Building Worlds
Building Worlds
Building Worlds
Elysian Court Series
Elysian Court Series
Step into the shadows of 1813 England. The Art of Ruin is the flagship novel of the Elysian Court series. This high-stakes historical "thromance" saga centers on the formidable Lady Clara Vance. This is a story where opulence hides scandal, and survival requires a sharp mind and a colder heart. Every detail draws you into Clara's world. The story features complex smuggling routes, harsh 19th-century laws, and the raw grit of underground boxing. It is a world designed to immerse one in a sense of danger and stunning realism.
Step into the shadows of 1813 England. The Art of Ruin is the flagship novel of the Elysian Court series. This high-stakes historical "thromance" saga centers on the formidable Lady Clara Vance. This is a story where opulence hides scandal, and survival requires a sharp mind and a colder heart. Every detail draws you into Clara's world. The story features complex smuggling routes, harsh 19th-century laws, and the raw grit of underground boxing. It is a world designed to immerse one in a sense of danger and stunning realism.
Stats (in progress)
56 Votes
1,381 Total Reads
95 Engaged Readers
21 Countries Reached
Stats (complete)
1,018 Votes
32,200 Total Reads
1,051 Engaged Readers
35 Countries Reached
Zero-Draft Fiction
WattPad
Bless Your Heart is a standalone Southern Gothic novella. It delves into the terrifying space between a gilded facade and the rot beneath. The story follows Sloane Moore, a fiercely guarded art restorer in Manhattan. Her life revolves around preserving history through her work, when a whirlwind romance with the charming Leo LaMonté takes her from the city to a hidden Louisiana plantation. She soon sees the truth: she hasn't joined a family; she's walked into a trap.
It’s a tense and visceral exploration of legacy and survival. The LaMonté family’s secrets are as suffocating as the Louisiana heat. To truly cleanse a corrupted history, they might have to burn it all to the ground.
A Modern Southern Gothic.
Bless Your Heart
Novella
Lady Clara Vance
Archetype:
The Shadow Sovereign /
The Mastermind / Hades / The Dread Queen
Born: November 12, 1792; London, England
Biography:
Clara Vance is an intelligent and independent spinster navigating the complex social landscape of Regency-era London and Bath. Blessed with sharp observational skills, she frequently finds herself uncovering hidden truths and solving mysteries rather than purely focusing on potential suitors. Though conforming outwardly to society's expectations, Clara possesses an adventurous spirit that often leads her down unconventional and thrilling paths.
Bringing Clara to Life:
To bring Clara to life, I first had to understand the gilded cage she was born into. I dove deep into the realities of Regency-era women, specifically the suffocating expectations of the ton, researching the debutante experience and the severe lack of avenues for intellectual thrill or genuine adventure. Once I understood the rules, I built Clara specifically to break them. I gave her an observational sharpness and a detective-like instinct that completely subvert what was expected of a proper lady, making her the perfect anchor for a historical thriller. From there, fleshing her out was all about finding the friction: mapping the war between her inherent curiosity and crushing societal pressure, and surrounding her with a dynamic cast designed to either challenge or champion her unconventional spirit.
Westcliff Manor
Style: Palladian and Neoclassical
Location: 1815; Bath, England
Process:
For Westcliff Manor, the process began with extensive architectural research into prominent country estates and grand townhouses of the era, focusing on prominent Palladian and Neoclassical designs. Understanding typical layouts and the specific functions of grand public spaces (foyers, drawing rooms, ballrooms) versus private or service areas was essential. However, rather than historical accuracy alone, the design was directly driven by the anticipated narrative needs of historical thriller fiction. Specific spaces, like the expansive Westcliff Library and secret passages or service tunnels, were conceptualized not only for visual grandeur but also explicitly mapped out for future plot points involving discoveries, clandestine meetings, or unseen movement. I focused heavily on creating atmosphere through lighting (grand chandeliers, flickering candles, deep shadows), specific materials (ornate paneling, extensive libraries, grand staircases), and overall scale to imbue the setting with both historical depth and an inherent sense of potential mystery.
Kickstarter Campaign.
In Fall 2026, I will launch a Kickstarter campaign to bring The Art of Ruin into print. But this campaign is more than a pre-order for a beautifully bound first edition; it serves as a gateway into the universe itself.
Backers will get exclusive companions to the novel, such as:
• Stunning architectural renderings of the estates
• Exclusive merchandise
• Photorealistic vignettes of characters like Fiona Spencer and Leonardo Byrne
This is your exclusive invitation to step inside the gates, explore the shadows, and claim your place in the court before the rest of the world.
Step into the shadows of 1813 England. The Art of Ruin is the flagship novel of the Elysian Court series. This high-stakes historical "thromance" saga centers on the formidable Lady Clara Vance. This is a story where opulence hides scandal, and survival requires a sharp mind and a colder heart. Every detail draws you into Clara's world. The story features complex smuggling routes, harsh 19th-century laws, and the raw grit of underground boxing. It is a world designed to immerse one in a sense of danger and stunning realism.
Elysian Court Series
Stats (complete)
1,018 Votes
32,200 Total Reads
1,051 Engaged Readers
35 Countries Reached
56 Votes
1,381 Total Reads
95 Engaged Readers
21 Countries Reached
Stats (in progress)
Zero-Draft Fiction
WattPad
A Modern Southern Gothic.
Bless Your Heart is a standalone Southern Gothic novella. It delves into the terrifying space between a gilded facade and the rot beneath. The story follows Sloane Moore, a fiercely guarded art restorer in Manhattan. Her life revolves around preserving history through her work, when a whirlwind romance with the charming Leo LaMonté takes her from the city to a hidden Louisiana plantation. She soon sees the truth: she hasn't joined a family; she's walked into a trap.
It’s a tense and visceral exploration of legacy and survival. The LaMonté family’s secrets are as suffocating as the Louisiana heat. To truly cleanse a corrupted history, they might have to burn it all to the ground.
Bless Your Heart
Novella
Kickstarter Campaign.
In Fall 2026, I will launch a Kickstarter campaign to bring The Art of Ruin into print. But this campaign is more than a pre-order for a beautifully bound first edition; it serves as a gateway into the universe itself.
Backers will get exclusive companions to the novel, such as:
• Stunning architectural renderings of the estates
• Exclusive merchandise
• Photorealistic vignettes of characters like Fiona Spencer and Leonardo Byrne
This is your exclusive invitation to step inside the gates, explore the shadows, and claim your place in the court before the rest of the world.
Lady Clara Vance
Archetype:
The Shadow Sovereign /
The Mastermind / Hades / The Dread Queen
Born: November 12, 1792; London, England
Biography:
Clara Vance is an intelligent and independent spinster navigating the complex social landscape of Regency-era London and Bath. Blessed with sharp observational skills, she frequently finds herself uncovering hidden truths and solving mysteries rather than purely focusing on potential suitors. Though conforming outwardly to society's expectations, Clara possesses an adventurous spirit that often leads her down unconventional and thrilling paths.
Bringing Clara to Life:
To bring Clara to life, I first had to understand the gilded cage she was born into. I dove deep into the realities of Regency-era women, specifically the suffocating expectations of the ton, researching the debutante experience and the severe lack of avenues for intellectual thrill or genuine adventure. Once I understood the rules, I built Clara specifically to break them. I gave her an observational sharpness and a detective-like instinct that completely subvert what was expected of a proper lady, making her the perfect anchor for a historical thriller. From there, fleshing her out was all about finding the friction: mapping the war between her inherent curiosity and crushing societal pressure, and surrounding her with a dynamic cast designed to either challenge or champion her unconventional spirit.
Westcliff Manor
Style: Palladian and Neoclassical
Location: 1815; Bath, England
Process:
For Westcliff Manor, the process began with extensive architectural research into prominent country estates and grand townhouses of the era, focusing on prominent Palladian and Neoclassical designs. Understanding typical layouts and the specific functions of grand public spaces (foyers, drawing rooms, ballrooms) versus private or service areas was essential. However, rather than historical accuracy alone, the design was directly driven by the anticipated narrative needs of historical thriller fiction. Specific spaces, like the expansive Westcliff Library and secret passages or service tunnels, were conceptualized not only for visual grandeur but also explicitly mapped out for future plot points involving discoveries, clandestine meetings, or unseen movement. I focused heavily on creating atmosphere through lighting (grand chandeliers, flickering candles, deep shadows), specific materials (ornate paneling, extensive libraries, grand staircases), and overall scale to imbue the setting with both historical depth and an inherent sense of potential mystery.
Bless Your Heart
Novella
A Modern Southern Gothic.
Bless Your Heart is a standalone Southern Gothic novella. It delves into the terrifying space between a gilded facade and the rot beneath. The story follows Sloane Moore, a fiercely guarded art restorer in Manhattan. Her life revolves around preserving history through her work, when a whirlwind romance with the charming Leo LaMonté takes her from the city to a hidden Louisiana plantation. She soon sees the truth: she hasn't joined a family; she's walked into a trap.
It’s a tense and visceral exploration of legacy and survival. The LaMonté family’s secrets are as suffocating as the Louisiana heat. To truly cleanse a corrupted history, they might have to burn it all to the ground.
Bless Your Heart
Novella
Lady Clara Vance
Archetype:
The Shadow Sovereign /
The Mastermind / Hades / The Dread Queen
Born: November 12, 1792; London, England
Biography:
Clara Vance is an intelligent and independent spinster navigating the complex social landscape of Regency-era London and Bath. Blessed with sharp observational skills, she frequently finds herself uncovering hidden truths and solving mysteries rather than purely focusing on potential suitors. Though conforming outwardly to society's expectations, Clara possesses an adventurous spirit that often leads her down unconventional and thrilling paths.
Bringing Clara to Life:
To bring Clara to life, I first had to understand the gilded cage she was born into. I dove deep into the realities of Regency-era women, specifically the suffocating expectations of the ton, researching the debutante experience and the severe lack of avenues for intellectual thrill or genuine adventure. Once I understood the rules, I built Clara specifically to break them. I gave her an observational sharpness and a detective-like instinct that completely subvert what was expected of a proper lady, making her the perfect anchor for a historical thriller. From there, fleshing her out was all about finding the friction: mapping the war between her inherent curiosity and crushing societal pressure, and surrounding her with a dynamic cast designed to either challenge or champion her unconventional spirit.
Westcliff Manor
Style: Palladian and Neoclassical
Location: 1815; Bath, England
Process:
For Westcliff Manor, the process began with extensive architectural research into prominent country estates and grand townhouses of the era, focusing on prominent Palladian and Neoclassical designs. Understanding typical layouts and the specific functions of grand public spaces (foyers, drawing rooms, ballrooms) versus private or service areas was essential. However, rather than historical accuracy alone, the design was directly driven by the anticipated narrative needs of historical thriller fiction. Specific spaces, like the expansive Westcliff Library and secret passages or service tunnels, were conceptualized not only for visual grandeur but also explicitly mapped out for future plot points involving discoveries, clandestine meetings, or unseen movement. I focused heavily on creating atmosphere through lighting (grand chandeliers, flickering candles, deep shadows), specific materials (ornate paneling, extensive libraries, grand staircases), and overall scale to imbue the setting with both historical depth and an inherent sense of potential mystery.
Kickstarter Campaign.
In Fall 2026, I will launch a Kickstarter campaign to bring The Art of Ruin into print. But this campaign is more than a pre-order for a beautifully bound first edition; it serves as a gateway into the universe itself.
Backers will get exclusive companions to the novel, such as:
• Stunning architectural renderings of the estates
• Exclusive merchandise
• Photorealistic vignettes of characters like Fiona Spencer and Leonardo Byrne
This is your exclusive invitation to step inside the gates, explore the shadows, and claim your place in the court before the rest of the world.
Stats (complete)
1,018 Votes
32,200 Total Reads
1,051 Engaged Readers
35 Countries Reached
Stats (in progress)
56 Votes
1,381 Total Reads
95 Engaged Readers
21 Countries Reached