Each Island has it’s own unique history. Last year I was inspired by Gardener’s Island, owned by the same family for the last 450 years, the island a largely undeveloped private estate ruled by what may be the United States’ only titled family, the Lyons. The head of the family actually bears the title “Lord of the Manor.” How cool is that?
The island’s unique history inspired the setting of my shape shifter stories. For me, shape shifting predator’s need room to roam. Besides, I wanted my shifters to build their own society and live by their own rules. They wouldn’t be able to do that while still maintaining a human masquerade in a city or even a small town living side by side with humans.
Last week I learned about Execution Rocks Island, with a name like that how could I resist digging a little deeper? This eerie little island in Long Island Sound is home to Execution Rocks Lighthouse and a couple of grisly tales. According to local legend, British soldiers may have moved executions to this island to avoid further inflaming the populace. They were said to have chained the condemned to the rocks and let the tide drown them, even going so far as to leave the bodies so that the next batch of unfortunates could see their fate before it was their turn. A more likely story is that the rocks and nearby reef were a shipping hazard and “executed” a number of ships?
There’s even a serial killer associated with Execution Rocks Island. In 1928, Carl Panzram, admitted to having killed 21 people, although more victims were attributed to his killing spree. He used the island as a dumping ground.
Fictional Lowell Island is nestled among the many islands dotted around Long Island sound. I think there might be several preternatural communities hidden in the reaches of Long Island Sound.
