Goodreads asked Lance Gilbert:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Lance Gilbert In early November of 2015 I was finishing up my second book on the occult & paranormal. As part of a chapter on unique haunted locations I wrote about Boleskine House (boll-ESS-kin) which was owned by Jimmy Page for almost twenty two years. Page bought the manor because it was previously inhabited by the aforementioned occultist Aleister Crowley. Boleskine House, located on the southeast side of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, had quite a history of its own before Crowley or Page ever set foot in it.

In late November I posted an excerpt from my haunted locations chapter in various paranormal and Led Zeppelin Facebook groups. The response was amazing; people definitely had an opinion about the occult / Jimmy Page connection. I also learned the true extent of Zeppelin's popularity, the intensity of their fan base and of the curious segment of followers that become quite agitated when there is any mention of Jimmy Page and the occult. I kept joining related groups and posting the excerpt as I planned to circle back and promote in those groups again after the book was complete.

Then in late December someone sent me a link to a BBC story. Boleskine House was on fire! By no means am I implying that my postings had somehow triggered this blaze but I took it as a sign. Perhaps there was a book here. A chance to write about and tie in multiple subjects that fascinated me was very exciting. Rock music's connection to the occult, Jimmy Page and Aleister Crowley, a possible curse and of course the eerie Boleskine House were all topics that set me on fire. The seeds were sown for my next writing project.

flag