Mythical Britain

A lost part of York, but like the old John Bull of years gone by, still haunting in its former presence.

Stained glass showing Pope being tempted by the devil.

The devil’s in the detail at York’s church of Saint Denys. Not even the Pope was immune it seems. #StainedGlassSunday

Painting of four nuns

Four Poor Clares - Just love these four nuns by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, ca 1325. At once peaceful and beautiful, they transfix you at a glance.

Death of a publishing dream: how the Unbound revolution b... The literary disrupters enjoyed great success with their crowdfunding model, signing authors that other publishers overlooked. And then the money ran out…

My publisher, Unbound, went bust last week and I’m left trying to find a way forward. The books they produced for me were wonderful but everything else was a lesson in how not to behave. I’ve never seen anything like this in all my own years in independent publishing. observer.co.uk/news/busines...

Thank you Alex!

Path through a hornbeam wood

Hornbeam woods, rock hard and wonderful. A Hertfordshire speciality!

NEWS FLASH! Scientists stunned as fossilised wedding cake stage re-used as font proves Yorkshire dinosaurs celebrated marital union - official

Fifteenth century font in Hertfordshire

#FontsOnFriday - an elegant and intricately sculpted fifteenth century font at St Mary’s church in the remote village of Rushden in Hertfordshire. Special!

Is the castle for Cnut? Just asking.

Doorway at King’s Manor in York

#AdoorableThursday - Centre for Medieval Studies, King’s Manor, York. A door I’ve been through many times in learning of the past.

Castle ruins at Sheriff Hutton

Castles in the landscape. One of my very favourites - the haunting ruins at Sheriff Hutton and a former seat of the Nevilles; dramatic and powerful as they dominate the Vale of York. Perfect! #Castles

Tomb in churchyard lit by sunrays.

A spectral moment in the morn, some spiritual encounter. All at once a soul reborn by light from realms unknown. #TombTuesday

As we know from Unbound…

They’re dead now and the company finished on Friday with everyone laid off; you’ll have to get your stock back from MDL in Basingstoke if they’ve not told you already (which it sounds like they haven’t). It’s all so depressing.

Castles in the landscape

Linocut print of standing stone with Pictish inscriptions by Michael Smith of Mythical Britain

The Craw Stane, Rhynie, Scotland for #StandingStoneSunday; a granite monument with Pictish inscriptions of a salmon and a whale-like beast. One of many linocut prints I've produced of standing stones and prehistoric monuments. To see similar, please visit www.mythicalbritain.co.uk/prints-of-st...

They’ve actually gone into liquidation. I don’t think they’ll be rescued this time. 9 years of my own writing life wasted - and being ignored by the so-called CEO for the last 6 months was the last straw. Onwards.

The last few months have been horrendous at Unbound as matters unfolded. The book production side of the business was always great but the strategic management was absolutely appalling, and frankly has been for years. They created a great model then systematically set about dismantling it. Crackers.

Elizabethan doorway in York

One of the many lovely surprises when wandering around the King’s Manor at York. A delight for #AdoorableThursday

Ha! I have one of those somewhere! Timpo overmoulding was one of the wonders of the 1970s; a lost art in toy making for sure (although I believe Britains’ tried something like it briefly).

The White Horse all wonderful watching the vale while England lies stretched out below. The spectacular view which greets the visitor to Uffington hillfort. #HillfortsWednesday

Chambered cairn of stones

A quiet site for Arthurian games; the boutique Carreg Coetan Arthur in Pembrokeshire, Wales where the great king himself once played at quoits. Apparently. #TombTuesday

Jersey cows lying down in a field

Cowzat!?! A small herd of Jerseys waking up to a new week on the Ash valley. Such attractive animals!

Giant sculpture on hill

Giants in the landscape! I’ve always loved this reclining figure at the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire. It’s haunting presence really speaks of an older time, in particular its location on a hill like some old chalk figure.

Lake with trees

Over new pits to Easneye, that Saxon ness beyond; this ancient view, once long ago, inspired Angles to describe it.

Ah, Terry’s of York - a purveyor of precious pleasures and so wonderfully packaged to the end. Such quality memories; the Truffle Bar and 1767 were particular favourites! If only Kraft’s hideous greedy shadow hadn’t cast itself on York and stripped it all away.

Where England bends and slowly moves upon the eastern shore; a silent life, some sullen snake, at Humber’s yawning maw.

Behold the shingled shifting shore, where ships come soft by night! Raedwald, roving, rests his feet to watch the far horizons.

Devon’s spirit all in green, in shade and mossy dampness; Rachel has a real feel for this most wonderful county.

Wow! That is one massive achievement! Well done in selling these through; what a shame Unbound put internal systems and developing unworkable (and totally unnecessary) computer systems ahead of the simple things of publishing like selling books. You’ve put them to shame.