I’m delighted to wish Allie Cresswell a successful launch following the publication of The Standing Stone on the Moor part of The Talbot Saga series. The novel fits between The Lady in the Veil and Tall Chimneys, and is the story of Betsey and Frank Harlish who reside at the Gatehouse.
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What’s the Book About?
Yorkshire, 1845.
Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.
Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.
Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.
Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?
As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.
The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?
A tempting extract – meet the Golightlys
The Golightlys were a jolly, not-at-all sophisticated family, lynchpins of the local community. Now they clamoured up the path of the vicarage arguing good-naturedly, obviously very excited about the evening ahead of them.
The drawing room at the vicarage was small, fashionably cluttered with diminutive tables draped with lace doilies, cabinets stuffed with curios, numerous bookcases and a plethora of occasional furniture. It was soon made to feel much smaller by the Golightlys’ arrival; they were all stout and constitutionally ungainly. They jostled in the doorway for a time, stopping it up like a cork in a bottle before suddenly all popping through the aperture with great velocity, causing a collection of fine china figurines to chime and tremble in their cabinet. The Golightlys laughed very merrily at their clumsiness, looking around them the while with bright and expectant eyes, and their good humour—along with the distinct aroma of the spices, tobacco, tea and coffee that was their stock-in-trade—further filled up the room. Beth found herself pressed breathlessly against a bureau and Edgar had to brace himself against the hearth for fear of being squashed into the fireplace. The vicar’s family stood their ground however, staunchly occupying the centre of the carpet in the face of the buffets and manoeuvrings of their guests, like the last remnant of a battalion at the close of a particularly epic battle.
They all shook hands very cordially, instantly dispelling the combative air. The vicar’s wife motioned to the maid that drinks should be served…
What do early readers think?
“This is a romping good tale with pace, energy and some fantastic twists and turns.”
“A gritty tale, reminding me of Catherine Cookson both is style and story.”
“Full of description and atmosphere, fascinating folklore and rich layers of intrigue.”
“A fabulous addition to the series, an engaging and very enjoyable read, a book to immerse yourself in.”
“The Standing Stone on the Moor is as much a story of dislocation, displacement and bigotry as it is romance. The characters are beautifully drawn, the landscape and changing weather strikingly described. This really should be made into a film.”
(All comments taken from Allie Cresswell’s Facebook page)
About the Author
Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil. She gained a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London. She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners. She has two grown-up children, one granddaughter and two grandsons, is married to Tim and lives in Cumbria.
