Writing historical fantasy is a unique challenge, one that demands a careful dance between fact and imagination. When I began The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier, I knew I wanted a story deeply rooted in the English Lake District: its rich history, its haunting landscapes, and importantly, a prequel thread to the legend of the Claife Crier (or the Crier of Claife, depending on which version you prefer). It also had to plant the subtle seeds for what’s to come in book two, a narrative that will be far removed from medieval England.
But blending all of that into a compelling narrative, while staying true to the past and still inviting a sense of the fantastical, was far from easy.
Finding the Balance Between History and Fantasy
One of the biggest challenges was striking the right tone between historical accuracy and imaginative storytelling. Historical fiction demands research: the day-to-day details, the social structures, the architecture – all of it needs grounding in reality. Fantasy, on the other hand, lets you loosen the reins a little. The trick is making sure the fantasy elements feel like a natural part of the world, not something bolted on.
Language was especially tricky. A completely authentic medieval dialect would be tough going for most readers, while overly modern phrasing could break the immersion. In the end, I opted for something in the middle: accessible dialogue with the occasional splash of older words or phrases to give it texture and period flavour.
Digging Into the Research
To build a believable world, I dove into the history of Furness Abbey, medieval monastic life, and the feel of the era. That meant pouring over academic texts, visiting historic sites, and trawling through some very old books (thank you, Google Books!).
I found a few variations of the Claife Crier tale, some from the late 1800s, others from the early 1900s. The former being the first known version that had been committed to print. These different takes on the tale gave the story a kind of anchor point: this idea that something long whispered about in oral tradition finally found its way into text, frozen in time. It felt like the perfect springboard.
But research didn’t just happen at a desk. I also spent a good deal of time physically exploring the ruins of Furness Abbey, wandering through its crumbling cloisters, imagining monastic life, and chatting with some incredibly knowledgeable locals who know its known history. And I say known because, like so many ancient places, there are always gaps – mysteries, guesses, and the shadows of things we’ll likely never recover.
Beyond the abbey walls, I roamed the wild terrain around Claife Heights, wandered the shores of Windermere, and took more than a few rides across the lake on the ferry, still running to this day, though obviously with a few upgrades from the original wooden ferry of old. That ferry plays a key role in the original Claife Crier legend, and being out there on the water gave me a powerful sense of place. You start to feel how the landscape itself holds memory.
Crafting the Supernatural
Even though the story is deeply grounded in history, there’s no escaping the shadow of the supernatural, especially given the legend that inspired it. The original Claife Crier tale is steeped in ghostly folklore: a tormented soul said to haunt the lakeside, crying out through the mist.
In my prequel to the original folklore tale, that haunting becomes the tragic consequence of deeper, stranger forces at work. Hannah isn’t a ghost, nor does she appear overtly magical, but there’s something about her that doesn’t quite belong. She comes from another place, carries a quiet intensity, and seems to know more than she should.
Henry is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and becomes a convenient tool for Hannah to tap into. Her methods are subtle, her influence psychological, and the scars she leaves behind run deep.
That approach helped keep the story grounded, while still leaving room for mystery, and even science fiction concepts, though you’ll have to wait for the books that follow to explore those ideas more fully.
Letting the Landscape Speak
The Lake District itself is more than just a backdrop, it’s practically a character. From its windswept fells to its shadowed woods and crumbling ruins, it shapes the atmosphere of the book in every scene. My goal was to bring it to life in a way that feels immersive but still historically grounded, never slipping into something too postcard-perfect or modern.
Final Thoughts
Writing historical fantasy is a bit like tightrope walking. You’re balancing research and realism on one side with imagination and wonder on the other. But despite the challenges, it’s been a joy to bring this story to life.
With The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier, I hope readers will be drawn into a world that feels both real and otherworldly, a place where history meets myth, and nothing is ever quite as it seems.
The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier – Coming 2025 – See here for latest news.
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Happy reading,
PJ Scribbans
PJ Scribbans Author 