From the Scriptorium

The Alley Dispatch

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Dispatches from the fog-choked depths — writing news, behind-the-scenes glimpses, genre explorations, and the occasional creative tangent.

Tales from the Tide

5 min read

Tales from the Tide: A Letter from the Lighthouse

April 5, 2025

My name is Morwenna Brightwood. I live in a lighthouse on the coast of Portland, Maine. I own a notebook with two columns. The left column is headed PROBABLY NOTHING. The right column is headed CONFIRMED NOTHING. Something arrived at my door last week that has moved several items out of the left column entirely.

News

3 min read

Welcome to Nocturne Alley

March 28, 2025

The fog has lifted, just enough to let you in. Welcome to the official home of Lisa A. Moore, where the gas lamps are always burning and the stories never sleep.

Behind the Scenes

6 min read

The Making of Amara Nocturne

March 15, 2025

Every undead barmaid has an origin story. Here is how Amara Nocturne came to un-life, and why her story would not leave me alone until I wrote it.

Writing

8 min read

What Is Gaslamp Noir? A Genre Guide

February 22, 2025

Victorian fog, dark magic, moral ambiguity, and shadows that have shadows of their own. A look at the genre that lives between gaslight and darkness.

Writing

5 min read

On Writing Across Genres (And Why I Can't Stop)

February 5, 2025

Urban fantasy, magical realism, gaslamp noir. Here is why writing across genres is a feature, not a bug, and why I cannot seem to stop.

Life

4 min read

Violette: Chief Creative Director

January 18, 2025

An official profile of Violette, my dog and primary creative collaborator. Her contributions to the writing process are immeasurable. Her opinions on deadlines are not suitable for print.