Welcome to Northern Wordsmiths

‘Strange Tales are These’

By Sheila LaNewton (it’s my Pen Name)

Finally, in September 2025, my Seven Short Stories, ‘Strange Tales are These’ was published. 

It was a cathartic moment in my life. Oh, my, I was OVER THE MOON.

The whole journey was an enjoyable one. Getting those creative juices flowing. Letting my imagination fly. And I worked damn hard at it, TO BOOT!

Front cover

Back Cover

I’m chuffed to bits for all the help from –

… fellow bloggers, Ellen, Chelsea and Liam, for critiques, friendship and love.

 northernwordsmiths.com Here, you can also read lots of great fiction from Sheila, Liam, Ellen and Chelsea.

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And I’m eternally proud of – and grateful to – the following people:- 

… the talented and lovely Leah, for the amazing front cover artwork.

…Amanda (A. Winter), tutor and mentor, for the lyrical and splendid intro.

… Dr Mike Hollows (friend, tutor & author) for penning the fabulous foreword.

…published + budding authors at NTC Creative Writing Group, North Shields.

… Georgia and Heidi etc. at Professional Writing Academy, and their continued support of PWA alumni via the Fiction Foundations course (in conjunction with New Writing North) of which I’m (I hope!) a productive`member.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BELIEVING IN ME!

You can order copies of ‘Strange Tales’ online @ Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones and Foyles for under a tenner (£9.99). I believe Ebay also has access to copies (costs a little more, though!)

Photograph by Chelsea Hall at Northern Wordsmiths ‘Sit and Write’ and Meet-Up place – 

Café Amsterdam, Whitley Bay (Proprietor, Andy Hickson) THANKS ANDY!