My target reader would be anyone who likes dark gothic tales laced with action, gore, and a creeping sense of indescribable dread.
Alyson Hasson – 30 June 2026
The Back Flap
Sybil’s entire life was spent scraping the bottom of the barrel, sneaking scraps, and making do with what little money her brother Walter could smuggle back to London from Nassau. But as time passes and the last delivery from her brother becomes more distant, she soon realizes that she might finally be on her own.
With nowhere left to go she ventures out across the ocean, desperately hoping to retrace her brother’s footsteps. And what she uncovers is that the trail leads directly to a pirate ship filled with a conniving crew that knows more than they pretend to.
Her last hope lies in unearthing her dark family legacy and making it to her brother’s last known location, a cursed island in the middle of the ocean….
About the book
What is the book about?
Pirates. Cursed islands. Lies and family secrets.
Requiem of the Unclaimed is a gothic horror novel set during the golden age of pirates. It follows two siblings as they navigate marooning and treachery on the high seas.
Its comps would be Pirates of the Caribbean meets Crimson Peak.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing this book in 2022.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took roughly 2 years for me to finish the book. I wrote it in batches. The first half of the book was written and left for a while. I kept thinking it wasn’t quite done, so I went back to it and added more until I was satisfied the story was officially done.
Where did you get the idea from?
Originally, this book was requested by a publisher. They wanted me to write a pirate horror for their upcoming series of novellas. That deal ultimately didn’t end up working, so I continued the story on my own, extending it to a fuller length novel.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I really struggled with finding the right place to end the book. Endings are always difficult, sometimes you really need to step away from a story to get a clearer picture of where you want it to go. I have a habit of staying too close to my work sometimes and it can make the process more difficult than it needs to be.
What came easily?
The action and good vs evil themes of the novel came the easiest. I love writing action into gothic stories.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They are not people I know, however the main Captain (Wynn) was a real historical French pirate. Not much is known about his story, so it allowed me to infuse a little bit of real history while taking lots of liberties with the story.
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?
Scott Smith and Adam Nevill are by far my favourite authors. The way they convey such depth of emotion amidst high stakes action and terror is truly inspiring. It was their books that inspired me to finally pick up the pen and write for myself.
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader would be anyone who likes dark gothic tales laced with action, gore, and a creeping sense of indescribable dread. Requiem of the Unclaimed features a strong female lead and a story deeply rooted in her family trauma and life circumstances.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My writing process is a little bit of organized chaos. I don’t always have the bandwidth or time to write, so I do it when I can for as long as I can. That usually means having a hotspot for my iPad when I am away from home.
That being said, lately I do carve out intentional writing time, but with a small baby and husband who I want to spend tons of time with, it is less often.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I do not fully outline. I tend to draft my characters then figure out my opening action item. Then it becomes a series of “how they react” explanations until the plot spirals into something completely unique. Once I have my draft, I go back and tidy it up so it’s cohesive and makes sense.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Sometimes I edit as I go just to reignite my creativity if I am having some writer’s block. Usually though I try to just get the first draft finished before going back for edits.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did hire a professional editor. My novel actually had 3 total, and then I also went over the manuscript myself and had my husband as well. It has gone through a rigorous editing process that has hopefully extinguished any spelling errors. (I probably jinxed it now though)
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I do! I love all genres of music so I tend to make playlists for my WIP that inspire the story and get me into the right headspace. There was a lot of atmospheric pirate songs playing while I wrote Requiem of the Unclaimed.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Not my upcoming book, however, I hope to query my next book with agents.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I really wanted this story to live, and the original indie publisher unfortunately went under, having to close shop and cancel a lot of the book deals they had made. Indie publishing can be so difficult, it’s a lot of work and money to invest. However, it also gives authors a chance to really get to know the publishing world and the people they are going to work with, which I think is really special.
Ultimately, I decided not to sell this story to another publisher because I thought it was a great time to grow my own career and skillset. I had enough time and headspace to self-publish my book while juggling all the tasks that it entails. Everything seemed to line up, and it has been a fantastic learning opportunity for me that I have been really enjoying.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I had my book cover professionally done. Ruth Anna Evans did a wonderful job really capturing the vibe I wanted.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
My marketing plan is a little bit strategy and a little bit winging. So far I have been attempting to exhaust all the free options I have. I have been emailing hundreds of reviewers to see if they would like an ARC, emailing every magazine I can find, and creating lists of indie bookstores around the world that I will reach out to about stocking my book. Outside of that I have been trying to have fun with it and just let my social media strategy be a little more winged.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If it feels hard writing a book, it is because it is extremely hard to turn a blank page into a story. Don’t let that stop you or slow you down. Once you finally have that book, it will be completely worth it and the trials and tests you faced along the way were just opportunities for growth. You are not alone in that struggle. We have all faced it; some are just better at hiding it than others.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada, where I still live. It is a great, slower-paced region with beautiful coastal landscapes.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Not only do I love writing novels but I also have a knack for juggling way too many hobbies at once. I usually have at least one or two craft ideas floating around my brain and recently I started a substack where I talk about my author journey and give advice that I hope other authors find useful.
https://substack.com/@alysonhasson
You can also find me via:
Instagram: @alyson_hasson_writes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alysonhasson
My website: https://alysonhasson.com/
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Requiem of the Unclaimed from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
