This story, the original legend told from the perspective of Katrina Van Tassel, has been in the back of my mind since I wrote Raven Rock. In fact, some of the ideas in this story were in Raven Rock‘s original epilogue. Ichabod Crane’s blatant desire for acquiring the Van Tassel wealth through Katrina always stood out to me. The fact that Katrina is also described as a “coquette” and as being fickle in allegedly pitting Ichabod and Brom always made me wonder about Katrina’s point of view. The original legend, after all, is written by a man. So what might have Katrina, a young woman of 1790, have had to say in the face of such perceptions and accusations? While Irving wrote Ichabod as presumably harmless with his gawky nature, Ichabod Crane always read to me as, quite frankly, entitled and brazenly covetous (I know this is partly the point of his character.) The following passage taking place at the end of the “frolic”, intrigued me:
Ichabod only lingered behind, according to the custom of country lovers, to have a tête-à-tête with the heiress; fully convinced that he was now on the high road to success. What passed at this interview I will not pretend to say, for in fact I do not know. Something, however, I fear me, must have gone wrong, for he certainly sallied forth, after no very great interval, with an air quite desolate and chapfallen.
So, what exactly happened that did not go Ichabod’s way?
If you’ve read Raven Rock, you will find All Hallows’ Eve Frolic aligns with its plot threads and character arcs. If you haven’t read Raven Rock, All Hallows’ Eve Frolic will provide an alternate take on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, as well as provide a tease for Raven Rock without (hopefully) revealing too much.
Happy Halloween and enjoy this Spooky Season!
-Nichole Louise
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