Inspired by haunted love

There’s something irresistibly romantic about love that defies time. When I started crafting my Sleepy Hollow Mysteries series, I found myself drawn to the idea of a love story that transcends the ordinary—a connection steeped in history, secrets, and fate. One of my biggest inspirations? The classic 1947 film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

In the movie, a strong-willed widow moves into a seaside cottage, only to discover it’s haunted by the ghost of a gruff but compelling sea captain. Over time, their relationship evolves from wary coexistence to deep, unspoken love—a love that, despite the barrier of death, lingers in the air like an unfinished melody.

This theme of a mysteriously lingering bond deeply influenced Ivy and Jude’s dynamic in Sleepy Hollow Mysteries. Like Mrs. Muir, Ivy finds herself in an unusual situation—living in a caretaker’s cottage still occupied by the spirit of Jude, a ghostly figure tied to the past. But what if their meeting wasn’t just coincidence? What if destiny had interwoven their fates long before Ivy ever set foot in Sleepy Hollow?

As Ivy unravels local mysteries, she also begins to uncover the strange connection between herself and Jude—a connection that hints at a past full of secrets, unfinished business, and perhaps, a love that refuses to fade.

If you love ghostly romances with a touch of mystery, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in Sleepy Hollow!