I Saw Three Ships and Other Winter Tales

Set against a bleak, windswept peninsula on a storm‑blown Christmas morning, this collection opens with the curious tale of three mysterious ships that appear on the horizon of a small West‑Country parish. Inside the humble church of Ruan Lanihale, the parishioners—fiddlers, a weary parson, and the mischievous Zeb Minards—trudge through snow and fog, their conversations peppered with humour, superstition, and the odd hint of something uncanny. As the weather howls outside, the first story unfolds, introducing a stranger who seems to know more about the ships than anyone else.

From there the book drifts into a series of vivid winter sketches—mirrors that reveal unexpected reflections, haunted dragoons roaming the moors, and a blue pantomime that blurs the line between performance and reality. Each vignette is narrated in a lively, colloquial voice that captures the rhythm of local dialects and the intimate gossip of a close‑knit community. Listeners will find themselves wrapped in the chill of the sea, the glow of candlelight, and the timeless charm of folk tales that linger long after the last note fades.