Clay Franklin Johnson

I was honored to discover yesterday on the 200th anniversary of George MacDonald’s birth that my poem “The Faery Wood” was selected for the Highly Commended Award, one of two prizes given for this year’s MacDonald-themed Brian Nisbet Poetry Award.

To Feel Nothing, To Love Nothing (2025) is a beautifully written literary novel dripping with eloquent longing and inspired ideals of poetic romance and adventure. A wonderful way to honor Jane Austen today. A hearty congratulations to Olivia!

‘Coleridge in The Ancient Mariner tells a story that relates itself clearly to a major Romantic archetype, the Wanderer, the man with the mark of Cain, or the mocker of Christ, who must expiate in a perpetual cycle of guilt and suffering…’ — Harold Bloom, The Visionary Company

Fascinating lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1797-98) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge on the anniversary of his death. The ‘death-fires’ are often interpreted as St Elmo’s fire, an atmospheric electricity on a ship’s mast or rigging believed to portend disaster.

“I have two luxuries to brood over in my walks, your Loveliness and the hour of my death. O that I could have possession of them both in the same minute. I hate the world and would I could take a sweet poison from your lips...” —John Keats, 25 July 1819 clayfjohnson.com/writings/john-…

The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch’s oils, Burnt green, and blue and white. —Samuel Taylor Coleridge Coleridge died #OTD in 1834. Gustave Doré illustrates the “death-fires”, possibly St. Elmo’s Fire (witch’s fire) or the phosphorescence of organic decay.

‘How did Jane Austen die? Even after two centuries, nobody knows… Fevers, fatigue, and a changing complexion? Why modern doctors are still trying to make sense of the symptoms the celebrated novelist experienced before her death at age 41.’ nationalgeographic.com/history/articl…

These editions are an absolute must for those who admire the writings of Henry James. He is one of only a handful of authors whom I read every year. James’s The Aspern Papers (1888), inspired by an incident involving the letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley, I reread every summer.

Today, on the anniversary of Jane Austen's death (only months away from the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth), we are excited to announce the publication of To Feel Nothing, To Love Nothing (2025), the debut novel by author Olivia Claire Louise Newman. gothickeatspress.com/news-and-annou…

201 years ago today, 16 July 1824, Lord Byron was buried within his family vault at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. We are proud to have honoured Byron on the bicentenary of his death last year with a collection of poetry. gothickeatspress.com/poems-to-honou…

I’m remembering Lord Byron today on the 201st anniversary of his burial. Byron, celebrated as a national hero in Greece, was denied burial at Westminster Abbey on grounds of “questionable morality”. Here are some lovely Byronic poems inspired by his life: gothickeatspress.com/poems-to-honou…

There looks to be some fascinating writing on fairies in this new publication! I’m honored to have some stanzas included from one of my longer poems inspired by the more Gothic side of Faerie. Many thanks to editors @baconetti and Lorna Piatti-Farnell. peterlang.com/document/14001…

Alnwick Castle (c. 1829) illuminated by the ghostly glow of a full moon, by J.M.W. Turner. This moonlit nocturne was created for the Picturesque Views in England and Wales (published 1827-38).

A happy birthday to Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823), the queen of the Gothic novel, whose writings have “influenced the work of Jane Austen, Lord Byron, John Keats, Mary Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Henry James, the Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens.” theguardian.com/books/2024/oct…

In honour of Percy Bysshe Shelley, who died #OTD 8 July 1822, here is a collection of essays by Shelleyans and scholars including Professor Michael Owen Jones, Professor Nahoko Miyamoto Alvey, Dr Amanda Blake Davis, Lynn Shepherd, Colin Silver, and more. gothickeatspress.com/essays-to-hono…

Today is the 203rd anniversary of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s tragic death. He was only 29 when he drowned off the coast of Italy during a violent storm. Read “I am borne darkly, fearfully, afar” (2022), a collection of essays honoring his life and writings. gothickeatspress.com/essays-to-hono…

🌳 Dame Judi Dench is calling for the return of ancient woodlands. Will you sign the petition to help restore the Ghost Woods and protect our green spaces for future generations? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/brin… via @38degrees