Cold Fish Soup
On July 9th 2021 it was announced that my manuscript, Cold Fish Soup, had won the NorthBound Book Award at New Writing North’s annual Northern Writers’ Awards. It was published by renowned publisher Saraband books on August 4th 2022.
Cold Fish Soup is a memoir in essays, reflecting upon different aspects of life in my former hometown, the Yorkshire coastal resort town of Withernsea. Told across ten interconnected personal essays and charting a course from my adolescence right up to COVID times, these are stories of life, death, interdimensional werewolves, burlesque dancing pensioners and problematic compulsions. Described by readers as “a Yorkshire David Sedaris writing The Outrun”, the book asks, what does it mean to love and be shaped by a place that is dying?
Cold Fish Soup can be purchased from Bookshop.org, Amazon, Blackwell’s, Hive and all good book shops. It was published in the US on October 18th 2022 and is available here.
Below are a selection of images from my research trips along the Yorkshire coast for the writing of Cold Fish Soup, funded by a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England.
View of South Promenade, Withernsea
Withernsea
Pier Towers, Withernsea
Pier Towers, Withernsea
Goodwin Caravan Park, Withernsea
East Yorkshire bus depot, Withernsea
Dean Wilson on a pebble walk, Withernsea Beach
Dean Wilson on a pebble walk, Withernsea Beach
Dean Wilson on a pebble walk, Withernsea Beach
Withernsea beach, Withernsea
Eroded cliffs reaching landfill site, North Withernsea
Eroded cliffs reaching landfill site, North Withernsea
Eroded cliffs, North Withernsea
Memorial Avenue, Withernsea
Memorial Avenue, Withernsea
My daughter and her friend, Withernsea Arcades
Arcade Carpet. Smiles for Miles, Withernsea
Fantasy Island, Memorial Avenue, Withernsea
My daughter and her friend, Game King, Withernsea
My daughter and her friend, Game King, Withernsea
Seasiders Fish and Chips, Withernsea
Cafe Premier, Withernsea
Beaches Cafe, Withernsea
Beaches Cafe, Withernsea
My parents in the Sunshine Caf (with excellent mural), Withernsea
Portions at the Sunshine Caf, Withernsea
Portions at the Sunshine Caf, Withernsea
Portions at the Sunshine Caf, Withernsea
Discount underwear, Queen Street, Withernsea
Queen Street, Withernsea
Second hand/craft market inside the old Smiles for Miles arcade, Withernsea
Wire crab, Withernsea
Souvenirs to raise finds for the new pier, Pier Towers, Withernsea
The sign that greets you as you enter town on the B1242, Withernsea
Entrance sign for Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
My father and animals, Withernsea
Millie, Withernsea Beach
Millie, Withernsea Beach
Millie, Withernsea Beach
Shelter, Withernsea Promenade
Pier Towers viewed at dawn across Valley Gardens, Withernsea
Erosion impact at Golden Sands Holiday Park
Angela's Chalet, Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Angela's Chalet, Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Withernsea
Ruby Red Performers
Ruby Red Performers, Hull
Ruby Red Performers, Hull
My sister Becky's solo spot, Ruby Red Performers, Hull
Ruby Red Performers, Hull
Ruby Red Performers, Hull
Ruby Red Performers, Hull
Withernsea Lighthouse
Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
RNLI Museum, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Kay Kendall Memorial, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Kay Kendall Memorial, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Cafe, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
View down the stairs, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
View of the stairs from below, Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
View from the top of Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
View from the top of Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Certificate for climbing to the top of Withernsea Lighthouse, Withernsea
Spurn Point Nature Reserve
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Spurn Point Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire
Filey and Flamborough
Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Night writing, Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Erosion evidence on Filey beach
Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Millie, Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
Sunrise on Filey cliffs, looking to Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs
Sunrise on Filey cliffs, looking to Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs
Sunrise on Filey cliffs, looking to Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs
Swimming at Flamborough Head
Swimming at Flamborough Head (nearby seal not pictured)
Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head
