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Clare Howdle

@clarehowdle

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Writer and ocean obsessive. Debut novel The Wreck Keeper out 2028 with @bloomsburybooksus and @manilla_press. Rep'd by @laurielitagent

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BOOK RECOMMENDATION!

‘Hirethow’ by @clarehowdle (@hermitagepresscornwall )

I absolutely loved this debut collection of short stories. Inspired by the Cornish word hireth, that deep, aching sense of longing for something lost or just beyond reach, this is a wonderfully imaginative exploration of love, loss, identity and belonging.

What makes these stories so remarkable is Howdle’s use of the surreal and symbolic. The strange and unexpected weave their way through everyday lives, creating something wonderfully original, yet always rooted in recognisable human emotions and situations.

There’s also a quiet power to these stories. They surprise you, make you think, and then catch you off guard with their emotional depth. I loved how the surreal elements never overshadowed the humanity of the characters. Instead, they seemed to give voice to feelings that are often impossible to explain.

Beautifully strange, thought-provoking and unexpectedly poignant, I finished this collection feeling genuinely emotional. And perhaps that is the real magic of Howdle’s achievement: even after the stories end, something of their longing becomes your own.

❤️❤️❤️

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Slow Scenes from the gorgeous Lighting Little Fires evening hosted by @strangercollective at @potager_garden on Thursday 🔥 🌳

There’s something very special about these annual events, and after each one I leave reignited with the intention to pursue more creative projects… this time it’s the @mslexia novel competition which happens to close tomorrow, but maybe that’s just the kind of motivation I need to get my creative writing juices flowing! (with just the right level of delusional… I expect many people have been working on their submissions for months 🤦🏼‍♀️)

Firelight talks by @fauziamusa and @oceantemplerecords after the sun went down especially helped me revisit my most whimsical, creative parts and decide that yes, of course art is *worth making* ✨✨✨

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I’ve loved these three wonderful book launches of three wonderful books in three weeks:
@clarehowdle Hirethow at @falmouth_gin - a book of short stories each of which is a unique wonder that nevertheless somehow flows from the last and to the next
@nathalieabiezzi All the Lives at @morocco_bound_bookshop - a moving story of Doris as a child, a young adult, a wife in London, Baghdad & Beirut
@clareowenwriter Creatures of a Brief Season at @barsilocornwall - another beautifully told story of blurring boundaries between two very different lives that allow for transformation 🦋
I love all three & can’t to justice to any in so few words so recommend a big read!

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Thanks to @hermitagepresscornwall @clarehowdle @thetrevaskis . It's so nice to have work selected for the cover of this fab book and not just any book. Hirethrow, is a collection of short stories by @clarehowdle exploring longing, yearning, nostalgia based on the writer's connection to Cornwall. Her first solo collection of life spanning stories.

Thanks for @hermitagepresscornwall for choosing the work and making it happen.

I love the collaboration and the design. The bold yellow which sets behind the main design of one of my woodblocks ' Spring fireworks' which is from a larger body of work tilted 'Greenhouse & Stone'

#bookcover #design #print #cornwall

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Join us! Tickets via the Shrew Books website (link in bio) xx

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Woohoo...guess what we now have in stock??
HIRETHOW is in our window and on our shelves so pop in and grab a copy or two of this bold short story collection by @clarehowdle ...

#shortstories #lifespanning #localauthor #cornishauthor

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Thoroughly enjoyed the Just Write weekend hosted by @thewritingretreat.co.uk and going to @clarehowdle’s book launch @loveday_distilling for her new collection of short stories published by @hermitagepresscornwall. This weekend was fuelled by @kathmorganwriter and Jane Moss’s inspiration and grub.

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🔥 A spark of an idea. Flames of inspiration. Firing up imaginations.🔥

This year, Stranger Collective’s Firelight turns 10.

We’ve been lighting our fires – with around 500 people in total sharing ideas around them – in gardens, woods, boatyards, quarries and beaches all over Cornwall since 2016. A decade on, we’re excited to be celebrating by seeing Firelight on a national stage, as part of the @d_and_ad ‘Dead or Alive’ event series:

🔥Lighting Little Fires, @potager_garden on Thursday 17 September 🔥
(with delicious food from @potagergardencafe )

Speakers include @fauziamusa @stevexoh @yasgeorgiou and more to be announced over the coming weeks.

We’re mixing up the format for this special event – and a limited number of tickets are now on sale (although we’ve sold almost half of them already!). Find out more and bag your place at our fireside(s) through the link in bio.

#dandad26 #keepingcreativityalive #firelight #cornwall #strangercollective

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This week on Creative Fieldnotes, we were incredibly lucky to be joined by Cornwall’s very own wordsmith, Clare Howdle!

We chatted about Clare’s varied writing career, her experience working in the creative industries, and the invaluable advice she has for anyone looking to build their confidence with words. Ceda and I were both fortunate enough to be taught by Clare during our time at Falmouth University, so it was a real pleasure to catch up with her. We can’t wait for you to hear her insights and words of wisdom.

You can find Clare at @clarehowdle and @strangercollective, as well as on her Substack: https://clarehowdlewrites.substack.com/.

Tune in to Source FM 96.1 this Saturday at 12pm to hear our conversation live, or catch up afterwards via the link in our bio. Happy July folks! 💛 #cornwallcreatives #cornwall #radioshow

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Writing Through Chaos with Clare Howdle and Hannah Ray
Thursday 9th July 11am

Trying to write while life is loud? Expect a candid, eye-opening conversation between fiction writers Clare Howdle (Stranger Collective partner, Telltales founder and Professional Writing lecturer) and Hannah Ray (freelance writer and editor, formerly employed by The Guardian, Instagram and Substack). Real talk, practical sparks and zero-hustle culture so you leave feeling fired up, understood and ready to keep going.

Although this session is focused on writing, it’s just as relevant for artists, creatives or anyone else who has to work between deadlines, family responsibilities and the general noise of midlife. If you have ever wondered how on earth others keep going, then this event is for you!

As published fiction writers and professional creatives, Clare and Hannah will talk candidly about developing a sustainable practice when time is scarce, imposter syndrome is rife and the stakes often feel higher. Expect practical insights and real-world reveals rather than abstract advice. The conversation will cover self-starting (and re-starting), staying motivated when progress feels slow, and actively pursuing publishing opportunities — from submissions and pitching to learning when to create your own momentum instead of waiting to be “chosen” by elusive gatekeeping. They’ll also explore the opportunities and tensions of juggling creative writing alongside day jobs, including how professional skills can be both a gift and a challenge.

With a generous, informal Q&A, the audience will be invited to bring their own questions, frustrations and hopes so everyone leaves feeling energised, validated and ready to keep going.
Full line up and tickets available on the LitFest website (link in bio). Or phone 01736 363545 or in person at the Acorn, Penzance weekdays 10am-4pm
#literaryfestival #IAmWriting #bookfestival #Cornwall @clarehowdle @hannahray

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Last night was a wonderful celebration, with a room full of wonderful, creative, passionate people.
Congratulations @paultm_author for the official launch of Cornwall Uncharted, with beautiful illustrations by James Innerdale.

Liskeard Library was a fantastic venue, with excellent hosts. The room was bursting with laughter and conversation 🥂

Lovely to catch up with familiar faces, writing friends, and the brilliant Katrina from @westlooebookshop and Emily from @blackcatbooks2024

Thanks for keeping me company @emilycharlotteeditorial and @paularooneyauthor 🥰

I have my copy and cannot wait to dive in! 🌈

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