Lowestoft is gaining a new literary reputation as the setting for a captivating fantasy romance series that brings together magic, adventure, and familiar town landmarks. Alice Taylor, a former mayor of Lowestoft and proprietor of The Rum Lot bauble shop in Kirkley, has authored “The Return of the Tribes,” a 13-book cycle blending elements of fantasy and romance with modern-day Lowestoft as its backdrop. The series features elves, orcs, and magical intrigues set against the town’s contemporary scenes, making the local geography almost a character in its own right.

Taylor, who brings a diverse background to her writing, has lived around the world and worked in various fields, including military intelligence where she was a Russian language interceptor, marketing and advertising, as well as academia, lecturing in digital graphics, animation, and video game design. Holding a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and qualified to teach in both the UK and the USA, her multifaceted experiences inform her storytelling. She returned to her hometown of Lowestoft, where she runs The Rum Lot, and began writing the series initially as a promotional tool for her shop. What started as a simple project quickly expanded into a full-fledged 13-book series.

The first four books—titled “The Queen and Elves Come Here Anon,” “I Do Wander Everywhere,” “And I Serve The Fairy Queen,” and “A Venturous Fairy”—are already available to readers online and on Amazon Kindle. The books weave in local references, including a journey on the Lowestoft sailing smack Excelsior, charming readers familiar with the area and adding a layer of authenticity to the fantasy.

Taylor described the evolution of her writing journey in an interview, saying that it “all got out of hand” after starting with the intent to promote her bauble shop. Now, the full story cycle offers a rich tapestry of romance and fantasy adventure, drawing readers into a blend of the familiar and the fantastical.

The series’s availability on popular platforms like Amazon Kindle and the official shop website has provided accessibility beyond the local reach of Lowestoft, potentially expanding the town’s profile through the lens of fantasy fiction. Given Taylor’s unique position as both a business owner and author, her work exemplifies how local culture and personal history can be intertwined in creative expression.

Through “The Return of the Tribes,” Lowestoft joins the ranks of real-world settings reimagined with mythical elements, inviting a wider audience to see the town as a place of enchantment, conflict, and romance. The blend of everyday life with mythical creatures such as elves and orcs offers an intriguing contrast that enriches both the fantasy genre and the representation of the town in popular culture.

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Source: Noah Wire Services