What compels a writer to pen a tale that defies time, weaves mystery and history together, and probes the limits of destiny? In The Soulfast, Terrance Glasscock weaves a tale full of historical intrigue, love, and the supernatural. But where did this captivating story start? What motivated Glasscock to seek out the magical connections between the past and the present?

Here in this deep dive, we explore the inspiration behind The Soulfast—from history to personal inspiration—that went into creating one of the most contemplative books of the year.

A Love of History and Mystery

Central to The Soulfast is Glasscock’s abiding love of history and, more particularly, the Middle Ages. That the novel inhabits a doubled timeline, careening back and forth between AD 1098 and the author’s own lifetime, bespeaks his pleasure in digging for lost truths from the dust bins of time.

The concept of the Soulfast ritual itself might have originated from the medieval tradition of Handfasting, an ancient Celtic practice of spiritual or temporary marriage. Glasscock develops this further, envisioning a magical ritual in which two souls are married beyond time and will find their way to one another in their next life.

This trope of eternal love and fate is one that has been repeated time and again throughout the course of literary history, but to it Glasscock brings both a metaphysical and historical twist that serves to make the old-recognizably new-again unexpected.

The Power of Lost Knowledge

Another major source of inspiration for the novel is Glasscock’s interest in lost information, ancient texts, and hidden truths. In The Soulfast, central character Simon Sterling—a mythology professor—uncover an illuminated manuscript and a chilling portrait containing secrets of the past.

• The Voynich Manuscript, an unintelligible book with strange symbols and strange language, and the Knights Templar records, which held the missing medieval manuscripts in reserve and fueled endless speculation, are two examples of real historical mysteries that served as inspiration for this section of the book.
• The Lindisfarne Gospels, exquisitely illuminated books that throw light on early medieval spirituality.

Glasscock’s careful research enables him to merge fact with fiction so skillfully that readers ask themselves: Might there be actual missing manuscripts containing lost wisdom?

Personal Influence: A Search for Meaning

Beyond history and mystery, The Soulfast is a deeply philosophical novel. Glasscock delves into the nature of destiny, fate, and divine enlightenment—topics that cry out for an emotional stake in his writing.

His writing is a quest for meaning, a questioning that addresses the reader:

• Are we destiny-bound or do we shape our own fate?
• Can love endure through lifetimes?
• Do our past deeds reverberate into the future?

Glasscock’s skill at weaving personal introspection into historical fiction is what makes The Soulfast so engaging.

Step Into the Mystery

Terrance Glasscock’s The Soulfast is not just a book—it’s an invitation to step into mystery, history, love, and the unknown. Based on actual traditions, lost knowledge, and a search for greater meaning, this book is a must-read for readers of historical mysteries and supernatural thrillers.