'Disturbingly and darkly beautiful...Not to be missed.'
—Jane Yolen, author of The Devil's Arithmetic
‘Wonderfully told stories of flight and flood, of limitation and transformation... in turn foreboding and life-affirming.’
—Carys Bray, author of A Song for Issy Bradley
I'm thrilled to announce that a limited edition hardback of fourteen of my stories, with beautiful illustrations by Laura Rae, is available for pre-order now (and until 24th November) from Unsettling Wonder.
I'll be holding a celebration event at 6pm on Friday 18th November in The Writing Room, The Storey, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster. I'll be joined by the brilliant poet Sarah Hymas and there'll be readings, wine and nibbles. All are very welcome.
The Museum of Shadows and Reflections
Claire Dean
128 pages
ISBN 978-1-907881-49-7
Papaveria Press/Unsettling Wonder
£17.99 plus S&H
Sometimes, we decide to try and live without our shadows. Sometimes we slip into someone else’s and live in their shape for a while. But try as we might, the old shadows linger. They’ve grown dusty, perhaps, brittle and faded, but look there—straggling out behind you and before you—the shadows of every shape you ever were, or once hoped to be. And when a new shape grows too heavy, when it gnaws holes in you or binds you, when your feathers fall to the carpet or the sand drags you underground, all your old shadows are still there… waiting.
A hauntingly powerful new voice in British fiction, this highly anticipated short story collection from Claire Dean showcases fourteen stories of wonder and memory, wind and water, metamorphosis and regret.
Available for pre-order here until 24th November.
She poked at the soil with her little finger. It was quite wet, so there must be a seed in there.
She watched. Nothing was happening yet. Sometimes it took a long time for a city to grow.
Illustration by Laura Rae, from 'Growing Cities'
She watched. Nothing was happening yet. Sometimes it took a long time for a city to grow.
Illustration by Laura Rae, from 'Growing Cities'