Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic
Hodder Fiction has acquired SHADOWS OF THE BURNING MOOR, a folk horror thriller with interwoven elements of Scottish folklore and Gàidhlig language, and two additional books in The Undercrofter series in a hotly contested three-way auction. Senior commissioning editor Kit Nevile bought UK & Commonwealth rights from Isobel Dixon at Blake Friedmann and will publish in hardback, trade paperback, eBook and audio on 1st July 2027.
Set amidst the dark mountains and deep lochs of the Outer Hebrides, the series focuses on an isolated crofting community on a small island. When a young couple, Connor and Morgan, return to the place of his birth to live off his recently deceased uncle’s land, it becomes clear that there are many people in the town who want them gone.
When a wildfire erupts suddenly on the moors, the simmering tension in the village ignites, and Connor and Morgan soon find themselves haunted by terrifying, nightly visitors. But are their attackers human, or something darker, something ancient?
Kit Nevile says: ‘As a lover of all things eerie and otherworldly, I was absolutely entranced by SHADOWS OF THE BURNING MOOR. Kenny is a visionary talent, and there is nobody else I know with as much knowledge and passion for Scotland’s dark and mesmeric folkloric history. He has channelled all of that into this one-of-a-kind, brooding and bewitching tale. I am so excited for readers to experience the stunning world he has created.’
Kenny Boyle says: ‘I’ve wanted to tell this story for years, but I wanted to tell it when the time was right. The folklore I grew up with, and the landscape I grew up in, shaped my life. That same folklore – mischievous and malicious, natural and supernatural, visceral and ethereal – is what feeds the fire of Burning Moors. With my inimitable agent Isobel Dixon, the invaluable insight of Kit Neville, and the perfect home at Hodder & Stoughton, the time to tell this story has arrived.’
Isobel Dixon says: ‘Within moments of opening Kenny’s submission email I was captivated by the world – and netherworld – that he has created. It was wonderful to hear from others who offered and felt the same about SHADOWS OF THE BURNING MOOR, and to see Kit’s energy and vision win the day. Here’s to a great journey ahead!’
About Kenny Boyle
Kenny Boyle is an author, actor, and content creator from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. He, his wife and Labrador, split their time between Falkirk and the Isle of Lewis. He is the winner of Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland’s New Playwrights’ award 2021 and was a finalist for the Imison Prize for Radio Drama in 2023. He boasts a sizeable social media following, detailing and elucidating Scotland’s rich, folkloric past.
Visit Kenny’s website