What Inspired The Author To Write Selkie Romance Novel Gown?

The inspiration for 'Gown' came from a combination of personal experiences and deep research into Celtic mythology. I spent a summer on the Scottish coast, where the locals still whisper about selkies. The way the mist rolled in, the sound of the waves—it felt like magic was just beneath the surface. That atmosphere seeped into the story.

But I also wanted to challenge the traditional selkie narrative. Too often, it’s about loss and captivity, so I asked: What if the selkie chose to stay? What if love wasn’t a cage but a bridge? The gown became a metaphor for transformation, not just physical but emotional. The protagonist’s struggle mirrors my own questions about identity and belonging.

I drew from other sources too, like the way fashion can conceal or reveal who we are. The gown’s design—silky but weighted, delicate but resilient—mirrors the selkie’s journey. And of course, I couldn’t resist weaving in elements of gothic romance, like the eerie beauty of the shoreline at twilight, to give it that extra layer of moody allure.

As someone who grew up near the ocean, the sea has always felt like a character in my life—sometimes gentle, sometimes furious. Selkie myths resonated with me because they capture that duality. The initial spark for 'Gown' came from a documentary about coastal communities where folklore isn’t just stories; it’s part of daily life. I wondered how a selkie might navigate today’s world, where identity is fluid but expectations are rigid.

The gown idea emerged from a vintage shop find—a dress that seemed to shimmer like wet sealskin. It made me think about how clothing can transform us, hide us, or set us free. The novel evolved into a love story, yes, but also a rebellion against the old tropes. My selkie isn’t waiting for rescue; she’s figuring out what she wants, whether that’s the sea or the shore—or both.

Music played a role too. There’s a haunting quality to Celtic harp music that inspired the novel’s rhythm, like the ebb and flow of tides. The romance isn’t just between characters; it’s between the selkie and her own nature, between land and sea, past and present.

I've always been fascinated by folklore, and selkies have a special place in my heart. The idea of a creature that can shift between seal and human form is so rich with storytelling potential. When I came across the legend of the selkie bride, it struck me how tragic and beautiful their stories often are—forced into marriages, their skins stolen, forever longing for the sea. That melancholy mixed with the possibility of love really spoke to me. I wanted to explore what a modern selkie romance could look like, where the selkie isn’t just a victim but has agency. The gown in the story became a symbol of that duality—elegant and human on the surface, but hiding something wild and untamed underneath. The sea, the isolation of coastal life, and the tension between duty and freedom all wove together into this novel.