Press Kit
Welcome to the official press kit for Iwan Ross, South African author of atmospheric Scottish gothic mysteries blending ghosts, family secrets, dark humour and the uncanny.
The Mourning Ring: A Scottish Gothic Mystery
“The supernatural does more than haunt the living — it gives the silenced dead one final opportunity to be heard.”
BlurbCraft Studio takes an editorial look at The Mourning Ring, exploring its Gothic atmosphere, dark humour, family secrets and the mystery at the heart of Serpent’s Manor.
Disclosure: The Mourning Ring is from my own catalogue, and the review is presented by BlurbCraft Studio as a transparent example of the studio’s editorial-review format—not as an independent endorsement.
Writing Themes & Style
Iwan’s work blends Scottish gothic mystery, the supernatural, dark humour and family drama. His stories explore the uneasy boundary between the living and the dead, often placing extraordinary events within recognisable relationships, domestic life and distinctly Scottish settings.
At the heart of the McTavish Chronicles is a continuing fascination with buried histories, family secrets and the idea that the dead may be gone, but they are rarely finished with the living.
Genres
- Scottish gothic mystery
- Paranormal mystery
- Supernatural mystery
- Gothic suspense
- Darkly comic mystery
Selected Editorial Praise
“Funny, eerie and unexpectedly personal, The Highlands University of Ghostology gives its haunted detective a new mystery to solve—and makes Coby McTavish himself one of its most interesting problems.”
—BlurbCraft Studio
“A Scotland in which the supernatural feels less like an intrusion than something that has simply been waiting to be noticed.”
—BlurbCraft Studio, The Haunted Highlands Series: Volume One
“The supernatural does more than haunt the living — it gives the silenced dead one final opportunity to be heard.”
—BlurbCraft Studio, The Mourning Ring
“The Haunting of Serpent’s Manor finds its strongest ghosts not in death itself, but in love, betrayal and grief that have refused to die with the people who carried them.”
—BlurbCraft Studio, The Haunting of Serpent’s Manor
Media Availability
Iwan is available for:
- Author interviews (audio, video and written Q&A)
- Podcast guest appearances
- Bookstore and library events (virtual or in person)
- Discussions about writing gothic and supernatural fiction
- Conversations about independent publishing and the author business
- Discussions about moving from technical writing to full-time fiction
Speaking Topics
- Writing Scottish gothic and supernatural mysteries
- Creating atmosphere, ghosts and haunted settings
- Building a continuing mystery series
- Balancing dark subjects with humour
- Independent publishing from manuscript to retailer
- Moving from technical writing to full-time fiction
- Writing blurbs, metadata and retailer copy
- Building an independent author career
Professional Background
Alongside his work as an author, Iwan has a background in technical writing and digital documentation in the payments and software industries. He holds qualifications in copy-editing and feature journalism from the University of Cape Town.
He is also the founder of BlurbCraft Studio, an editorial service for independent authors specialising in editorial reviews, back-cover blurbs and retailer copy.
Publications & Reach
Iwan has published novels, novellas and collections across major international ebook retailers. His principal fiction series, the McTavish Chronicles, follows author and retired detective Coby McTavish through supernatural mysteries set against the atmospheric landscapes of Scotland.
His books are published independently and distributed internationally in digital and print formats.
Current & Upcoming
Iwan’s forthcoming novel, The Highlands University of Ghostology, is the seventh book in the McTavish Chronicles and begins a new story within the wider Haunted Highlands world.
The novel takes retired detective Coby McTavish to a mysterious university in the Scottish Highlands, where Britain’s disappearing ghosts, a centuries-old secret order and thirteen subterranean levels turn an unexpected career opportunity into something considerably more dangerous.
Iwan continues to write and develop the Haunted Highlands world from Cape Town, South Africa.
Contact Information for Media
For interviews, reviews, speaking requests or collaboration opportunities, please use the contact details provided on this page or visit iwanross.com/contact.