Rebecca Gransden's Blog
July 10, 2025
Harry Adams Artwork Announcement
(After) Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group. Thrilled at the announcement of thirteen similar works by Harry Adams. Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group continues its unexpected journey, and now extends its world with these paintings made in response to the novella.
Original, signed by the artist, limited in number.
Available through the Tangerine Press website. Follow the link HERE for more details.
Endless thanks to Harry Adams.
Original, signed by the artist, limited in number.
Available through the Tangerine Press website. Follow the link HERE for more details.
Endless thanks to Harry Adams.
May 29, 2025
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group Tangerine Press Edition Release Day
And the old red sun on the land. A slow wind stalks the brush. When the tide out at sea waits to run in green.
Delighted to present a new edition of Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group, released today by Tangerine Press.
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group is the culmination of a decade’s writing, and the final prose offering penned as part of the ‘pilgrimage works’ cycle. The novella charts the journey of a young girl who is impelled to wander an England beset by a mysterious apocalyptic event. In the course of the journey she encounters others that have been uprooted, and all must confront an ineffable delirium which has infected the land.
‘Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader's neck. A classic end-game pilgrimage under a black sun across a spoiled landscape, waiting to be absorbed once again into the marginless sea. The work of a poet in the sway of place, at whatever cost to herself. And to our fragile psyches.’ — Iain Sinclair
Thank you to Sean Stewart for providing the back cover description:
In the midst of an apocalyptic event of unknown provenance – a mass of red spreading north from the southern counties – a young girl sets out on a journey. Along the way she encounters a series of eccentric characters, the few left behind in the wake of a widespread evacuation. Some of these individuals are ravaged and on the edge of death, while others are immersed in their own hermetic practices, be they solipsistic, nihilistic, or otherwise. None wish to engage for more than the brief time necessary to offer their meagre assistance. There is talk of ‘anti-spores’, pools of blood, and of a hum spreading through communication wires. The hum has altered the very appearance of written language, pushing words apart, leaving only single syllables behind. This constraint is present in the third-person narration we read but is removed during periods of dialogue. This results in a rhythmic, chantlike flow to the prose. As with the best of work that employs the tropes of apocalyptic fiction, Rebecca Gransden’s unusual novella ends with many of its questions floating in the scarlet haze it generates, leaving them for the reader to ponder in the wake of what is surely a singular literary experience.
Available in three editions. Specially commissioned artwork by Harry Adams. Eternal thanks to Michael Curran at Tangerine Press for his belief and investment in the novella. Find in all good bookshops and direct from the publisher, where special pre-order prices remain in place until tomorrow 30th May.
https://www.thetangerinepress.com/FIC...
A pilgrimage. An England in delirium.
Watch the book trailer
Delighted to present a new edition of Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group, released today by Tangerine Press.
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group is the culmination of a decade’s writing, and the final prose offering penned as part of the ‘pilgrimage works’ cycle. The novella charts the journey of a young girl who is impelled to wander an England beset by a mysterious apocalyptic event. In the course of the journey she encounters others that have been uprooted, and all must confront an ineffable delirium which has infected the land.
‘Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader's neck. A classic end-game pilgrimage under a black sun across a spoiled landscape, waiting to be absorbed once again into the marginless sea. The work of a poet in the sway of place, at whatever cost to herself. And to our fragile psyches.’ — Iain Sinclair
Thank you to Sean Stewart for providing the back cover description:
In the midst of an apocalyptic event of unknown provenance – a mass of red spreading north from the southern counties – a young girl sets out on a journey. Along the way she encounters a series of eccentric characters, the few left behind in the wake of a widespread evacuation. Some of these individuals are ravaged and on the edge of death, while others are immersed in their own hermetic practices, be they solipsistic, nihilistic, or otherwise. None wish to engage for more than the brief time necessary to offer their meagre assistance. There is talk of ‘anti-spores’, pools of blood, and of a hum spreading through communication wires. The hum has altered the very appearance of written language, pushing words apart, leaving only single syllables behind. This constraint is present in the third-person narration we read but is removed during periods of dialogue. This results in a rhythmic, chantlike flow to the prose. As with the best of work that employs the tropes of apocalyptic fiction, Rebecca Gransden’s unusual novella ends with many of its questions floating in the scarlet haze it generates, leaving them for the reader to ponder in the wake of what is surely a singular literary experience.
Available in three editions. Specially commissioned artwork by Harry Adams. Eternal thanks to Michael Curran at Tangerine Press for his belief and investment in the novella. Find in all good bookshops and direct from the publisher, where special pre-order prices remain in place until tomorrow 30th May.
https://www.thetangerinepress.com/FIC...
A pilgrimage. An England in delirium.
Watch the book trailer
May 14, 2025
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group Review Opportunity
Calling Reviewers and Bloggers!
Review copies for my novella Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group are available. This new edition from Tangerine Press will be released on May 29th 2025.
A pilgrimage. An England in delirium.
In the midst of an apocalyptic event of unknown provenance – a mass of red spreading north from the southern counties – a young girl sets out on a journey. Along the way she encounters a series of eccentric characters, the few left behind in the wake of a widespread evacuation. Some of these individuals are ravaged and on the edge of death, while others are immersed in their own hermetic practices, be they solipsistic, nihilistic, or otherwise. None wish to engage for more than the brief time necessary to offer their meagre assistance. There is talk of ‘anti-spores’, pools of blood, and of a hum spreading through communication wires. The hum has altered the very appearance of written language, pushing words apart, leaving only single syllables behind. This constraint is present in the third-person narration we read but is removed during periods of dialogue. This results in a rhythmic, chantlike flow to the prose. As with the best of work that employs the tropes of apocalyptic fiction, Rebecca Gransden’s unusual novella ends with many of its questions floating in the scarlet haze it generates, leaving them for the reader to ponder in the wake of what is surely a singular literary experience.
"Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader’s neck." —Iain Sinclair
DM if interested!
Review copies for my novella Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group are available. This new edition from Tangerine Press will be released on May 29th 2025.
A pilgrimage. An England in delirium.
In the midst of an apocalyptic event of unknown provenance – a mass of red spreading north from the southern counties – a young girl sets out on a journey. Along the way she encounters a series of eccentric characters, the few left behind in the wake of a widespread evacuation. Some of these individuals are ravaged and on the edge of death, while others are immersed in their own hermetic practices, be they solipsistic, nihilistic, or otherwise. None wish to engage for more than the brief time necessary to offer their meagre assistance. There is talk of ‘anti-spores’, pools of blood, and of a hum spreading through communication wires. The hum has altered the very appearance of written language, pushing words apart, leaving only single syllables behind. This constraint is present in the third-person narration we read but is removed during periods of dialogue. This results in a rhythmic, chantlike flow to the prose. As with the best of work that employs the tropes of apocalyptic fiction, Rebecca Gransden’s unusual novella ends with many of its questions floating in the scarlet haze it generates, leaving them for the reader to ponder in the wake of what is surely a singular literary experience.
"Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader’s neck." —Iain Sinclair
DM if interested!
May 2, 2025
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group Tangerine Press Edition Pre-Order Announcement
Thrilled at the announcement of a new edition of Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group. Grateful for the opportunity to work with Tangerine Press in bringing the novella into existence in such a beautifully realised form. Coming May 29th, available in three editions, and pre-orders are open now. Endless thanks to Michael Curran for his faith in the book and infectious appreciation for literature that embraces the fringes.
‘Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader's neck. A classic end-game pilgrimage under a black sun across a spoiled landscape, waiting to be absorbed once again into the marginless sea. The work of a poet in the sway of place, at whatever cost to herself. And to our fragile psyches.’ — Ian Sinclair
Details here: HERE.
‘Linguistically inventive, alert in every sense, and propelled with such narrative force that hairs burn on the unsuspecting reader's neck. A classic end-game pilgrimage under a black sun across a spoiled landscape, waiting to be absorbed once again into the marginless sea. The work of a poet in the sway of place, at whatever cost to herself. And to our fragile psyches.’ — Ian Sinclair
Details here: HERE.
October 31, 2024
Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs
Greetings, fellow creatures!
I present to you, a special Halloween 2024 release
Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs
A collection of stories to repulse and delight. The majority of the tales included in this collection were written near a decade ago, and most are available here for the first time.
Dangerous creatures, neglected kids and dejected employees face the weird, odd and perilous. Enter a world where possessed pageant girls get their revenge, a pigeon leads to an underground cult, and a video game mod threatens to unleash hell itself. Enjoy fourteen stories of spite, mischief, and malevolence!
Get your copy:
Ebooks available at Amazon US, Amazon UK and elsewhere
Paperback copy at Lulu. Also available in hardcover
Review copies available on request.
Spread the mischief!
I present to you, a special Halloween 2024 release
Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs
A collection of stories to repulse and delight. The majority of the tales included in this collection were written near a decade ago, and most are available here for the first time.
Dangerous creatures, neglected kids and dejected employees face the weird, odd and perilous. Enter a world where possessed pageant girls get their revenge, a pigeon leads to an underground cult, and a video game mod threatens to unleash hell itself. Enjoy fourteen stories of spite, mischief, and malevolence!
Get your copy:
Ebooks available at Amazon US, Amazon UK and elsewhere
Paperback copy at Lulu. Also available in hardcover
Review copies available on request.
Spread the mischief!
July 13, 2024
Florence Carpenter Dieudonné - Selected Works Released
Release day for
Florence Carpenter Dieudonné - Selected Works!
Part of Resuscitations, a series of releases focusing on forgotten or neglected works.
Florence Carpenter Dieudonné was a pioneer in the literary fields of science fiction and fantasy. Her 1887 novel RONDAH; OR THIRTY-THREE YEARS IN A STAR is regarded as an early example of extraterrestrial speculative fiction, with its exploration of an uncharted alien world and considerate depiction of its winged inhabitants. Dieudonné’s XARTELLA delves into the supernatural, and is a welcome addition to literature reflective of the Egyptomania of the 19th Century. Both works are included in this volume, as well as the long poem PRE-HISTORIC ROMANZA, in freshly edited versions respectful of the author’s original vision.
Included in this collection:
Rondah; or Thirty-Three Years in a Star (1887)
Xartella (1891)
Pre-Historic Romanza (1882)
Available from various Amazons including US and UK. Also available in hardcover from Lulu.
Watch the trailer.
Florence Carpenter Dieudonné - Selected Works!
Part of Resuscitations, a series of releases focusing on forgotten or neglected works.
Florence Carpenter Dieudonné was a pioneer in the literary fields of science fiction and fantasy. Her 1887 novel RONDAH; OR THIRTY-THREE YEARS IN A STAR is regarded as an early example of extraterrestrial speculative fiction, with its exploration of an uncharted alien world and considerate depiction of its winged inhabitants. Dieudonné’s XARTELLA delves into the supernatural, and is a welcome addition to literature reflective of the Egyptomania of the 19th Century. Both works are included in this volume, as well as the long poem PRE-HISTORIC ROMANZA, in freshly edited versions respectful of the author’s original vision.
Included in this collection:
Rondah; or Thirty-Three Years in a Star (1887)
Xartella (1891)
Pre-Historic Romanza (1882)
Available from various Amazons including US and UK. Also available in hardcover from Lulu.
Watch the trailer.
May 13, 2024
Lizard Brain
Fortunate to have my story “Whistling Past the Slaughterhouse” featured in the new anthology from Tragickal Books.
Tragickal Books says:
“tragickal presents LIZARD BRAIN
20 authors return to reptile in 20 horror stories mapping the musculoskeletal, reproductive, endocrine, prosthetic, and nervous systems.”
Lizard Brain includes work by David Kuhnlein, Tyler Barney, Daniel Beauregard, Blake Butler, Tade Davis, Charlene Elsby, Derek Fisher, Nick Greer, Jonah Howell, Chris Kelso, Sean Kilpatrick, Matthew Kinlin, Anna Krivolapova, Matt Lee, Gary J. Shipley, Germán Sierra, Eunika Sot, Ian Townsend, John Trefry.
Available from a variety of Amazons including US and UK.
Tragickal Books says:
“tragickal presents LIZARD BRAIN
20 authors return to reptile in 20 horror stories mapping the musculoskeletal, reproductive, endocrine, prosthetic, and nervous systems.”
Lizard Brain includes work by David Kuhnlein, Tyler Barney, Daniel Beauregard, Blake Butler, Tade Davis, Charlene Elsby, Derek Fisher, Nick Greer, Jonah Howell, Chris Kelso, Sean Kilpatrick, Matthew Kinlin, Anna Krivolapova, Matt Lee, Gary J. Shipley, Germán Sierra, Eunika Sot, Ian Townsend, John Trefry.
Available from a variety of Amazons including US and UK.
October 21, 2023
Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group - New Novella Released!
September 20, 2023
Hubert Crackanthorpe - Vignettes and Sketches
Release day for Hubert Crackanthorpe -Vignettes and Sketches! Part of Resuscitations, a series of releases focusing on forgotten or neglected works. Crackanthorpe’s travel vignettes collected alongside a selection of his shorter pieces.
While not as well known as his contemporary “Men of the Nineties” Hubert Crackanthorpe deserves equal attention. Associated with the decadent movement, he published accomplished fiction in the realist style. His stories often featured those on the fringes of society and focused on the grittier aspects of life. Included in this volume are Crackanthorpe’s travel vignettes, arguably his finest literary achievement, alongside a selection of his short sketches. Crackanthorpe died at the early age of twenty six and the modest collection of writings he left us stand not only as a sign of his potential but as significant works in their own right.
Additional material includes commentary on Crackanthorpe by Henry James, Lionel Johnson and John McFarland Kennedy, as well as a poem written in tribute by Stopford A. Brooke.
Available now:
Hardcover: Lulu
Paperback: Barnes and Noble
EBook: Lulu, Barnes and Noble, and Gumroad.
Watch the trailer on YouTube, Vimeo or Rumble.
While not as well known as his contemporary “Men of the Nineties” Hubert Crackanthorpe deserves equal attention. Associated with the decadent movement, he published accomplished fiction in the realist style. His stories often featured those on the fringes of society and focused on the grittier aspects of life. Included in this volume are Crackanthorpe’s travel vignettes, arguably his finest literary achievement, alongside a selection of his short sketches. Crackanthorpe died at the early age of twenty six and the modest collection of writings he left us stand not only as a sign of his potential but as significant works in their own right.
Additional material includes commentary on Crackanthorpe by Henry James, Lionel Johnson and John McFarland Kennedy, as well as a poem written in tribute by Stopford A. Brooke.
Available now:
Hardcover: Lulu
Paperback: Barnes and Noble
EBook: Lulu, Barnes and Noble, and Gumroad.
Watch the trailer on YouTube, Vimeo or Rumble.
November 27, 2022
Vsevolod Garshin - Collected Stories released
Cardboard Wall Empire presents
Vsevolod Garshin - Collected Stories
Part of Resuscitations, a series of releases focusing on forgotten or neglected works.
A collection of Vsevolod Garshin’s short fiction works. In his time Garshin inspired fanaticism among those who read his stories, his public readings often accompanied by near hysteria, but the years since have seen him less read than some of his contemporaries. His fiction frequently deals with themes of war and mental instability, writing reflective of his real life experiences. Having died tragically early, Garshin left relatively few completed short stories. All are included in this volume, and are a valuable addition to Russian literature as a whole.
Highlights include:
“Four Days”, where an incapacitated soldier is forced to wait for help at the side of a battlefield, all the while observing the slow decay of the body of an enemy he has vanquished previously.
“The Scarlet Blossom” (also known elsewhere as “The Red Flower”), in which a highly disturbed man is afflicted by an unnatural fixation on a startlingly red bloom.
Also included in this volume is writing on Garshin from Sergius Stepniak, a revolutionary against autocratic rule in Russia who eventually settled in England.
About the book:
Dead at the age of thirty-three, Vsevolod Garshin had by that time already established himself as one of Russia’s finest short fiction writers. His known stories are included in this volume. Many are powerful accounts of war, influenced by his direct experience of army life, having volunteered to serve in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-8. Garshin’s literary output includes poignant and phantastique renderings of the fairy tale, as well as a supreme example of the Russian tradition of asylum horror ‘The Scarlet Blossom,’ perhaps his most well-known story. With great sensitivity, Garshin’s fiction displays the uneasy contradictions of human nature. His determinedly individual voice ensures the stories retain a resonance contemporary to any time.
This collection contains Garshin’s fiction as translated by Captain Rowland Siddons Smith OBE, and commentary by Sergius Stepniak, men of note in their own right, and a brief biography of both is included.
Available from Lulu in Hardcover and Ebook
Paperback versions available from Lulu and Barnes & Noble
Ebook from Barnes & Noble,
and Gumroad.
Watch the trailer
Vsevolod Garshin - Collected Stories
Part of Resuscitations, a series of releases focusing on forgotten or neglected works.
A collection of Vsevolod Garshin’s short fiction works. In his time Garshin inspired fanaticism among those who read his stories, his public readings often accompanied by near hysteria, but the years since have seen him less read than some of his contemporaries. His fiction frequently deals with themes of war and mental instability, writing reflective of his real life experiences. Having died tragically early, Garshin left relatively few completed short stories. All are included in this volume, and are a valuable addition to Russian literature as a whole.
Highlights include:
“Four Days”, where an incapacitated soldier is forced to wait for help at the side of a battlefield, all the while observing the slow decay of the body of an enemy he has vanquished previously.
“The Scarlet Blossom” (also known elsewhere as “The Red Flower”), in which a highly disturbed man is afflicted by an unnatural fixation on a startlingly red bloom.
Also included in this volume is writing on Garshin from Sergius Stepniak, a revolutionary against autocratic rule in Russia who eventually settled in England.
About the book:
Dead at the age of thirty-three, Vsevolod Garshin had by that time already established himself as one of Russia’s finest short fiction writers. His known stories are included in this volume. Many are powerful accounts of war, influenced by his direct experience of army life, having volunteered to serve in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-8. Garshin’s literary output includes poignant and phantastique renderings of the fairy tale, as well as a supreme example of the Russian tradition of asylum horror ‘The Scarlet Blossom,’ perhaps his most well-known story. With great sensitivity, Garshin’s fiction displays the uneasy contradictions of human nature. His determinedly individual voice ensures the stories retain a resonance contemporary to any time.
This collection contains Garshin’s fiction as translated by Captain Rowland Siddons Smith OBE, and commentary by Sergius Stepniak, men of note in their own right, and a brief biography of both is included.
Available from Lulu in Hardcover and Ebook
Paperback versions available from Lulu and Barnes & Noble
Ebook from Barnes & Noble,
and Gumroad.
Watch the trailer
