The original idea for this collection was to produce something to showcase the work of the members of the 'Ellipsis Writers .' group. All of the authors live and work in the Peak District and a number of the pieces in this collection reflect this in their choice of the geographical setting. With 26 short stories and 5 poems we hope there's something for everyone. From Rosie Gilligan we have, among others, 'The German Bridge'. It does exist and inspiration for this story came from my research for a feature in local magazine Reflections on local prisoner of war camps in Clay Cross and Belper. 'The Biscuit Barrel' was inspired by a piece in the Derbyshire Times about a local farm, and by what happened to a friend when she rented her property to a film company. Gaynor Lynn Roberts offers ''Mrs Malloy's Mystery Bikers', which was inspired by the bikers who meet in Clay Cross and Matlock Bath and who are no longer young.
'Life for a Life' is set against the background of Matlock in the early years of the 20th century when Riber Castle was a school, Bank Road had a tramcar and women wore cloche hats. 'Of Slugs and Snails' is for all those who struggle to keep Hostas safe in their gardens. The spooky 'Listening Walls' is set in rural Derbyshire. 'The Landscape Gardener' was inspired by seeing the broken glass of greenhouses at Tapton in Chesterfield as well as the beautiful transformations that landscape gardening make to our local roundabouts. Celia Renshaw's contributions include ' 'The Last Hill', which is about a favourite place in the Penwith peninsular of Cornwall - Chapel Carn Brae - full of ancient remains and echoes, especially under a late-evening, summer sun. 'Red-Brown Hair' was inspired by a Dylan Thomas short story. Best read with a Welsh accent in mind. ''Goddess Potato' was inspired by a friend's loss of her long-time partner and the annual Potato Day in Chesterfield Market.
From Steve Hewitt we have 'The Treasure of Arbor Low', an imagining of what might have happened there long ago. Many moors across the country have legends or myths about devil dogs and I decided it was about time Howden had one of its own in 'The Howden Hounds'. 'Blue John' is loosely based on fact but was inspired by the continuing uncertainty about how the famous stone acquired its unusual name. Sue Pacey's 'A Dying Art' began life as a writing group exercise whilst 'Diplomatic Immunity' grew from a 'What if?' moment and considers how the privileged are able to get away with things. Not in this case. 'The Revenge of Science' is about children with the awful affliction of progeria. There is still no cure. 'Flight of the Cranes' was inspired by Man's inhumanity to man.
When we talk of war, are we guilty of seeing the bigger picture, or just the politics?.