Some exciting news about my first novel, THE NEEDLE IN THE BLOOD. The novel is fifteen years old this year and has a new lease on life, thanks to the Norwich Business Improvement District and their Book Benches project.
The book cover features an image of Aesop’s Fable of the Fox and the Crow from a 15th century manuscript in the British Library. This fable is referenced more than once in the mysterious margins of the Bayeux Tapestry, the making of which is the subject-matter of The Needle in the Blood. It seems the needleworkers, who were largely from the conquered Anglo Saxon population, used it to convey secret subversive messaging of resistance to the conquering Normans, and this is something I have played on in the novel.
I’m delighted to say that the original publisher of this book, Emma Barnes at Snowbooks, who has a special place in my heart for having put her faith in a first-time writer all those years ago, has brought out a new edition of the book to celebrate its reincarnation in stone.
For readers in the Norwich area, ‘my’ bench is located on Rouen Road, outside the Julian Centre and chapel. It is a particular honour to find myself sitting outside the cell of the anchoress Julian of Norwich, the first woman writing in English ever to be published. Her Revelations of Divine Love was first published in 1670 and has remained in print ever since. Not a bad record! If you do pass by the bench, I’d love to see a selfie of you with it.
A copy of the book for whoever snaps my favourite. So go on, tag me on Instagram at @sarahabower with your stone poses.