The WIP is meant to have shades of Dark Academia. Don't know how that is going to pan out, but that's the current plan. Dark academia has a Gothic, moody vibe, which means that the standard time for them to take place is autumn. That's the setting for the first part of the WIP - November, under a Frost moon. (The most cited name for November's moon is Beaver. but it didn't have the same ring.) The story is in two parts though, so what about the second? Which leads me to a big question, can you be spooky in daylight?
You see, I have a yen to set the second half of the book around now - spring, more specifically Beltane, 1st May, time of fire festivals.
I know where this comes from. Ever since reading Mary Stewart's Wildfire at Midnight set on the island of Skye in the run up to the coronation in 1953 - which was at the beginning of June, so a little later than Beltane, but making use of the idea of the Beltane fires, I have wanted to create something set at Beltane.
Is this the opportunity? Is it possible to get the gothic and Dark Academic vibe when there is so much daylight? I have realised that I am planning two incidents of arson as part of the book - when you write suspense you get to do all the 'fun' stuff - so the fire theme may be emerging incidentally.
But can I make May sufficiently creepy?
I'm really not sure, but I am thinking seriously. My location is the Welsh coast, not a Scottish island, but I'm trying for Atmosphere - with a distinct capital A. There might be fog - which is a device Mary Stewart also uses, but I'm not too keen on that.
I'm really not sure. But I'm tempted...
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