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Who was the Dark Lady?

Fear reigned in every nook and cranny of the stately mansion: around the satanic gargoyles, behind the Corinthian columns, in the marble statue of Neptune taming a seahorse, along the shadowy corridors, and on the grotesque figurines that grinned on staircases, the empty hall, and finally, the backyard where lurked an ominous shadow. Only the oleander trees grew poisonous pink flowers in a bizarre contrast. The neglected front-facing garden, where the ancient gardener of Neil Read more…

By Mandira Mazumder, ago

The Distinct Flavor of Sublime Fear in My Modern Gothic Horror

While writing this book, I drew inspiration from classic gothic horrors but offered a distinct brand of fear that sets my modern gothic horror apart from other horror subgenres.  Unlike the old horror castles, nestled in the countryside or an unknown region, Longs’ Mansion is on Bombay’s outskirts and has a local atmosphere, though isolated. This creates a sense of unease in familiar surroundings, making the fear more personal and unsettling. Fear is not just about Read more…

By Mandira Mazumder, ago

The First English Gothic Horror Novel that blends the European style with the taste of India.

By Mandira Mazumder, an Indian Author in English My next book in the pipeline is a Modern Gothic horror/romance novel.  I borrowed the classic elements of Gothic fiction and blended them with the post-colonial contemporary India, resulting in a unique and captivating saga. In my book, the horror and romance elements are thematically entwined. The story begins with the dead Zira’s agonizing soul drifting about in a state of limbo. It is her present state Read more…

By Mandira Mazumder, ago

My Upcoming Modern Gothic Horror novel is a blend of Gothic romance and gothic horror

Some of the most compelling and enduring works of literature blur the line between gothic horror and gothic romance, viz Dracula, Wuthering Heights, or even Jane Eyre. Longs’ Mansion, built by the British, stood silent and proud in an isolated corner of Mumbai, surrounded by the Arabian Sea & emerald hills that change color throughout the day and seasons. The magnificent mansion itself impersonated evil, hinting at dangerous secrets beneath the surface.  Dark Zira, an Read more…

By Mandira Mazumder, ago

From my upcoming Gothic Horror Novel.

After sundown, Longs’ Mansion wakes up to a different reality. There are strange echoes from the hall of even the softest footfalls or whispers. ” Who are these whisperers? Lily tried to listen to the sounds of silence from her sick bed. Dr. Lily Long surmised it was her disoriented mind. “It cheats us often when we are alone” she reasoned. But her room was freezing on a warm spring night. A chill ran through Read more…

By Mandira Mazumder, ago