Heartfont Manor is an adult gothic horror novel that reimagines the vampire myth through a disability lens, in which the vampire is a symbol for misdiagnosis. This novel is inspired by Dracula with a Lovecraftian tone and would appeal to readers of Reluctant Immortals, Mexican Gothic, and anyone who has doomscrolled on a symptom-checker website.

In a setting inspired by the Gilded Age with a modern approach to diversity and queerness, historian Aidan and tailor Lucy accept jobs at a remote manor owned by an old money family rumored to know the secret to immortality. Aidan and Lucy don't believe these stories, but they're in no position to turn down any prospective employment. The reclusive siblings who live in the manor claim not to believe the stories either and yearn to escape the shadow of their family name, yet they remain obsessed with the past and soon become obsessed with their new employees, despite the taboo of the class divide. As the Autumn days grow shorter, the siblings' behavior grows more erratic, and as they engage in methodical seduction, Aidan's chronic illness inexplicably worsens, Lucy becomes paranoid the manor itself is alive, and their nightmares blur with reality. They must learn to prioritize health and community over work, trust their instincts, and unravel the Heartfont family's dark history to oppose literal bloodsucking capitalists and worse, doctors who insist problems are just anxiety.

In Heartfont Manor, traditional gothic gender roles are subverted, platonic love is centered, and dismissal from the medical field is more dangerous than the supernatural. The novel is inspired by my own experiences living with chronic illness that went undiagnosed for almost 10 years. In real life, diseases have scientific causes, but wouldn't it be more fun if sometimes it was an actual monster?

A fictional 19th century setting brings the historical literature theme of "progress vs tradition vs the environment" to a 21st century audience in which it remains more relevant than ever.