read these books
We only feature books that are within our specialisms. [children’s, YA, fantasy, sci-fi/ spec fic, magical realism, weird fiction, genre-benders, counter-culture, queer fic, some nature writing. Essentially, we don’t tend to feature anything they stock in Tescos.]
Recommended reads.
The books and stories featured here are by Storyslinger members, friends or associates, or they are books that our members recommend. Get down to your local book store and order a copy today.
childrens.
Including picture books, middle grade and teens.
YA.
Including New Adult and crossovers.
Fantasy/ sci-fi.
Including magical realism and speculative fiction.
Other.
Including queer fic, genre-benders, non-fiction, nature writing +
Member’s Stories
Stories, poems, comics by our members. Published here for the first time.
Selected book list, click the links above for more recommended reads.
Where the Wilderness Lives.
Jess Butterworth.
Children’s (but this adult loved it)
One day, as Cara and her siblings are trying to clean up the canal where they live, they pull out a mysterious locked safe. Though none of them can open it, they're sure it's something special.
That night, a thief comes after the safe. The children flee, traveling with their boat as far as they can, before continuing into the forest on foot. But soon they're lost in the mountains with a snowstorm about to land and food supplies running low.
Will Cara and her siblings be able to survive the wilderness with nothing but their wits, their bravery and one very large dog to help?
An amazing adventure that sings with love for the English countryside.
Rosie Loves Jack.
Mel Darbon.
Young Adult.
Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they're separated, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head.
Even run away from home.
Even struggle across London and travel to Brighton, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie could never survive on her own.
A heartwarming story told from the point of view of a girl who has Down’s syndrome as she navigates the world by herself for the first time.
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction
Jeff VanderMeer & Jeremy Zerfoss.
Non-fiction
This all-new definitive guide to writing imaginative fiction takes a completely novel approach and fully exploits the visual nature of fantasy through original drawings, maps, renderings, and exercises to create a spectacularly beautiful and inspiring object. Employing an accessible, example-rich approach, Wonderbook energizes and motivates while also providing practical, nuts-and-bolts information needed to improve as a writer. Aimed at aspiring and intermediate-level writers, Wonderbook includes helpful sidebars and essays from some of the biggest names in fantasy today, such as George R. R. Martin, Lev Grossman, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Catherynne M. Valente, and Karen Joy Fowler, to name a few.
A must-have book for all weavers of worlds.
Recommended by Becky Bye