Celebrating publications inspired by Cornwall’s captivating landscape
05 March 2026
This World Book Day and St Piran’s Day we are celebrating five recent and upcoming publications crafted by Falmouth students, staff and alumni, all of which have been directly inspired by Cornwall’s natural landscape, heritage and history.
Whether it be the myths and legends born from Cornish folktales, the captivating scenery that permeates the landscape, or the slower pace that life by the sea can offer, Cornwall as a location is one that fuels creativity and imagination, as proved by these recent examples of published works that inspire, uplift and reimagine.
Various short stories published on Mazed Tales by Falmouth’s School of Communication students
Four students from Falmouth’s School of Communication have recently had stories written as part of a new creative writing module, ‘Innovations’, published on the short story website, Mazed Tales. Taking inspiration from Cornish folktales and myths, the students retold these stories while considering different parts of the local landscape, creating their own version of both popular and forgotten myths.
Madison James, Alex Jefferis, Jessica Robinson-Jones and Dolly Nash all study across Falmouth’s BA(Hons) Creative Writing, BA(Hons) English & Creative Writing and BA(Hons) Journalism & Creative Writing courses. Alex Jefferis shared how his story, The True Tale of Morgawr is a reimagined version of the classic folktale of Morgawr, Falmouth's legendary sea serpent. “In my retelling we delve into the story of how Morgawr came to be and how a Cornish witch cursed the local witch hunter into becoming the beast, forced to forever swim the seas.”
He added: “I'm born and raised Cornish, but we were taught so much history and folklore that I didn’t know about! This module helped me to both learn more about my hometown and discover new myths and legends that I’ve grown to love.”
The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw
For BA(Hons) English & Creative Writing alumna Rachel Greenlaw, the setting of her popular dark academia romantasy has been described as having been “heavily inspired by St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, a tidal island that is cut off from the mainland at high tide.” The island captured Rachel’s imagination and became the primary influence for the school where the novel takes place, with its likeness captured on the novel’s cover.
When asked how living in Cornwall has been an inspiring backdrop for her writing, Rachel shared: “It’s naturally so beautiful, with a rich history and landscape to explore, but also, it’s so quiet. You need the quiet to hear your own thoughts.”
The Notted Island by Katherine Child
For BA(Hons) Illustration and MA Illustration: Authorial Practice alumna, Katherine Child, her debut children’s book The Notted Island was released last autumn after the author and illustrator was inspired by Cornwall’s calming and thought-provoking landscape.
“I loved Falmouth for both the illustration courses and the area. I never wanted to leave, but work took me out of Cornwall. While I was a student, I spent a lot of time wandering the coast paths, daydreaming, rock pooling or snorkelling and doing those things stood my work in good stead. The Notted Island is imbued with the Cornish landscape.”
Gullduggery by Gretchen Viehmann
Course Leader for BA(Hons) Documentary and Editorial Photography, Gretchen Viehmann, published the third instalment of her much-loved trilogy last summer, a book that anthropomorphises seagulls with light-hearted humour. The series has taken inspiration from Fowey, Gretchen’s hometown in Cornwall, and more specifically, the gulls that inhabit it.
The book is a celebration of the seagulls that are part of the Cornish landscape, bringing attention to their significance in Cornwall by reimagining the world as if they are in charge. “I live in Fowey, right by the river, so my entire life is populated by gulls”, Gretchen told us. “But what really prompted it was the fact that I love to watch people getting their food stolen by the gulls—it entertains me no end!”
Currently in production is MA Professional Writing lecturer Wyl Menmuir’s latest non-fiction book, Seaworthy. Due to be published in hardback in early 2028, the book is directly inspired by the Cornish landscape, as it follows Wyl’s personal experience of sailing from his home in Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly, a journey that becomes a quest where he hopes to make both himself, and his vessel, seaworthy.
The neglected sixty-year-old boat is currently being renovated at Falmouth’s National Maritime Museum Cornwall before Wyl plans to set sail this summer, travelling past iconic Cornish landmarks as he makes an adventure of improving his mental health. The book is an exploration of what being ‘seaworthy’ means in all its forms, with Cornwall at its very heart.
Leading photo credit: Charley Coleman, BA(Hons) Photography.
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