New book release

Made Of Earth And Sea - Tales from beyond

As a follow up to my 1st Novella, 'The House On The Crossroads', I wanted to put out a collection of short stories that had been swirling around my brain and computer for a few years in MADE OF EARTH AND SEA - TALES FROM BEYOND Some of them I'd hoped to make into full length novels, but I don't think there's enough time in the day for that. So I decided to put them here, in a book that has special meaning to me and my history, along side some of my artwork.

Read the intro from the book below...

INTRODUCTION

Contained within these pages are a number of short stories that have been swirling around on my computer in various states of progress for some years. I wanted to get them out into the world in some form, to free up space in my brain so that I can finish the longer novels I have already begun. And so where better to put them, than in a collection alongside some of my paintings. In the old days of the internet I used to have a blog and website called ‘Made of earth and sea’, I lived in Cornwall back then, and my work inspired not only paintings, but wind chimes and wall hangings made from driftwood I gathered from my regular walks along the Cornish coastline.

 Both my writing and my art stems from a love of fantasy and the supernatural. Fairy tales perhaps — although not the light fluffy kind. In this book you will find mermaids and witches, ghosts and demons. Creatures that might even walk quietly among us every day, without any of us knowing. 

 It is my intention to blur the boundaries between these worlds and always leave you questioning — could this be real?

The protagonists in the stories are all female. That wasn’t intentional, but it feels somewhat fitting for a book of fairy tales. Tales of women who cross the boundaries between light and dark, daring to take on their darkest secrets and face their deepest fears. 

And women or not, we all must face those things every day and come out stronger for it. Inner battles are the quietest, and yet can be the most deadly. I believe that fairy tales were created as a means to express that hidden part of us. A way to share what makes us most human. As a storyteller I take inspiration from my own life and also from those around me, but the thread of connection links us all. We are individuals on a shared journey — our fairy tale, if you will.

I hope you enjoy it. 

“Not every path leads home, but every step takes you closer to where you need to be.” 

Julia Guthrie