Behind the Whispers
I never planned to write a book about nursery rhymes and murder. But once I started listening closely, I couldn’t unhear what was hiding in the songs.I never set out to become an author—especially not one writing about the dark histories hidden inside nursery rhymes.Growing up with dyslexia, reading and writing were some of my biggest academic struggles. Ironically, though, I’ve always loved books. Stories became both an escape and an obsession, especially the strange, eerie, and unsettling ones. Long before I ever considered writing, I was the person falling down true crime rabbit holes, devouring horror stories, and collecting bizarre historical facts just for fun. “Bookdragon” is probably the most accurate description.The idea for Whispers in the Cradle began with a single unsettling claim: that “The Muffin Man” may have been inspired by a serial killer. Skeptical but curious, I started researching—and to my surprise, there was truth buried beneath the rhyme. I became fascinated by the possibility that the songs we sang as children might hold darker origins than we ever
realized. Then one casual conversation changed everything. While talking true crime with my mom, I mentioned the Muffin Man story, and she responded with, “Well, you know ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ is about the plague.” That one comment sent me spiraling into research that quickly became an obsession. The more I uncovered, the more I realized how many nursery rhymes, legends, and childhood verses were tied to dark history, hidden warnings, tragedy, and folklore. At the time, life had thrown me an unexpected curveball. After being laid off from a career I had spent over a decade building, I suddenly found myself with something I hadn’t had in years: time. So I opened my laptop and started researching “just for fun.” Ten rhymes in, I realized I had stumbled onto something far bigger than a passing curiosity. What started as a strange fact about the Muffin Man became two years of late nights, rabbit holes, and research I couldn't walk away from. It wasn’t until Christmas Day that I finally revealed the finished manuscript by gifting it to my sister, who helped refine the title and became one of the first people to discover what I had been quietly building. That manuscript became Whispers in the Cradle: Uncovering the Dark Side of English Nursery Rhymes—my debut book and the first installment in an ongoing series exploring the shadows hidden within folklore, history, and the stories we thought we knew. Since publishing, I’ve shared my research through social media, podcast interviews, live Q&As, and my ongoing “Shallow Dive” series, where I continue uncovering eerie histories and forgotten truths. I’m also excited to be exhibiting at CrimeCon UK in London this October. When I’m not researching strange folklore or chasing another historical rabbit hole, I’m usually at home with my German Shepherd, Rollo, spending time with family, curled up with a stack of books, or out on a boat pretending my search history doesn’t look deeply concerning. Because once you start uncovering the dark side of history… it’s hard to stop listening for the whispers.
My work has been featured on podcasts including Wine & Crime, True Crimecast, and Cult Vault, and I'll be exhibiting at CrimeCon UK in October 2026. For a complete list of appearances and interviews, visit the Media & Press page.