Coldwell - Related Works 8: The Plague Reconsidered (Local Population Studies, 1977) was an excellent resource when writing Coldwell and is recommended to anyone whose interest is piqued by my novella.

In 2025, my novella Coldwell escaped into the world, courtesy of @roadsongbooks.bsky.social Big thanks to Ed and the Road Song Team, and to all who offered such kind words.

Proud to see Coldwell in good company amongst the cultural highlights of 2025 for @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social!

The view from my writing window as afternoon faded. Continuing downstairs. #mondaynightsalrightforwriting

1. Coldwell in good company at the Beverley Bookshop, next to Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson. Isolated communities and supernatural influences. 2. Work in progress. #sundaynightsalrightforwriting

Work in progress. #saturdaynightsalrightforwriting

Blows his pipe of smoulders…

OK, so I pick up paper clips, but I have never started a new novel on Boxing Day. Today’s work is a novel in progress. @jonathancoe.bsky.social

Gladwin Towers cooking soundtrack.

Solstice-gathered holly.

Coldwell - Related Works 7: Witch Wood by John Buchan (1927). Religious conflict and pagan rituals in the Black Wood, with dialogue which challenges before engaging. Coldwell does this in a lead-mining village surrounded by a moorland ritual landscape. Ancient vs Modern has been happening forever.

Coldwell is in stock at Hestia Books in Wirksworth, where the whole display looks great. And perfectly placed beside Folk Tales of the Peak!

Coldwell - Related Works 6: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Late 14th Century CE). I walked up to Lud's Church to see the Green Knight. I'm a writer, I told him. I follow Gawain, but was sent after him by Ted Hughes. Who's Ted? he asked me. He's dead, I explained. Serves him right, said the Knight.

Sometimes the paperclips have seen better days. But rules are rules. #BSJohnson

Literary delivery from @roadsongbooks.bsky.social. The new novella by Alan Edward Roberts. Gentle November is available to order right now. roadsongbooks.com/product/gent...

Coldwell - Related Works 5: The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth (2014). Set in the years after the Norman Conquest, this novel is written in what Kingsnorth calls a "shadow tongue" - a modern rendering of Old English. At once distancing and involving, like Will Coldwell's narrative in my novella.

Interesting and possibly unique copy of Coldwell, featuring some inside pages from Secret Princesses Book 2: Dolphin Adventure by Rosie Banks. Can only hope there's not an opposite copy somewhere, with Coldwell inside the covers of Rosie's book.

Coldwell - Related Works 4: Grendel by John Gardner (1972). Beowulf retold from the monster's existentialist perspective. A new take on a familiar tale which prefigures the retelling of the Eyam plague in Coldwell. As with Owd Jack, Grendel can see through the human society he observes and opposes.

Bit harsh, was my first thought.

Writing advice from musicians - an occasional series. "Play what you know, and play above what you know.” Miles Davis.

Also working on edits in a novel set 330 years later than Coldwell, but also in Derbyshire.

Coldwell - Related Works 3: The Terror of Blue John Gap by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in The Strand Magazine (1910) and collected in Tales of Terror and Mystery (1922). Limestone caves have inspired many writers, and characters such as Will Coldwell, who hears the subterranean voice of Owd Jack.

Coldwell - Related Works 2: The History of Myddle by Richard Gough (1834). The language of the late 17th Century CE had its vagaries and peculiarities. The two extracts here highlight the spelling conventions which can be distancing for modern readers. By contrast, Will Coldwell has his own grammar.

Coldwell in good company with @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social, @drewgum.bsky.social, @rosschops.bsky.social et Al at Derby Market Hall today.

In or around Derby today? You know what to do!

If you missed out on the Flamingo Hotel last time, @drewgum.bsky.social is offering Seven Nights again, courtesy of @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social !

Another happy reader of Coldwell, which makes its writer very happy indeed. Thank you, Adam Donovan!

Coldwell spotted in @scarthinbooks.bsky.social by Paul Linford at the weekend.

Picked up a paperclip. Thank you, Bryan.

Coldwell - Related Works 1: Gaudete by Ted Hughes (Faber, 1977). Gaudete lets the other world into the earthly realm by means of a changeling replacing an Anglican clergyman. But is the other world another plane just beyond our own, or something which lives inside us?

Trolley dash under autumn trees.

Always nice to get musical post on a Saturday morning, but this German parcel has one of those names deployed on the internet by people who’d rather not swear.

The Badger is back! WIth @drewgum.bsky.social at the Flamingo Hotel. Missed it last time? Get in quick now!

Coldwell plus related works. How are they related? Watch this space for more. And feel free to make suggestions of your own... 1. Ted Hughes - Gaudete. 2. Richard Gough - The History of Myddle. John Gardner - Grendel. Arthur Conan Doyle - Tales of Terror and Mystery.

Quick circuit of Beverley (including two pubs) with the eldest, home for the weekend.

Bryan Stanley Johnson left me a trail of paperclips to follow.

1. Writing advice from a musician. 2. In a Silent Way, 1969. 3. Coldwell, Wrecking Ball Music and Books, Hull. 4. A new look at an old work. #saturdaynightsalrightforwriting

If you’re in Beverley tomorrow, visit The Beverley Bookshop where Anne Woodward will be signing copies of her fantastic novel The Art of Murder. Figures disappear from paintings, and people die. What’s going on? You’ll have to ask Anne!

Popped into Hull to visit Wrecking Ball Music and Books who now have Coldwell in stock. Thanks to Shane and the team for this, for the music (Miles Davis, today) and the coffee - all most welcome.

Coldwell ventures Down Under...and chills its way to a lovely review! Big thanks to @duckpondsreview.bsky.social!

Received what might be the best ever rejection email from an independent publisher based in the Midlands, yesterday. They praised my Sheffield-based novel's qualities (he blushed, demurely) and were very positive about its future prospects. Thank you for reading, lovely people. You know who you are.

Coldwell at large in Little Eaton, with @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social

1-3. Autumn leaves. 4. Winter trees. Link to buy Coldwell below.

A review for Drew. @drewgum.bsky.social www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

1. First of today's reviews, with thanks to Sharon Tyers. 2. Another lovely review from Susan Baker. Thank you! 3. Coldwell - link to buy in the first comment below. 4. Work continues on the new novel. #saturdaynightsalrightforwriting

A found paperclip, Gillygate, York. Bryan Stanley Johnson.

1. Arbor Low, Middleton Moor, Derbyshire. I took this photograph in 1985. 2. Coldwell, published by @roadsongbooks.bsky.social whose design team did a fantastic job.

1-3. Some of the lovely reviews of Coldwell on Goodreads. More always welcome! 4. First draft of the new novel finished, so back into the text on a rainy afternoon. #saturdaynightsalrightforwriting

Book post today from Craig Jordan-Baker and @epoquepress.bsky.social. Looking forward to this one!

Thanks to @efsb.bsky.social for this great Goodreads review of Coldwell! www.goodreads.com/review/show/...