Meet Clare Southwark
Clare Southwark is a rising voice in modern Gothic fiction. Her debut novel, The Dagger of Nine Souls, has already captured readers’ imaginations with its haunting atmosphere, lyrical writing, and darkly emotional depth. Although she has only one published book so far, Clare’s passion for storytelling runs deep rooted in childhood experiences that shaped her fascination with shadow, mystery, and the supernatural.
The Story Behind The Dagger of Nine Souls
The inspiration for Clare’s first novel came from two powerful influences in her early life. She grew up in an old gothic house, where creaking floors and whispered winds naturally found their way into her imagination. That sense of eerie beauty became the foundation for her book’s mood and setting.
The second inspiration came from her mother’s vast book collection. Hours spent immersed in those pages led Clare to fall in love with both fantasy and gothic horror. “The Dagger of Nine Souls is really the union of those two worlds,” she says. “It’s the story I’ve always wanted to tell where atmosphere meets emotion, and darkness reveals truth.”
Writing Habits and Creative Process
Clare admits that her writing process often begins long before words ever reach the page. “I daydream a lot,” she shares. “I like to play out scenes in my mind before writing them down. It helps me see how the emotions and pacing fit together.”
This imaginative visualization gives her stories their cinematic feel each scene unfolding with deliberate rhythm and haunting tension.
Literary Influences
Clare draws inspiration from classic authors who shaped the Gothic tradition: Anne Rice, Emily Brontë, Mary Shelley, Stephen King, and Bram Stoker. Their ability to blend human vulnerability with supernatural intensity continues to guide her own voice as a writer.
“I love the way they expose beauty within horror,” she explains. “It’s not just about fear it’s about the soul’s response to it.”
What She’s Working On Now
Currently, Clare is writing the second installment of The Dagger of Nine Souls. The new book will expand the mythology and emotional complexity of the first, delving deeper into the curse, the dagger, and the characters who are bound to it. Readers can expect even more Gothic atmosphere, secrets, and haunting revelations.
Promoting Her Work
Clare is excited to share her debut novel with readers around the world. She promotes her book primarily through Amazon, where The Dagger of Nine Souls is available, and through new platforms like this one where passionate readers meet passionate authors.
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Her advice is simple but powerful: Don’t get in your own way. Clare believes that hesitation is creativity’s biggest enemy. “If you think it’s a great idea, just do it,” she says. “Perfection can come later what matters most is beginning.”
Words of Wisdom
Clare carries one piece of advice from her mother that continues to guide her life and art: “The most dangerous phrase in the language is ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” She credits this perspective with helping her break free from creative limits and write stories that feel alive and original.
What She’s Reading
Right now, Clare is reading Ravenwood by Margaux Gillis, another Gothic work that explores love, loss, and mystery through lush prose and atmospheric depth.
What’s Next for Clare Southwark
After completing The Dagger of Nine Souls series, Clare plans to continue writing within the Gothic Horror genre. “I want to keep exploring the tension between beauty and terror,” she says. “That’s where the human heart truly lives.”
Books She Would Take to a Desert Island
If stranded on a desert island, Clare would bring three timeless classics:
- The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Each book embodies the kind of emotional intensity and haunting storytelling that Clare both admires and strives to create.
Connect with Clare Southwark
- Amazon Author Page: Clare Southwark on Amazon
- Goodreads Profile: Clare Southwark on Goodreads
