Moon, Snow, Blossom: Wintry Folk Tales from Across Japan is a book of reimagined Japanese stories that I co-wrote with my friend Laura Sampson. We had loads of fun bringing together our different knowledge and experience – of Japanese culture and language, poetry, noh and folklore – to research and write the book. It will be published by Elliott & Thompson on 29 October 2026 and as you can see it is completely gorgeous! Here’s the short description:
Winter in Japan. A time to gather and delight in the ancient tales of mountain spirits and restless ghosts; to wash away the old year and usher in the new. From wondrous creation myths to stories of eerie fox-fires, frost-bitten legends of the deep north to tales of foolhardy fishermen off the southern coast, join Erica Hesketh and Laura Sampson on a journey through deep drifts of Japanese heritage and culture.
We’ve had some really lovely responses from other writers:
‘Beautifully told, evocative tales that capture the wonder of winter and bring Japanese folklore to life with care and respect.’ Dee Dee Chainey
‘These beautifully crafted wintry tales will make you shiver, ponder, and belly laugh, and will enrich your understanding of humanity. Essential bedtime reading.’ Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana
‘Truly the perfect companion for a winter’s evening.’ Bernadette Russell
‘Tells the old stories with dedication and a wry smile. A beautiful addition to any bookshelf.’ Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
Hear a snippet from the book!
Listen to Laura singing from the story-ballad ‘The Jewel That Never Turns Away’.
Buy a copy
You can pre-order a copy from all good bookstores!
Come to a book event
Laura and I are going on a little tour in the autumn, please see the Events page for more details.
Collaborations
Working with other artists is so much fun, and I’m always looking for my next project. I’m particularly keen to work across genres and artforms, for example by bringing my words together with another artist’s music or visuals, or stepping away from my comfort zone into a third space like dance or sculpture. Do you like experimenting as well? If so, please reach out – maybe we’ll find something fruitful to work on together.
