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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌

@annahirsch.bsky.social

340 followers 610 following 350 posts

(She/her) Yoga teacher & writer of feel-bad books, former copywriter at Leo Burnett 🥀 SmoochPit 2025 mentee ✍️ THE BANSHEE OF CLAN MURTAGH (gothic horror) 🚫NO AI

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · Sep 15

Presenting the #AgentsGuide to my #gothic #horror novel THE BANSHEE OF CLAN MURTAGH 🖤

#AmQuerying starting TODAY!

The black sheep of a powerful family pursues a doomed romance with the banshee who's haunted his estate for generations, even as the black plague closes in. 🥀

An agent's guide to The Banshee of Clan Murtagh, a 71,000 word gothic horror by Anna Hirsch

TROPES/COMPS:
He’s human, she’s immortal / Only one grave / Byronic hero protagonist / Uncovering lost memories / Medieval Irish setting / Tragic ending

For fans of the folkloric love story of Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid, the death-touched love of Nosferatu (2024), the family trauma of the Haunting of Hill House, the Catholic guilt of The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

PITCH
Ireland, 1348: When Ciarán Murtagh hears the cry of his family’s banshee for the first time in a decade, he knows one of his own is fated to die. But they don’t believe his warnings—why would they? The last time Ciarán heard the banshee he didn’t tell a soul until after his cousin’s tragic death, and they’ve never trusted him since.

Desperate for redemption in his family’s eyes, Ciarán hunts down the banshee in search of answers. She’s equal parts frightening and alluring, and in his struggle to confront her, he inadvertently triggers the banshee’s memories. Memories of when she was a servant of his household, generations ago, named Deirdre.

Deirdre claims that Ciarán’s physical touch restores her memories, and demands more. He agrees to meet by moonlight in hope of learning whose death she foretold. With every encounter, Ciarán’s attraction to Deirdre grows, setting him on a path of macabre desire. When the devastating bubonic plague befalls the Murtagh household, and Deirdre’s memories reveal a dark scandal in the family’s history, Ciarán must decide whether to stay by his family’s side in their final hours or embrace the seduction of the death-bringer.

PAGE ONE

All my life I was tempted by death. And like the sinner I was, I never could resist her sweet voice, even when she came for those I love.

First was my grandfather, when I was a boy of four. I still recall standing atop the hill, which I’d claimed as my kingdom like so many others on our land, hearing the banshee’s cry ring out from the forest.

That night, my grandfather finally succumbed to his long illness. But not without leaving his scars on the family, like great rips through a painting. We tried to stitch it back together, plaster the canvas with more layers of paint, but the gashes were always visible beneath.

I was ten when I heard her next, entranced as in a waking dream. She cast tendrils of keening over the forest, unfurled her slender fingers of song into the dark reaches of my heart. I should have known what it meant. I should have warned them.

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 1d

a woman with a surprised look on her face says " oh my god what is it open it open it "

ALT: a woman with a surprised look on her face says " oh my god what is it open it open it "

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 2d

I'm honestly down for this

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 4d

They are so cute! My husband and I keep saying we want to name a cat Nimbus someday!

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you so much!!! I needed to hear this today.

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 5d

I entered with the book I'm currently querying!

It's a gothic horror romantic tragedy about the black sheep of a powerful 14th century Irish family who pursues a doomed romance with the banshee who's haunted his estate for generations, even as the black plague closes in.

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 5d

congratulations!!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 5d

I just entered #RevPit #10Queries. Enter now for a chance to win free feedback on your query and 1st 5 pages!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

i love the epic stakes here!!

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you!!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

ahh thank you!! I like to think it’s not THAT scary

Reposted by Anna is writing gothic horror 💌

K.A. Hela ✨ Prepping for edits...again✨ @jundlife.bsky.social · 7d

Oh hot Banshee...you should tell this hot Irish guy about social distancing (but he does not have to distance from you....)

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Ciarán doesn’t want to be followed by death. He certainly doesn’t expect to fall in love with her. As he pursues a doomed romance with his family’s banshee in the face of the black plague, he must choose between the pain of living and the seduction of the death-bringer.

#DVPit #A #H #HF #JV #LGBT

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

That’s basically how my relationship with my husband began

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

wow thank you so much!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 6d

my brain is broken so I love these things 😂

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Reposted by Anna is writing gothic horror 💌

K.A. Hela ✨ Prepping for edits...again✨ @jundlife.bsky.social · 7d

Oh Hot Banshee with bones in your hair.....If only you have just one more...umm...bone.

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

When Ciarán hunts down his family’s banshee to learn who will die, he doesn’t expect to be seduced by her instead. As he follows a path of macabre desire, and the devastating bubonic plague turns one tragedy to many, Ciarán must choose between the living and the dead.

#DVPit #A #H #HF #JV #LGBT

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Where did you find the synopsis for my book

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Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

this book is so good!! hannah's emotions are so raw and relatable, especially the dynamic with her daughter

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

thank you so much <3

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

that's the goal!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Ahh thanks Deanna!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Ty Bree!!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

😂😂😂 sorry!!

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Ciarán has always been a sinner in his family’s eyes. So they cannot know he’s fallen for the banshee who haunts their estate. As the black plague closes in, Ciarán must decide whether to keep fighting for his family or succumb to the seduction of the death-bringer.

#DVPit #A #H #HF #JV #LGBT

Anna is writing gothic horror 💌 @annahirsch.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you!! Such a compliment!