She battles with demons, she is not sure whether they come from within her or have been sent there by the young women who now shadow her every move.

Leigh M. Hall – 15 November 2025

The Back Flap

Wilbur and Elouise Saxton are forced to move south after losing their fortune following the Civil War. Hot-headed Wilbur was not happy about the adjustment, but his wife is glad to finally return to her home state. At least she was until they arrive at the home her late uncle left her, and find it in much despair. It also comes with a dark secret, something her family hid from her for good reason.

When two strange women knock on their door offering to help the couple, claiming they know the land more than anyone, those secrets unfold. While Elouise loses her mind, Wilbur is already lost under a spell cast by their young, charming chambermaids.

What was supposed to be a dream come true is slowly turning into a nightmare.

Elouise must fight not only her life but her husband’s as well. Will her days ever return to normal, or was this the future assigned to her all along? Did she ever have a choice?

Sinister is what comes to Elouise’s mind when she pieces the clues together, but that does not even begin to cover what is really going on.

About the book

What is the book about?

A young woman and her much older husband inherit a crumbling ancestral home, they discover the walls hold more than memories. With the sudden arrival of two chambermaids, the house’s secrets begin to unravel–along with those who dwell within it. It is mainly about Eloise and how she has had no say over her life. At almost 30, she finally feels like she can breathe. Moving back to Texas, taking over her uncle’s estate. It all means so much to her. But then the chambermaids arrive and suck the breath right out of Eloise. She battles with demons, she is not sure whether they come from within her or have been sent there by the young women who now shadow her every move.

When did you start writing the book?

I wrote the outline and character list in the summer of 2022. I completed the first draft by early 2023. That is when it was submitted to the Killer Nashville awards. It took a lot of read-throughs before I deemed it ready.

How long did it take you to write it?

Off and on for about 2 and a half years. Which is a little longer than it usually takes me to write a book, but not the longest so far. It was only about a year before the first draft was done, but it was far from ready. Another year and a half, a dozen more drafts, and it was finally ready.

Where did you get the idea from?

It was a combination of two things that sparked the idea for this book. I read a true crime story about two sisters who worked as maids for a wealthy family in France. One day they snapped and brutally murdered their employers. I was intrigued by the sisters; their story stuck with me for a long time. The second thing was a movie. I watched the movie The Witch in maybe 2018 or 2019. It was so unique and obscure. It made me think about curses, promises, and generational burdens. I wanted to create something like that.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Oh, yes. Not really with the story itself, but with the writing. It is set in the late 1800s, and the cast is full of proper citizens. I grew up in the 1980s/90s in a very undesirable part of town. I struggled with the dialect. Using proper English, not using compound words. That was hard!

What came easily?

Oh, the dark! The creepy, demonic, nightmare scenes. I live for those. They just pour right out of me. I can write those all day long. Of course, it wouldn’t be a very good story if there were no plot or character detail.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I don’t like anyone in my real life enough to write about them. There may have been times I have borrowed a joke or maybe mannerisms from my husband. Only because he is a pretty awesome guy. But the rest of it comes from the voices in my head.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Not sure how much they influence my writing, but I will tell you who some of my favorites are. Anne Rice started my obsession with deep, dark reads. Charlaine Harris is the GOAT! I love her to pieces. Tarryn Fisher made me fall in love with unhappy endings. You see a lot of that in my books. George R.R. Martin, the way he can be so descriptive and all over the place yet still keep me enthralled and entertained — that is just magical. There are so many more; I could go on forever.

Do you have a target reader?

Not sure if I have a specific demographic I am targeting, but I know there is a type of reader who is not right for my work. If you like fluffy, happy, cozy, no sex, no cussing, no harm, no trauma… You might want to steer clear of my books. They are across the board dark and disturbing.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it? Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

When I get an idea for a story, I tend to let it simmer in my mind for a while before putting anything down on paper. A lot of times, an idea may seem good, but it really isn’t. I can be twenty thousand words into a story before losing complete interest because that one idea wasn’t enough. My theory is, if the idea is still with me after a couple of months simmering, then I’ll give it life. I create a chapter-by-chapter outline (this outline may change once I start writing) and a character list so I don’t forget what I named people. After I finish the first draft, I will put it to the side and work on something else for a month or two before I read it.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I do not edit as I go. I don’t even read what I have written until the first draft is written. If I stop and start dissecting every word, I’ll never complete a book.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I do hire an editor. I have worked with three separate ones in the past. My editor does not get the manuscript until I am completely done and satisfied with the story. I try to not mess with it much after it has been in her hands.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

It depends on my mood and what I am writing. Sometimes I will listen to music that might set me in a particular scene I am writing, other times I prefer silence.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I actually got a contract for my first completed novel, Capability, but had to back out when they wanted me to change the ending.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?

I want to write what I want to write. My stuff is dark, noir, not a huge target demographic, but there are people who want to read it. I want to give them what they crave without filters.

Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

As I said before, my first novel was picked up, but I had to pull out. I have shopped other books since then, but nothing has panned out. So I guess it was a little of both.

Did you get your book cover professionally done, or did you do it yourself?

I have designed every one of my book covers myself. I also do all of my graphics.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have been winging it for over five years. That hasn’t done me any favors, so I recently decided to hire a publicist. She is much better at marketing than I am.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Soak it all up. Go to all the conventions you can. Network. Make friends and do trade-offs with other authors in your genre. Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Chances are, the people gathering around you have been through it all before. We are not in competition; cheer for those climbing the ladder above and below you.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Suburbs surrounding Houston, Texas.

Where do you live now?

A different suburb surrounding Houston, Texas. I moved around a little when I was younger. I lived in Dallas, then Chicago. When it was time to settle down, start a family, and secure a stable career, I came back to the place I love.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m not evil! Some might think that after reading a couple of my books. I am physically and mentally stable. Well, on most days I am.

What are you working on now?

A stand-alone psychological thriller. Secrets, deception, and morally gray characters. The really fun stuff.

End of Interview:

For more from Leigh M. Hall visit her website and follow her on Facebook.

Get your copy of Chambermaids from Amazon US or Amazon UK.