In her latest book, Scottish author Jean Menzies puts her own spin on Arthurian legend.

The Lady of the Lake focuses on Viviane, an important but mysterious character in British mythology. In the ancient tales, this “Lady of the Lake” is best known for presenting King Arthur with the sword Excalibur. “The prospect of imagining a version of Viviane in all her complexity — her upbringing and her relationships, her fears and desires — and what might make her who she is, was just an incredibly exciting one,” says Menzies.

In her version of the story, Menzies depicts Viviane as a young woman who wishes to be in control of her own destiny. When Viviane’s father sends her to Camelot, he hopes she will become a potential bride for the young Arthur. Viviane has little interest in the prince, however, and instead forges a bond with his sister Morgan. Together, the pair learn of their propensity for magic — and the dangers that come with it. Viviane and Morgan’s dynamic eventually turns into a romantic one, complicated by their conflicting values and respective relationships with their shared mentor, Merlin.

“I think any writer who decides to tell a story based on myth and legend will find themselves constantly in conversation with the gaps and contradictions,” explains Menzies. She points out that the catalogue of Arthurian legend comprises literature written in different languages, from different countries and generations. As such, there is no single “Arthurian canon.” The texts aren’t necessarily consistent with one another. “I wanted to write a Lady of the Lake who fit between the gaps of the medieval texts and spoke to modern readers.”

That said, the fluid nature of mythology and folklore is one of the reasons it fascinates people to this day. Menzies has been drawn to such tales since childhood. “It was an interest that slowly emerged from between my love of stories and history,” she recalls.

“I loved listening to Scottish folktales, reading books about ancient Greek mythology, and even watching films and shows that played around with history and myth…”

“Slowly but surely, I came to realize how myth and folklore underpinned so much of human history and after that there was no going back.”

In addition to her written work, the author shares her interests through her YouTube channel and her podcast. “I actually started making YouTube videos when I was 20 and it was mainly to make friends,” says Menzies, now 33. (It worked. Some of the friends she made through YouTube are attending her wedding this year.) “I definitely didn’t expect my channel to grow to the size it has done, or to have so many wonderful opportunities thanks to the content I make online, but I can’t imagine my life now if I hadn’t started filming on my webcam more than a decade ago.”

Today, Menzies mainly uses her YouTube channel to make accessible content on mythology, history and literature. She now has several non-fiction books under her belt, including her 2024 release, All the Violet Tiaras: Queering the Greek Myths.

The Lady of the Lake is Menzies’ first traditionally published novel. In her research, she drew from multiple texts of Arthurian legend — and readers will even find hints of Greek and Roman mythology in the story, too.

Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Mallory was one of her major sources, although Menzies notes that “everything I read influences my writing to a certain extent.” She also cites New Zealand-born author Juliet Marillier as inspiration. “She writes incredible medieval historical fantasy novels often set in Ireland with elements of Celtic folklore. I don’t want to claim to compare to her wonderful work, but I do think she has had an impact on me as a writer.”

Generally speaking, Menzies believes “there is a growing appetite for what we think of as Celtic folklore.” For one thing, her videos on the topic are popular among viewers — both in the United Kingdom and further afield. “Sometimes it starts the most interesting conversations around the similarities and differences in myth and folklore from around the world.”

Menzies says she’s “always jotting down ideas” for potential novels, and she is currently working on a draft based on one of her favourite Scottish folk tales. She also has plans for a non-fiction release in 2026. She’s mum on the details, however: “It’s aimed at adults and it’s about antiquity, but I’m not allowed to say any more!”

jeanmenzies.com
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