 Dark Winds over Wellington is the debut collection from author Tabatha Wood (who also designed the atmospheric cover art for the book). Tabatha although now living in New Zealand is originally from England, and displacement is a running theme throughout her collection, which melds together the folklore of New Zealand with Tabatha's more gothic style of writing. Nature and environmentalism are also strong themes running through this collection, nowhere is this seen more strongly, than in Neighbourly a tale about how when civilisation encroaches on nature, then nature may just creep back. In this story there is again a strong sense of displacement, the family having moved from the city to the country struggle to ingratiate themselves with their new neighbour who blames them for the destruction of the trees that were cut down to build their house (the fact that the house has had several owners prior to them is no excuse in her eyes). But as well as their new neighbours vendetta against them, the family struggle with the small differences between their new and old lives, the story opens with the line "Oh my God Mum! Come here! There's a thing on the doorstep." The thing in question being nothing more than a harmless bug. That revulsion of the other. Of bugs and creepy crawlies which although may look disgusting are in fact harmless, is often juxtaposed against our own acceptance of those that look like us (although those people may not be as harmless as they appear), and our distrust of those who we perceive as different. In my favourite story in this collection The Things You See those threads of nature, otherness and displacement are exquisitely entwined. The story's unreliable narrator who informs us that their "brain got broken", and their attempts to understand the corruption that is at the heart of their country and at the heart of those who are supposed to protect it and its citizens, is horror at it's best. The Things You See is a wonderful example of the epistolary style of story, and Tabatha certainly hasn't been scared to use different styles of writing throughout her collection, Mongrel for example is written purely in dialogue, "Are humans classed as red or white meat?" "What?" "Are humans..." "No, I heard what you said, I'm just disturbed by the content." Dark Winds over Wellington is an ambitious debut collection and I look forward to reading more by Tabatha in the future. Tabatha Wood lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her husband and two boys. A former English teacher and school library manager, her first published books are non-fiction guides aimed at teachers and others who work in education. She now teaches from home, while writing in her spare time. Born in Whitby, North Yorkshire, Tabatha has always had a passion for weaving strange, unusual often gothic tales, entwined with her deep love for the land and sea. She strongly encourages the use of writing and creativity for positive mental health, and runs a group which supports women who write for wellness. She also hosts writing workshops, often gets involved in cosplay charity events, and enjoys knitting and making jewellery. Her debut short story collection "Dark Winds Over Wellington: Chilling Tales of the Weird & the Strange" was published in March 2019 as an eBook and is available from Amazon and Smashwords. Dark Winds Over Wellington Welcome to Wellington, the Coolest Little Capital, where nothing is quite what it seems. Strange creatures lurk in the shadows of the Beehive, while a Beast arises From The Deep determined to destroy us all. Being Neighbourly might just change your life, and if you listen closely you can hear demonic Whispers in the wind. So sit back, take a sip of A Good Cup of Coffee and question all The Things You See. In the city there are no Second Chances and every chapter might be your last. Inspired by Wellington legends and folklore, these thirteen original short stories will drag you on a chilling journey through the eerie, the weird and the strange.    Comments are closed.
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