The Launch of The Shadows of Barnard Castle, Halloween Night 2025.
The Barnard Castle Writing Group gathered at McNab’s Books, Barnard Castle for the official launch of The Shadows of Barnard Castle, a collection of ghost stories and the group’s second anthology.
McNab’s Books was suitably adorned on Halloween Night to create an appropriately spooky atmosphere for the launch. Over thirty people came to listen to readings by some of the book’s contributors and absorb the sense of ghostly presence in this iconic book shop.
The compilation came about from an exercise set by the group for Halloween 2024. The group decided to bring out the compilation for Halloween 2025. A member, James Hilsdon, established Kingsgrave Publishing Company with the intention of publishing further anthologies and supporting individuals in publishing their own books.
Martyn Radcliffe opened proceedings by explaining that all the short stories were written with wit, craft, and a keen sense of atmosphere. Just imagine sitting around a Victorian fireside sharing poetic storytelling where each voice adds a shiver to the spine.
The assembled audience was enraptured by Joanna Long and Tabitha James reading of their works, Beneath the Stones and Deus Mentium respectively. Both were applauded for the spooky rendition of their tale, and the inevitable twist at the end.
People commented that this was one of the best Halloween Nights they had experienced. It is good to know that there is so much writing talent locally and the book showcases this talent and gives Barnard Castle a louder voice in the writing world.
The group invited people to listen to further readings on Saturday 1st November. Other members of the group read their works, chatted to people who had come to listen to the readings and learn more about the group and browse the bookshop.
Linda Bird
Barnard Castle Writing Group 