet the legend predates modern horror by centuries—or at least, the ideas behind the legend do. Over time, stories of headless riders, death coaches, supernatural horses, and omino

Aug 156 min read

Zeus: Origins, Myths, Symbols & Ancient Greek Art

Few figures in world mythology have shaped literature, philosophy, religion, art, and popular culture as profoundly as Zeus. Instantly recognizable by his thunderbolt and eagle, Zeus stands at the summit of the Greek pantheon as ruler of the heavens, guardian of justice, and sovereign of both gods and mortals. Yet reducing him to the familiar image of a bearded deity hurling lightning obscures the remarkable complexity of his origins and evolution. Zeus is not merely a weathe

Aug 109 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

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

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

Bona Dea: The Enigmatic Goddess of Rome’s Secret Women’s Cult

Mystery. Silence. Sacred rites hidden behind closed doors. Few deities in ancient Rome embodied secrecy and feminine power quite like Bona Dea, the “Good Goddess” whose worship was so exclusive, even her own name was considered too sacred to speak aloud. For centuries, Roman women sought her blessings for fertility, healing, protection, and purity, gathering in ritual spaces men were forbidden to enter. Though her temples once bustled with activity, much of her story has been

Dec 3, 20253 min read