The Ravenglass Eye
THE RAVENGLASS EYE was published at the end of September! So this blogpost about it is a little late, I know. But I missed the publication date due to being halfway through a chaotic housemove; we’re just about sorted now. (Also, if I’m being honest, I thought the book came out at the end of October. But don’t tell anybody that).
The book is about Edie – a chef in the small, West Cumbrian village of Ravenglass. She’s always had visions, but has never been able to control them. Following the ritual sacrifice of a local pet dog, though, events conspire to offer Edie the chance to get a little more from this gift; though it’s not really an offer. It’s never an offer. It’s more of a deal…
The book’s had some positive reviews so far; in fact, so far, they’ve all been positive. A few extracts:
Within twenty pages I was hooked. Fletcher is an accomplished stylist. He writes with levels of subtlety and quietude that are rare in the world of horror fiction…powerful enough to make your skin crawl. – Bookmunch
Fletcher writes with an engagingly light touch, in an artfully meandering style which reflects Edie’s numb, perplexed state of mind. – Starburst
A study of the mundane, but also of deep, dark legends and again miscreant human behaviour. It’s a kick-in-the-teeth to formulaic horror for sure, and, damn the small-gods of trite-prose, may we blessed for it…We are enjoying a steady renaissance of British Horror fiction my friends, and Tom Fletcher is up there the best of them in punching a hole through the mundanely cobbled pulp we’ve been dealing with this past decade and beyond in a hearty, healthy manner. – Spooky Reads
Click on the links for the full reviews. There’ll be more to follow.
Spooky Reads have also interviewed me recently; you can find that here. And Richard Hirst (known on Twitter as @vivmondo) discussed horror fiction in general with Alison Littlewood and myself for his podcast series Bookish. Follow that link for more information and details of how to download it.
I want to run a giveaway to celebrate THE RAVENGLASS EYE coming out. I’ve only got one copy left, but I’ll bundle it with a copy of THE LEAPING and a copy of THE THING ON THE SHORE as well. So one prize, but all three books. Actually there are four books – I’m also including a copy of a short collection that was published by the Lancashire collective They Eat Culture, in 2010. This was published to celebrate the first birthday of Preston’s very successful monthly live-lit night, Word Soup, and it includes work by Mollie Baxter, Peter Wild, Socrates Adams, Nicholas Royle, J.A. Brunning, and Sarah Hymas, amongst others (such as myself). And it was edited by none other than Jenn Ashworth. It’s a bit special because it was never put up for sale; it was a free gift for attendees at the party. As such, it’s very limited edition.
All four books will be signed and / or personalised. Or drawn in, or doused in fake blood, or singed, or whatever. Whatever you want. Just let me know.
To be in with a chance, leave a comment below. I’ll draw the winner at random from all the commenters one week today; that’s Wednesday 14th November.
So – thanks for reading, and good luck!
PS – I’ll send the prize anywhere in the world, you don’t have to be a UK resident to enter.
The Endist 
WANT.
sounds great for a winters evening
ooo this sounds good! A story from Ravenglass that isn’t about the la’l ratty! I look forward to reading it under the covers with a torch – the way all such books should be enjoyed!
They look amazing. And sound thoroughly intriguing. Also congrats on a successful house move, there is nothing more stressful.
Sounds like a good book! Count me in.
I wrote the bookmunch review – surely that makes me an automatic winner. Or not. I don’t mind.
Hello Fran! Pleased to meet you. And thank you for that review. As for winning… well, you might 🙂
good work Tom.
what do you get if you cross a buzzard with a former UN leader?
Bueto Bueto Ghalli
Your bird jokes were the best thing about working in that call-centre, Luke. Thanks for the comment, and the reminder.
good work Tom.
Bueto Bueto Ghalli
Your fonts are very nice.
The cover fonts? Thank you. I really like them – keep meaning to ask what they are, but haven’t yet.
Singed like a primary school pirate map?
That’s exactly what I was thinking of, yes. Singed and dipped in old cold tea.
Also want.
Oooh, lovely. Will throw my proverbial hat in the ring.
Sounds great. Pick me, pick me!
Want, want, want … Lived in Ravenglass (down by the sea gate) and still work at Muncaster). I knew there was something odd about the place. 🙂
My husband and I came to a reading you did from The Thing on The Shore at a cafe I can’t remember the name of in Manchester last year. My husband, who rarely says anything positive about anything, was moved to remark how good he thought your writing was. He also said that you had a very good speaking voice. Two compliments in one night – unheard of. Pick me and you may be responsible for another run of uncharacteristic positivity, for which I would be very grateful.
I would LOVE to win personalised copies – what a badass contest!
I really enjoyed The Leaping and I’m fascinated by your interview answer about the abject in your fiction. If you’ve written further about the abject in horror, I’d love to read it.
Thank you, Kirsty! Im glad you liked The Leaping. As for the abject in fiction, I haven’t really written further about it, though I do think about it a lot when I’m writing. Maybe there’s a blog post in it…
Hi Tom. Just finished reading your book – BRILLIANT. I have visited Ravenglass annually since I was 16 (I am now 60). It all started because of a book and TV series by John Rowe Townsend. His book from 1969 was adapted for TV in 1972. The setting was mainly in Ravenglass although fictionally it was called Skirlston. I was fascinated by the place and still am. Your descriptions of Raqvenglass are spot on and that, for me, enriched the story. I have published two books about Ravenglass – one in 1990 and the other in 2010. More of the same please.