The Winter Folk

A woman returns to the mysterious lodge in the woods where she once worked, and to the inscrutable creature that bound her there, in this haunting Appalachian gothic horror from singular voice Jen Julian. Perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow and T. Kingfisher. "A mesmerizing and spell-binding tale, beautifully told, that you will not want to end. You, too, will never want to leave Deerhaven." - Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk. Every year, the mythical Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge, a place known only as Deerhaven. Moth was a housekeeper there once. A trusted confidant of Mr. Oslin, the enigmatic master of the house. But Deerhaven is dangerous. The rules are exacting. The consequences for break them are dire. Moth has not been allowed back in decades. Still, she feels its call. She will finder her way back. She needs to see him again. No matter the cost. "The Winter Folk feels like an Appalachian Spirited Away, blending the Blue Ridge with Studio Ghibli, teeming with haints, haunts, and monsters. Jen Julian crafts a tale that feels as if it has been handed down through generations of storytellers, a hauntingly evocative gothic for every campfire." - Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Devil Inside ★ "Julian creates an emotionally rich blend of the mythical and the mundane in this dark, multigenerational Appalachian horror novel. The denizens of Deerhaven are delightfully terrible in myriad inventive ways, and the worldbuilding as a whole is beautifully executed. It's an impressive feat."." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Jen Julian's previous publications include a short story collection, Earthly Delights and Other Apocalypses (Press 53, 2018), which was the winner of Press 53's Short Fiction Prize, as well as work in numerous literary journals, most recently a story in Third Coast Magazine, which received distinction in Best American Short Stories 2023. Jen holds a PhD in English from the University of Missouri and an MFA in Fiction from UNC Greensboro. A 2016 Clarion Alumna, she has contributed fiction both to the Sewanee Writers' Conference and the Texas Book Festival. These days, Jen lives in the mountains of North Georgia with her enormous ginger cat and teaches creative writing at Young Harris College.