In the third instalment of this blog series, we meet three more of the writers and creatives who have delighted us with their imaginative and inspiring stories as part of the Local Winter Story Trail...  

The trail - which has attracted press coverage from both Manchester and wider Derbyshire media - runs over the festive period until 6th Jan, so grab your free map and follow the magical trail to discover the hidden poem.   Find out more from three writers who were all paired with wonderful hospitality venues within Glossop...

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‍Beth Cartwright & Harvey Leonard's  

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Beth Cartwright grew up in Glossop and went to Glossopdale School. She has strong ties to the town and her great-grandfather used to be the mayor. She has written and published two magical realism novels with Penguin Random House. Her debut, Feathertide, was released in 2020 followed by The House of Sorrowing Stars in 2022. She is currently working on her third novel.  

"The Winter Trail is a lovely way to engage with the local community and I am delighted to be involved" said Beth.

"Glossop must have many quietly creative people hidden away, and events like this one help to increase visibility and promote their work.  

"For me, writing is a solitary process and always a silent one. Creating a story of no more than 300 words was a challenge, but thankfully an idea appeared out of nowhere and took me by surprise. This project is about place, which is how I always begin my stories. I imagined bottles and labels and magic, and from there, a story emerged..."

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Simon Moore & Napoli  

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"I was drawn to A Local Winter Tale Trail with the lure of endless possibilities" said Simon, an unpublished author and freelance writer who has recently finished his first novel.

"Stories are a gateway to parts of yourself, and other people that you never dreamed existed. This project is a chance to see the place I live through other perspectives, spoken through unique voices. The opportunity to be one of those voices was too much to pass up.  

"The Door to Everywhere came from my favourite question: What If? What if the door to Napoli restaurant isn't all it seems? What if the things we take for granted are more than they first appear? Napoli has a clear window from Norfolk Square, so you can see the stairwell, the window dressings.  

"Possibility is a powerful thing - a door that could lead everywhere isn't a choice in itself. A door has to lead somewhere to make a story real - to Narnia, to the TARDIS, to Howl's Moving Castle. ‚'Anything' eventually has to be 'something' in order to matter. Love is one of my favourite themes to write about, and when I spoke with owner Mario Napolitano, it was clear that family and love are a big part of his restaurant's appeal and success. Two lovers searching for one another seemed as appropriate a theme for an Italian restaurant as anything in the world. The rest poured out very easily. I hope the story captures your imagination, the way Glossop has mine."  

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Keli Tomlin & About Thyme   

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Keli is a non-fiction writer who has an intense fascination with traditional folk and fairy tales.

"The symbols and archetypes in these kinds of story speak a fuller kind of truth than the most accurate, detailed descriptions of a being or place can" commented Keli.

"They reach us in a place of deep imagination and understanding, one that we tend to have greater access to as children. There is something universal about them, their power and appeal, which can cross languages, cultures and generations and aligns very comfortably with my animistic sense of all beings on this planet being interconnected.  

"When I started work on the Winter Story Trail, I was excited to interconnect with other writers and creatives and local business owners. I also fully expected to take the opportunity to flex my non-fiction skills by writing an evocative, dare I say, poetic description of my assigned place and its people.  

"When I visited About Thyme however, I immediately realised that a folk/fairy tale style would suit far better. The cafe's colour palette and energy are bright and animated; the birds on the wall and the fish on the milk jugs speak to a sense of joy and whimsy that is embodied by the young team of staff. The heart of the cafe runs deep, it is built on a thriving sense of family and community, and these vital elements are embodied by a living symbol: the owner's young niece Alma, their unofficial mascot!  

"Allma and the strong connections that About Thyme has with its community and its regulars required the symbols and deep imagination of a folk tale to hold its power and appeal. There is an innocence to this story, a simplicity that leaves space for plenty of imagination, joy, and whimsy, through which I hope you will discover the genuine warmth and welcome you can expect at About Thyme."

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Pick up a free map from KIN.DER, Dark Peak Books, George Street Books or the Library.