Why Iken?

Marshes and Memory

Walking along the marshes near Iken, I feel the wind tug at the reeds and taste the brine carried from the estuary. The church sits quietly on its ancient foundations, as if it has watched centuries pass and quietly stored their stories. There’s a weight here - not oppressive, but insistent - a sense that the land itself remembers.

Being here draws me into reflection. I’ve moved through different lives - from London to quieter spaces, through emotional journeys and work supporting people in moments of vulnerability. Those experiences, layered with the ordinary and extraordinary, make me attuned to places that hold more than meets the eye. In Iken, the past and present coexist in ways that feel almost alive, like whispered guidance for anyone willing to notice.

I’m at a stage in life where reflection comes naturally - in my early fifties, looking back with clarity at the paths I’ve chosen, the challenges I’ve faced, the resilience I’ve witnessed in others. All of that shapes how I write, how I observe, and how I respond to places like this. The quiet strength of the marshes, the river’s persistence, the church’s endurance - it all resonates differently now than it might have a while back.

For the sequel to The Leiston Riddle, The Iken Icon, this is vital. Suffolk isn’t just the setting; it becomes a character in its own right. Its whispers, its shadows, and its layered histories will shape the questions my characters ask and the secrets they may uncover.

There’s more to come, of course - more reflections, more discoveries, and perhaps more surprises than I expect myself. But for now, standing here in the hush of Iken, I can feel the story beginning to take shape.

The sun has just slipped below the horizon, and the marshes are a silhouette against the fading light.

The wind stirs the reeds, carrying whispers of past lives and forgotten stories. In this hush, I feel both small and connected - the kind of quiet that invites reflection, and sometimes, unexpected inspiration for the story I’m slowly uncovering.

🌾🌙⛪