‘The Lost Words’: In a Nutshell
The Lost Words, written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by me was published in October of last year by Hamish Hamilton.
My Fairy Tale Survival Kit for Cancer (& Other Real Life Crises) – By Gypsy Thornton
Everyone’s experience with cancer (and other life-threatening issues) is different but there are commonalities too, so to that end, here’s my home-spun, Fairy Tale Survival Kit. I hope you find it useful.
The Grotter & the Strange History of Shell Grottos
Shell grottos have a certain murky ambiguity to their history and folklore. This for me made them all the more enticing to use as the basis for a ghost story in my tale, ‘The Grotter’ in Nyctophobias. Especially with my roots as a Whitstable native in Kent, where grottos are still primarily lit once a year as part of the Oyster Festival celebrations. These grottos are usually stacked in a ‘beehive’ style pyramid, held together with wet sand and illuminated by a short candle.
Whither Shall I Wander? Reflections on Mother Goose: Past, Present, and Once Upon a Time
hither shall I wander? This question can be a delightful start to considering the history of the inestimable Mother Goose, illustrious ancestor of the Mother Goose of The Mother Goose Letters (at Bay Press, 2019). As her correspondence in the book reveals, Mother Goose is also a character of longevity and considerable force. At one […]
Tongue, Pen, Ear, Page — Collecting and Performing Folktales and Ballads
How do writers collect and re-tell regional folktales? Kevan Manwaring explains his influences, methods, and inspirations for his work in this area.