Cosy, Eerie, and Splendid, a writer’s blog
September Tea and a Book: The Green Man of Eshwood Hall, by Jacob Kerr
September’s offering for “Tea and a Book” is Jacob Kerr’s The Green Man of Eshwood Hall (2022), a disquieting mystery steeped in folk horror. This novel features a child as the protagonist, but the story is for adult readers. From the publisher: Eshwood Hall is a...
August Tea and a Book: Lanny, by Max Porter
August's "Tea and a Book" offers Lanny by Max Porter, published in 2020 and long listed for the Booker Prize. This is a strange book with an experimental narrative style, but it swept me up so completely that I finished it in a day. (See more professional accolades...
July Tea and a Book: The Wild Hunt, by Emma Seckel
For July's "Tea and a Book" I'm recommending The Wild Hunt, published in August 2022 by Tin House. Author Emma Seckel is a Canadian photographer and writer who has studied at St. Andrews and Cambridge. (No slouch, this one! Check out her website.) Seckel's debut novel...
June Tea and a Book: In the Night Wood, by Dale Bailey
June's offering is a novel I devoured a couple of years ago and lately was tempted to reread, particularly because of its folk horror elements. (I didn't know much about that genre when I first encountered the book.) I so enjoyed revisiting In the Night Wood and was...
May Tea and a Book: The White Hare by Jane Johnson
Here I am again at the last minute with May's horror reading recommendation. Continuing with last month’s theme of folk horror, I offer a mysterious and romantic tale set in Cornwall shortly after World War II. Check out this synopsis from the publisher: In a Cornish...
April Tea and a Book: Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand
This month I have another Gothic offering to enthusiastically recommend: Wylding Hall, by Elizabeth Hand. [Is the above the UK cover? The PB edition? Not sure, but I like it.] Synopsis (from the publisher): When the young members of a British acid-folk band -- known...
March Tea and a Book: Weyward by Emilia Hart
Before I tell you about this wonderful new book, I wish to celebrate the fact that I've read more this month than I have in a long time. I've struggled to focus on novels for a while now, and in most cases it was very slow going. This month, however, things have...
February Tea and a Book — The Narrowboat Summer, by Anne Youngson
Once again I'm here at the very end of the month with my "Tea and a Book" offering: The Narrowboat Summer (2021) by Anne Youngson. Those not quite so fascinated by Gothic horror may be pleased to learn that this month's featured novel is a story of female friendship...
January Tea and a Book: Wakenhyrst, by Michelle Paver
It's a brand new year for Tea and a Book! This year I didn't choose a particular genre or time period. As it turned out, every book I read this month was wonderfully GOTHIC. My favorite of the bunch was Wakenhyrst (2019) by Michelle Paver. In Edwardian Suffolk, a...
Holiday-themed Novellas
I love stories set during Christmas! However, it can be difficult to settle into a cozy holiday novel when you're looking at a seemingly endless Christmas to-do list. With this in mind, I'm offering a list of highly recommended Christmas novellas, three of...
December Tea and a Book: The Santa Klaus Murder, by Mavis Doriel Hay, with additional recommendations
To round out this year of fiction by early twentieth century English women, I offer a holiday mystery! The Santa Klaus Murder, by Mavis Doriel Hay -- Synopsis from the publisher: Aunt Mildred declared that no good could come of the Melbury family Christmas gatherings...
November Tea and a Book: The Lark, by E. Nesbit
Continuing with novels written by women in the early 20th century, November's Tea and a Book offers The Lark (1922), a mostly adult novel written by famed children's author, E. Nesbit, who wrote such classics as The Treasure Seekers, The Wouldbegoods, Five Children...
What to watch for Halloween — Updated for 2022
I just wrapped up my 2022 Spooky Film Recommendations, but there's more I wish to share. In case some of you are planning a bit of horror viewing over the weekend, I've listed my favorites from 13 years of blogging horror. I put the films in easy-peasy categories,...
Spooky Film Recs 2022 — Gothic Horror, part II
Today I offer my second and final group of horror film recommendations for 2022. As before, these were chosen for their Gothic themes and content, and I am very pleased with the variety of characters and conflicts you will encounter . . . if you dare to watch them!...
Spooky Film Recs 2022 — Gothic Horror, part I
This year I'm focusing my Spooky Film Recommendations on Gothic Horror. It's my favorite category, and I consider myself a writer of Gothic fiction. Gothic is so central to my imagination that I wrote a rambling blog post explaining what it is and why I love it, so...
