Sometimes writing a book is hell

When George Mason University alumna Miriam Van Scott, BA English ’92, was working as a freelance writer in the mid-1990s, she was researching an article about the afterlife and was frustrated by the resources she was using. She realized what she needed was a compendium of all things underworld – so she wrote one. The result was The Encyclopedia of Hell (St. Martin’s Griffin, 1998). She followed it up with Encyclopedia of Heaven in 1999.

Over the course of her career, Van Scott has provided content for the History Channel, Sy-Fy, The Learning Channel, ABC News, Paramount Entertainment Group and others, and has written additional books. Her research into the afterlife has yielded more material than could ever fit in The Encyclopedia, and she recently revisited some of that content for her latest book, a young adult novel titled Bandun Gate (Dark Stroke, 2022).

Van Scott’s research and writing about the dark side of things makes her a popular podcast guest, especially around Halloween. We recently spoke with her about what it means to be an authority in Hell.

How did you come to write Encyclopedia of Hell?

I was researching an article about beliefs in the afterlife – before the internet, and it took forever. Finding the specific information I needed required digging through dozens of sources – religious texts, myths, art studies, pop culture works, movie books, etc. I kept thinking how much easier it would be if there was a single source that covered interpretations of Hell in all the different categories. No such reference book existed, so I wrote one.

What was the research for this book like?

Encyclopedia of Hell was compiled when the Internet was still in its infancy, so most of the research was done through original sources and interviews. I spoke to exorcists, former cult members, clergy of many different faiths, artists, authors, filmmakers, law enforcement and others who had something to contribute. My favorite interview was with Clive Barker, writer and director of Hellraiser, Candyman, Books of Blood, etc. He gave me a fascinating insight into why people are obsessed with the underworld, and when Encyclopedia of Hell was published, he even sent me a nice handwritten “congratulations” note.

Have you said in interviews that some of your interviewees warned you about delving into such topics? What were their warnings and are you doing anything to protect yourself?

While researching the encyclopedia, several people warned me that delving into such a dark subject could have ugly consequences. A detective who investigates “satanic” crimes said the details and photos he shared would probably give me nightmares. They made. And a priest advised me against playing with Ouija boards or “summoning” rituals, noting that carefree experimentation offers the perfect “yin” for demons hoping to wreak havoc. Friends and family were just worried that spending so much time learning about the tortures of the damned would take an emotional toll. My strategy for dealing with these dangers was to limit the time I spent on the truly terrifying things, to have as little interaction as possible with anything provocative, and to pray often.

Was there anything in the research that surprised you?

One of the biggest surprises was how willing people were to share their personal, often graphic stories of practicing witchcraft, seeing ghosts, indulging in “demonic” orgies, and other disturbing behaviors. I was amazed how, when I told people I was writing a book about hell, the response I often got was, “Do I have a story for you!” followed by eye-popping accounts, most of which I couldn’t use in the book for various reasons. On the other end of the spectrum were those who viewed me as psychotic when they learned about the subject of my book. One woman even suggested that I undergo past life regression therapy to determine if I had been a serial killer in a past life.

You moved to Charleston, South Carolina, a town you called “haunted.” Was the move intentional because of the history of the area?

Our family started vacationing in Charleston, South Carolina in 1997. We loved everything about the city, including its spooky history. I’ve always enjoyed exploring the area and discovering the dark secrets hidden in the shadows of Charleston. Getting up close and personal with the ghosts was definitely part of the attraction that brought us here.

The cover of your latest book ‘Bandun Gate’ says it is ‘inspired by true events’, can you tell us about that?

In addition to using real interviews and data from my Encyclopedia of Hell research, “Bandun Gate” also incorporates actual people and events into the plot. They include a Charleston woman who was so evil that no cemetery would accept her body for burial, Gullah legends of ghosts stealing and “carrying” the bodies of unsuspecting victims, and an actual gate that I came across that was designed to keep the bad mood at bay. The whole storyline where my daughter is in terrible danger was inspired by a frightening phone call informing me that she had been kidnapped and was going to be dismembered and then sent back to me in pieces.

Oh no! is she ok

Yes, she is fine! At the time I got the call, Abigail had been kidnapped, she was working as a prison guard, and there were some pretty hardened criminals and gang members threatening her on a regular basis. Fortunately, the kidnapping turned out to be a hoax. She is doing well and is currently working in law enforcement in the Charleston area.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a young adult suspense novel about a 16-year-old girl who claims her younger brother has very unusual paranormal abilities. Their father thinks it’s a delusion she made up to cope with her mother’s death. When the boy is implicated in the death of one child and the disappearance of another, the family’s dark secrets are revealed, forcing them to deal with the disturbing consequences.

To learn more about Van Scott’s work, visit her website at miriamvanscott.com.