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Each season, we round up some of the most exciting new books coming out from writers in our region, alongside giveaways, interviews, and other bookish content.
If you're still on the lookout for some Christmas gifts, look no further – you're sure to find a perfect read for the book lover in your life here. We've rounded up some of the best books coming out by Northern authors this winter, as well as our staff and trustees' top bookish gifting recommendations.
You'll also find a giveaway of a 'deliciously dark' new Northern debut to kick off your 2025 reading and learn about a new 'anti-burnout' indie publisher.
And don't miss our announcement at the end...
Happy reading,
New Writing North and Durham Book Festival
The Lamb – a 'deliciously dark' Cumbria-set horror folktale from newcomer Lucy Rose
Margot and Mama have lived by the forest since Margot can remember. They spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies.
But Mama's want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a white-toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, little Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires and make a bid for freedom.
With this tender coming-of-age tale, debut novelist Lucy Rose explores how women swallow their anger, desire and animal instincts - and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it.
The Lamb will be published on 30 January 2025 with W&N.
"The novel is a horror, and it dissects and studies some very difficult subject matter, but what I want more than anything in the world is for all the Margots to feel how powerful their courage is."
Read our interview with Lucy Rose for an insight into the novel's inspirations – from Cumbria's bloody heritage, to the liminal spaces of childhood, to the necessity of courage, friendship and resilience in the face of horror.
We're giving away two copies of The Lamb! 📚
Tell us what you're reading on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook using the hashtags #TheLamb and #NorthernBookshelf. Winners will be drawn on 10 January 2025.
Human, Animal by Seth InsuaDairy farmer George Calvert is fighting to keep the family business afloat. He refuses to face the reality of his failing farm, his elderly mother's declining health and his troubled relationship with his youngest son... A moving debut about finding connection in a rapidly changing world. |
Base Notes by Adelle StripeAdelle Stripe’s formative years were ones of daytime drinking and religious fervour; desire, ambition and the pursuit of creativity. Told through a prism of vintage perfumes,Base Notes chronicles an unbridled Northern England of the late 20th century already fading from view. |
Broken Biscuits by Adam FarrerThrough candid personal essays, Adam Farrer vividly recounts his struggles to live up to masculine expectations. From the calamity of his first serious relationship to his brush with Satanic Panic, this is a book about trying to define yourself as a man but somehow always missing the mark. |
Our Infinite Fates by Laura StevenA star-crossed lovers romance that spans a millennia. Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered. Now she must find her centuries-old enemy, figure out exactly why she's being hunted – and try quite hard not to fall in love with them... again. |
Old Soul by Susan BarkerWhen two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in unfathomable circumstances. And each encountered a mesmerising, dark-haired woman days before their deaths... |
It Comes From the River by Rachel BowerThe three women feel something pass outside. A reek of singed fur, scorching damp. A creature. It knows these women. From the river it comes. To the river it always returns... An uncanny debut about violence, resilience and hope, infused with the folklore of Northern England. |
The Return of Frankie Whittle by Caroline EnglandFrankie has it all: a career, a husband, and a baby on the way. But in one terrifying night, everything unravels. Searching for a fresh start, she returns to her birthplace, now a beautiful gated community. But how far will those around her go to keep their secrets safe? |
Your Sons and Your Daughters Are Beyond by Rosie GarlandBlurring natural and supernatural, these enchanting yet disquieting short stories deftly transform the familiar and unveil the extraordinary within ordinary people. Brace for a journey pushing imagination's limits, where the impossible becomes reality. |
Secrets on the Shore by Katherine WoodfineSophie and Lil are on their very first case for the Secret Service Bureau, investigating a band of German spies plotting dastardly deeds. Can they navigate smugglers tunnels, make it through treacherous sea mists and decode a secret message to solve the mystery? |
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Under the tree: Our top gifting recommendations 🎁
If there’s one thing we do well at NWN, it’s reading lots of books. If you’re still on the lookout for a perfect Christmas present, or just a great new read to close out 2024, look no further. We asked our staff and trustees all about the books they are most excited to give – and receive – this Christmas.
New and Recent Poetry from the North ⭐
Our seasonal poetry round-up is back. Find out about some of the best new poetry out now from writers in the North – all great additions to any poetry lover's wishlist. Which poems will you be sinking into this winter?
Weird and wild writing from The Braag 🌿
This indie publisher in Newcastle publishes beautiful and strange poetry chapbooks and speculative fiction. On our blog, founder Kym Deyn told us more about The Braag's 'anti-burnout' approach to publishing, and their latest publication Fernseed.
Introducing Northern Bookshelf Live 2025 📣
Northern Bookshelf is coming to life once again! Eight authors who have previously featured in this newsletter will be heading to libraries across the North in 2025 to connect with readers like you.
Keep an eye out for book events at your local library from April 2025 with authors Ashley Thorpe, Eirinie Lapidaki, Len Pennie, Lizzie Tiffin, Sairish Hussain, Sarah Brooks, Tawseef Khan and Trevor Wood.
Northern Bookshelf is published by New Writing North and Durham Book Festival. If you have news about books by Northern authors or you would like to recommend books as a bookseller, librarian, book group or reader, please contact carys@newwritingnorth.com. The next issue will be published in March 2025 and will cover March 2025 - May 2025. The deadline for receipt of information for the next newsletter is 14 March 2025.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of going to press, things do change, frequently at the last minute and very often without our knowledge.
