Longer Works

DARK CRESCENT- dark and seasonal tales inspired by Scottish folklore from Luna Press Publishing

An omen of spirits dance across the sky. A lonely woman befriends a sea witch as the world ends. The last whale in the world travels north in search of hope. A grandmother seeks revenge on the sea monster that took her family.

DARK CRESCENT is a collection of seasonal tales inspired by Scottish folklore, landscape, superstitions, and omens. In this book, readers will find reinterpretations of common folklore creatures and phenomenon, like the Kelpie, Selkie, and Will-o’-the-Wisps, as well as lesser known, such as the Sea Mither, Ceasg, Marool, Sluagh, Ghillie Dhu, Nuckelavee, Baobhan Sith, and The Frittening, all with dark and strange lore around them.

Moving through the seasons, from a darker Autumn and Winter to a more optimistic Summer, the often-interconnected stories cover a wide range of genres, including gothic, weird horror, speculative, dark fantasy, and solarpunk. Many of the tales are also inspired by nature, climate, and the environment, with feminist and eco themes throughout.

More details coming soon, and you can read about the book and inspirations here.

LIMELIGHT – a dark science fiction collection from Shortwave Publishing, forthcoming September 3rd 2024

Limelight is a collection of over twenty high-concept dark science fiction tales from near and far futures.

The title novelette—about a young woman brought back from near death by experimental tech, only to find her parents had her altered before she woke—anchors this collection which features five new exclusive stories alongside popular past works, including: “Hush, Little Sister” (originally published in OBSOLESCENCE [Shortwave Publishing]), Patchwork Girls” (originally published in Dark Matter magazine) “The Medium’s Assistant”, a runner-up in the British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition (originally published in BFS Horizons #16 [British Fantasy Society]) “To Replace a Broken Heart” (originally published in Seize the Press magazine) “Rent-A-Baby” (originally published in Thank You for Joining the Algorithm [Tenebrous Press]).

The collection explores the bright potential and the dark reality of our near and far futures through the lenses of connection and loneliness, love and heartbreak, autonomy and exploitation, desire and greed, wonder and despair. If you’ve ever imagined alternate futures, craved answers to the mysteries of the universe, or feared what might be lurking just beyond our reach, then you need this collection.

Pre-orders and more coming soon!

Have You Decided on Your Question – a dark SF novelette from Shortwave Publishing – out now! (April 2023)

If you could live your life over again, what would you ask to change?

Something big?
Something small?
A single moment?

Have you decided on your question? Zoe has.

Tired of feeling alone and lost, Zoe seeks out an experimental virtual therapy experience from Alternative Reality Tech, which offers patients the opportunity to explore life’s biggest “what if?” questions. During her first assessment, Zoe glimpses a past in which she would have met the love of her life years ago, if not for a split-second decision. Wanting to explore what could have been, she returns regularly to her alternative life, slowly falling in love with the one that got away.

And so begins a dangerous obsession…

“Instantly immersive…”– Ai Jiang, author of Linghun

“A taut narrative of regret, loneliness, and obsession…” – Nick Binge, author of Ascension

“An unnerving, shiver-inducing tale…” – Chloe Timms, author of The Seawomen

Order here:

Latest Reviews

  • Track of Words: “compulsively readable, and perfect for devouring in a single setting.”
  • The Crocker Blog: “a bite-sized triumph.”
  • Horror DNA: “Croal’s writing is beautifully immersive—an intoxicating blend of emotion and longing, with a subtle undercurrent of horror.”
  • FanFiAddict: “Have You Decided On Your Question isn’t afraid to shy away from big ideas, but it approaches them with style and elegance. It’s subtle, cerebral, and surprising. And like all the best questions, you’ll find it reaches, not into your head, but into your heart.”

Reading

Daughter of Fire and Water: An Audio Drama

A two-part Scottish-folklore inspired dark fantasy drama produced by Alternative Stories & Fake Realities Podcast. A 2022 British Fantasy Award Finalist for Best Audio.

Synopsis: Brida has been banished by her mother, the Goddess of Winter, to the under-realm and is only able to leave for a short period each year. When the mortal Prince Angus encounters Brida he vows to help her escape. But her freedom will come at a cost, and when Angus’s true intentions are revealed, she will find herself moved from one prison to another. For fans of Angela Carter and Naomi Novik, Daughter of Fire and Water loosely reimagines the origins and relationships between the Cailleach Bheur and Bride of Scottish folklore, touching on the seasonal creation myths that surround them.

Part One and Part Two are free to listen on all major podcast platforms. Daughter of Fire and Water is produced by Chris Gregory, with music by Cameron Mackay, with the following cast: Kelsey Griffin as Brida, Lewie Watson as Angus, Peter Forbes as Cernun, and Simone Low as Callie. Find out more here.