Piers Warren's Blog

Is Norfolk the most haunted county in England?

2012-02-02T03:01:00.000-08:00

One of the first ghost stories based in Norfolk that I heard was that of Black Shuck. For some reason the story captivated me and stayed with me until, years later, I wrote the book Black Shuck: The Devil's Dog. But by then I had learnt that Norfolk has more ghost stories and hauntings associated with it than anywhere else, earning it the title: the most haunted county in England.

This notion was often promoted in the magazing Paranormal Norfolk which was produced from 2005-2007 - sadly no longer continued. Having finished writing Black Shuck, which drew both on my experiences as a wildlife film-maker and of the North Norfolk Coast, I was on the lookout for another local legend to base the sequel on. I was spoilt for choice! First there are many evocative and spooky place names around Norfolk, such as Tombland, The Devil's Throat and Grime's Graves, but also a whole host of scary stories such as the Ghost Fiddler of Binham Priory (Fiddler's Hill), the beheaded Lady Ann Boleyn riding through Blickling Estate, the White Lady of Gunton Park, the Pump Hill Ghost of Happisburgh, the Phantom Coach of Long Stratton, the Brown Lady of Raynham, the Children of Wayland (Wailing) Wood ... And so the list goes on. A great book exploring these legends is The Lore of the Land by Westwood & Simson.

So, if I decide that all future spooky adventures of Harry Lambert (the protagonist in Black Shuck) are to be based in Norfolk, I will have no shortage of material to draw from. The sequel is underway!

The Hound of the Baskervilles

2012-01-03T03:44:00.001-08:00

Was Norfolk's Black Shuck the black dog that inspired
The Hound of the Baskervilles?

One of the first ghost stories based in Norfolk that I heard was that of Black Shuck. For some reason the story captivated me and stayed with me until, years later, I wrote the book Black Shuck: The Devil's Dog. It was only later that I heard that Black Shuck may indeed have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write one of his most famous Sherlock Holmes stories: The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Apparently in 1901 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took a golfing holiday in West Runton and Cromer in Norfolk where he heard the tale of Black Shuck. The following year he published The Hound of The Baskervilles, so it's not surprising that many have though his inspiration came from the Norfolk legend.

For some reason Conan Doyle replaced Norfolk with the wilds of Dartmoor as the setting for the book, but his description of Baskerville Hall certainly bears a likeness to Cromer Hall.

Although there have been many classic film and TV versions of The Hound of the Baskervilles, there is a fresh and growing interest in Conan Doyle's stories thanks to the BBC series Sherlock, written by Mark Gatiss and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. The second programme of Series 2 is entitled The Hounds of Baskerville and is to be broadcast on BBC One on 8th January 2012.

And the interest in all things Sherlock and hounds is also leading to a growing interest in other tales of hellish black dogs ...

The Momentum is building!

2011-11-24T03:28:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened since Black Shuck was launched just a month ago. Demand in Norfolk (and Suffolk) bookshops is high and are now being supplied by our new distributor Linden Crescent Marketing (thanks Tony Baker). The shop that has sold the most copies so far is Stratton Long Maritime in Blakeney - where much of the book is set.
A list of shops currently stocking the book is now shown at http://www.wildeye.co.uk/black-shuck/order.html and new ones are added almost daily. Of course the book can be ordered from any bookshop and also direct from the website, postage free.
We are now hastily organising a reprint - didn't imagine we'd be doing that within a month of launch!

The reviews so far are fantastic - and great to hear from local readers who know the area well.

The book has also gained the attention of Reality TV Guru and Ghost Expert Dean 'Midas' Maynard - who wants to help turn the book into a film - the is great news as I saw the story as a film right from the start...

Launched and beyond

2011-11-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

The launch of Black Shuck was fantastic. The Book Hive was full and buzzing and after the readings there was a queue for signed copies.
Since then increasing numbers of bookshops are calling for copies and sales are going well.
Great to see reviews asking for a sequel ...

Launch Set for 27th October

2011-10-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

The launch is set!
27th October at 6.30pm at The Book Hive in Norwich http://thebookhive.co.uk/
Please come, have a glass of wine or juice, and listen to a reading from Black Shuck: The Devil's Dog.
You'll also be able to buy signed copies of the book in time to read for Halloween!

The Book Hive is Norwich’s new – and only – independent bookshop. Beautifully re-designed and renovated, as well as being filled with fantastic art and furniture, the building houses two floors of books with wonderful views over both London and Bedford Street. The Book Hive can be found at
53 London Street
Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1HL

Copies and Reviews

2011-08-26T02:28:00.001-07:00

The advance copies of the printed paperbacks has finally arrived - great to have the product in the hand!

Review copies have started going out and we already have the first review - by Pete Jennings for Pagan Dawn magazine: "Evocative descriptions of the North Norfolk coast ... powerful word pictures ... a memorable climax, and some believable characters colouring the tale ... a good read, and an encouragement to look for paw prints in the sand"

New cover design

2011-06-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

The new cover design has finally been finished and is on its way to the printers. Its been difficult as everyone you ask has a different opinion about it! I'd like to say I'm happy with it and the that's the main thing - and I am happy with it - but will the reader be happy with - that's the main thing! What do you think? You can see it at http://www.black-shuck.co.uk

The Blogging has begun

2011-06-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

A new blog to celebrate the forthcoming publication of Black Shuck (Halloween 2011). Here you can keep track of my thoughts during the publication process.