Local author Linda Hampton (Sailing To The Moon), hosted the launch of a unique collection of writings last week – Seaside Shuffle. As a contributing writer to the collection, she tells Blackpool Social Club readers how work from local writers manifested into a new publication
It was a packed house at Tea Amantes Community Arts on Albert Road in Blackpool, as many of the 37 Blackpool-based-or-connected writers, and friends, piled into to celebrate the culmination of nearly a year’s work, the publication of the anthology Seaside Shuffle – an eclectic mix of writing styles, and points of view all summoning the spirit of Blackpool.
Back in September 2025 Anna Paprzycka, proprietor of Tea Amantes, put a call out on social media for local writers to submit poems, stories and memories inspired by Blackpool with the vision that they might eventually be collected in a published book. The message took time to spread and by the deadline of the end of September the number of submissions was quite low. Anna was not deterred, and, still believing in her vision, in January 2026 a second call went out. This time it spread far and wide and the submissions came tumbling in.
An eclectic mix of pieces from childhood memories, fictional offerings with a Blackpool theme, poetry with nostalgia for what’s past, homages to what Blackpool stands for, and demonstrations of the resilience that prevails despite the negativity the town often receives from those who don’t really know the place at all.
As creatives we all know that we have the ability to create something out of nothing – something that did not exist before. Everyone has this potential as a human being, but it takes determination and tenacity to see an idea through to its creation. Our respect and gratitude go to Anna for believing so passionately in her idea.
Anna shared her lightbulb moment with local writer, David Hogarth (Rise and Shine, Little Man and Partly Sane, Prose Merry and Rhyme). David in turn approached his publisher, Ellis Delmonte, owner of Blackpool based Hawkwood Books, who agreed to come onboard to curate and ultimately publish the collection. Thereby began the labour of love, negotiating hurdles along the way, as life itself, thankfully, rattled on.
At our celebratory gathering we were delighted to meet and hear from Ellis Delmonte. It’s not often writers get the opportunity to meet a publisher in person. Ellis talked to us about the publishing industry and its pitfalls and pulled no punches in telling it like it is. We acknowledged that as a publisher, he must be used to communicating with authors, but these are usually restricted to just one per publication. In the case of Seaside Shuffle, Ellis was communicating with no less than 37 contributing writers, all of whom were pinging emails back and forth in response to the proofs Ellis shared with us. We appreciate his patience and express our gratitude for his generosity in taking on this project.
Anna, David and Ellis made this project happen but only when local writers rose to the challenge. Congratulations are due to all 37 contributors.
If you couldn’t make it to launch then you are invited to our event at the Mirrie Dancer Bakery and Café, on Wood Street in St Annes on Sunday 16th August 1.30 till 3.30pm. Free entry. Some of the writers will be on hand to talk about their experience of being in the anthology and to read extracts from the book.
Carolyn Clapham from independent bookshop Storytellers Inc has kindly agreed to come along and sell copies of Seaside Shuffle at the retail price. All are welcome.
Personally, I am delighted to have several pieces in the collection and to be published alongside so many talented local writers.
You can order Seaside Shuffle from your local Waterstones or any good bookshop. If you’re local to the Fylde Coast it’s good to support our independent bookshops Storytellers, Inc. or Plackitt & Booth Booksellers. The book is also available online from Amazon and other online retailers. Order your copy now £9.99.
Photography: Anna Paprzycka
