A Girl.Defiantly a Girl.Outrageously a Girl!
The first excerpt of Narcisa Before Narcisa is here — and you’re invited to read, listen, and step inside.
We’re delighted to unveil the very first excerpt from Narcisa Before Narcisa, the debut gothic fantasy novel from The Datura Press — a new independent literary imprint dedicated to dark fiction, folkloric storytelling, and transcendent myth-making.
This excerpt, titled “So Scheherazade Began”, is more than just a prologue. It introduces the Castle, the Aunt (our fierce, failing storyteller), and the spark of a girl who will become Narcisa — a mythic heroine, a voice of her own, a memory that won’t stay buried.
This marks the beginning of a larger world — a gothic, genre-blurring narrative told across print, sound, scent, and image.
Read the full excerpt below, then explore what’s to come…
What You’ll Discover in This Excerpt
A Scheherazade-style narrator in free fall — and the slow, fierce reclamation of her voice.
A richly gothic setting inspired by Eastern European castle lore, layered with wit, memory, and menace.
The first whispered details of Narcisa — a strange and troublesome girl born in Bovainea, a place both real and imagined.
Characters that blend the mythic with the modern: talking wolves, ancient spells, forgotten trauma, and clever children who know too much.
This is fairy tale as reclamation. Myth as mirror. Fantasy with teeth.
A Story Beyond the Page
The world of Narcisa Before Narcisa will expand through an immersive, sensory universe — driven by collaborators across art, sound, and story.
Coming Soon via The Datura Tapes:
🎼 Original Music & Soundscapes – haunting ambient compositions by Memoryhouse, Paris’s Labyrinth, and vintage fairytale scores.
🎙 ASMR Audio Readings – whispered and immersive extracts designed to draw listeners deeper into Narcisa’s dreamlike world.
🎨 Guest Illustration Series – curated artist tributes to Narcisa, Fenix, and the Castle, from an international circle of illustrators.
📚 Podcast Episodes & Audio Dramas – fragments, reflections, and full-cast retellings across the story’s many voices.
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Commercial Rights & Creative Opportunities
Narcisa Before Narcisa was designed as a high-concept, genre-crossing property with multi-platform storytelling built into its DNA. We welcome interest across the following areas:
Film, Television & Streaming
Stylised, voice-led, and gothic coming-of-age fiction — ideal for long-form adaptation with crossover appeal from The Witcher to The OA.
Translation & Foreign Rights
Themes of memory, exile, and feminine resistance make it highly resonant across European, Japanese, and South American markets.
AudioBooks
The Aunt’s distinct voice, shifting narration styles, and rich dialogue offer standout potential for full-cast or select first-person audio
Stage / Immersive Theatre
Castle-bound structure, folklore rhythm, and storytelling-as-performance make this ideal for experimental and immersive productions.
Merchandising & Art Licensing
Stylized, shrinking characters (Narcisa, Fenix, The Weird Sisters) are ideal for art prints, apparel, and collectible design.
Narrative Games / Transmedia
With its layered storyworld and open-ended mythos, Narcisa invites visual novel, interactive, or game-like interpretation.eherazade-style narrator losing her grip—and regaining it through one last, great tale.
A rich castle setting reminiscent of Eastern European gothic classics, infused with sly humour and melancholy.
The first whispered details of Narcisa, a striking and troublesome girl born in Bucovina—a place both real and imagined.
Characters that blend the mythic with the modern: talking wolves, ancient spells, forgotten trauma, and clever children who know too much.
A Story Beyond the Page
This is just the beginning. The world of Narcisa Before Narcisa will be supported by:
Original Music & Soundscapes — haunting ambient compositions inspired by Memoryhouse, Pan’s Labyrinth, and vintage fairytale scores.
ASMR Audio Readings — whispered and immersive extracts from the novel, designed to envelop the listener in Narcisa’s dreamlike world.
Guest Illustration Series — curated artworks bringing Narcisa, Fenrir, and the Castle to life through the eyes of international illustrators.
Podcast Episodes & Audio Dramas — fragments, reflections, and full-cast narrations from across the story’s many voices.
These layers live under The Datura Tapes, our sonic and visual imprint devoted to extending our stories into sound and sensation.
Interested in licensing, rights, or collaboration?
Camilla Salmon-Karlsson (Rights Director) — camilla@thedaturapress.com
General inquiries — info@thedaturapress.com
“But first a secret. A great big one.
One even I don’t know yet”
The Aunt