Barendina Smedley
@fugitiveink.bsky.social
Norfolk, mostly, but also Lincolnshire or occasionally London I recently wrote a book of short stories, "The Lammas Ghosts", available on Amazon etc or here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/barendina-smedley/the-lammas-ghosts/paperback/product-kvmk646.html
Are there any fairies left in Norfolk? For those of you who like that sort of thing, I've written a new short story on this topic. It's called "Ferier's Hill". newsfromnorfolk.uk/2026/04/19/f...
Ferier’s Hill
You will recall, perhaps, that most enjoyable conversation over dinner the other week? You were assuring me with great conviction — I cannot now reconstruct the context — that there are now no fai…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
For those of you who like that sort of thing, I've written a new uncanny tale - with a springtime theme. You can read it here: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2026/03/13/a...
A May Day story
April was racing towards its end. Only a week or two before, the beech wood had exploded into a mist of tiny, pea-green, guileless little leaves. Beneath them, along the drive that led up the the…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
I've written a new short story. It's about a Norfolk church, a group of parishioners and a gargoyle. You can read it here: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/29/t...
The Gargoyle
“What — what is it, exactly?” asked Pamela, her voice suddenly hoarse. Having glimpsed the thing on the floor, she recoiled from it. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. “I’ll t…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
It's a wild, windy day here — why not curl up somewhere cosy and read about an old house in the Fens and its various inhabitants? Here's a ghost story that I wrote earlier this week: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/10/04/a...
An Old House in the Fens
“A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes” — Joseph Addison (1672-1719) “I suppose what I mean,” said Edmund, r…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
I've written a new story about a man, his two little grandchildren, and a scarecrow who might or might not actually exist. If you'd like to read it, here it is: newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/09/10/t...
The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow? Well, therein lies a tale! Perhaps it’s best that I simply tell you all the facts, such as they are, and let you draw your own conclusions. Jeremy and the twins invited themselves …
newsfromnorfolk.uk
As we're just on the brink of April — when, famously, "longen folk to goon on pilgrimages / And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes" — I have written a story about a pilgrimage. You can read it here newsfromnorfolk.uk/2025/03/26/p...
Pilgrimage
“You argue by results, as this world doesTo settle if an act be good or bad.” TS Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral (1935) For three nights in a row, Agnes dreamed the same dream. On the mor…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
A spring tide, as seen from Blakeney High Street
Happy #CommonwealthDay from Blakeney, Norfolk — a particularly misty part of the United Kingdom earlier this morning
Bridget the little cat, at least, has found a safe place in which to wait out the storm (which isn't that bad in Norfolk anyway).
This collection of ghost stories by @fugitiveink.bsky.social was a Christmas present. Finally settled in tonight to read the opening story, and what a thrill - full of seething dread, unsettling undercurrents, much like the Norfolk landscape the stories occupy. Having read some of Barendina’s 1/2
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Happy Christmas to all my friends here!
There is something strange and extraordinary about seeing a Christmas tree in dark of our hall.
The darkest night as Winter Solstice envelops us. Time to sit by the lights of the Christmas tree, surrounded by flickering candles, listening to the gentle ticking of the clock. The perfect evening to open my new book of Norfolk ghost stories by @fugitiveink.bsky.social ✨️🎄🕯🔥🌟😱
Let me say, too, that Barendina’s book was a delight. She’s got a way with setting a scene and leaving an unsettling afterglow. A few rum do’s in those stories, let me tell you.
Barendina Smedley@fugitiveink.bsky.social · 2y agoIf you enjoy this story, do remember that I've published a whole book of these things: "The Lammas Ghosts: Fifteen Norfolk Ghost Stories". You can buy it on Amazon, via the link below, or try asking at your favourite indie bookstore www.lulu.com/shop/barendi...
It's the eve of the winter solstice — a good time for extra lights.
I am reliably informed that, although the solstice is not quite here yet, as of today, sunset is happening later each day, although the sunrise continues to happen later and later, too.
For people who like that sort of thing, I've written a new story for Christmas — with, you may not be surprised to learn, a strong Norfolk theme. It's a sort of thank you to everyone who's been so supportive of my writing over this past year. Enjoy! newsfromnorfolk.uk/2024/12/13/t...
The Excavation
“’Tis the solitude of the Country that creates these Whimsies; there was never such a thing as a Ghost heard of at London, except in the Play-house.” Joseph Addison, The Drummer (1716) “I…
newsfromnorfolk.uk
There are worse ways in which to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
I'm slightly overwhelmed by this beautifully-written, thoughtful and generous review of my book "The Lammas Ghosts" — all the more so because it comes from an author whose work (fiction as well as nonfiction) I have enjoyed so very much.
Dr Francis Young@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 2y agoI reviewed 'The Lammas Ghosts' by @fugitiveink.bsky.social - one of the best contemporary ghost story collections I've read in a long time: drfrancisyoung.com/2024/11/21/r...
