Lisa Schneidau & Rebecca Beattie - Roots and Rituals: Stories of Trees, Fire and Folklore

The Bookery is delighted to welcome two acclaimed Dartmoor authors, Lisa Schneidau and Rebecca Beattie, for a captivating winter evening exploring folklore, nature, seasonal traditions and our enduring relationship with the landscape. Inspired by their new books, Tree Folk and The Season of Frost and Fire, the event will bring together two writers who share a deep connection to Dartmoor and a fascination with the ways people have long understood and celebrated nature through story, ritual and imagination.As the evenings draw in and winter approaches, their conversation will range from ancient woodland tales and seasonal customs to winter rituals, forgotten goddesses and the enduring power of folklore. Together they will explore how stories have helped generations of people make sense of the natural world, marking the changing seasons and deepening our connection to the landscapes around us.Tree Folk takes readers on a journey through the wheel of the year, uncovering the folk tales, songs, myths and traditions associated with the trees of Britain and Ireland. From oak and rowan to more recent arrivals that have become part of our landscapes, the book reveals how trees have inspired, protected and accompanied generations of people through changing times. Rich with storytelling, history and ecological insight, it shows why trees continue to occupy such a powerful place in our cultural imagination.The Season of Frost and Fire explores the hidden magic of winter through thirteen seasonal rituals, folklore, forgotten goddesses and stories of transformation. Rooted in the landscapes of the South West, the book invites readers to discover the warmth, wisdom and renewal that can be found during the darkest months of the year, encouraging a deeper appreciation of winter as a season of reflection, creativity and change.Lisa Schneidau is a professional storyteller, ecologist and acclaimed author whose previous books include Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland, Woodland Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland and River Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland.
Rebecca Beattie is a Dartmoor-based writer, Wiccan priestess and teacher whose books include The Wheel of the Year and The Way Through the Woods.Roots and Rituals promises to be an atmospheric and thought provoking evening, uncovering the stories, beliefs and traditions that continue to connect us to the natural world.
Both authors will be signing copies of their books following the event.