Lowestoft Chronicle Press books are available from all good retailers, or you can order them directly from us if shipping to a United States location. Email us at shop@lowestoftchronicle.com to inquire about volume discounts and international shipping.
Hessman’s Necklace
ISBN-10: 1732332851
ISBN-13: 978-1732332850
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | June 30, 2025
List Price: $16.95 US | $23.95 CAN
Kindle Edition | $6.99
“An excellent analyst of noir writing, Nicholas Litchfield has now written a terrific mystery novel of his own. Hessman’s Necklace combines the impeccable plotting of The Maltese Falcon with the canny post-modernism of Chinatown. In it, a flawed ladies’ man, an enigmatic beauty, and an acquisitive man of the cloth join a hunt for an artifact that exposes fault lines of corruption and perversion in 1950s America. Suspenseful, savvy and self-referential, Nicholas Litchfield’s Hessman’s Necklace soon will be added to the canon of enduring noir novels.”
—LAURENCE KLAVAN, Edgar Award winner, librettist of Bed and Sofa
“Ray Stokes walks the meanest streets of noir territory in Nicholas Litchfield’s Hessman’s Necklace. But those streets soon become a cursed, corrupt path as he is sent by his boss to steal a valuable necklace. It should be a simple assignment, but when Stokes encounters it around the neck of a woman as hard as the diamonds themselves, his descent into darkness truly begins. A cracking great read!”
—JAMES R BENN, author of The Phantom Patrol
“Hessman’s Necklace is an engaging romp through a time of stylish noir, the late 1950s, an era of wise guys, whiskey, and wild women all tangled up in crimes that often turn violent. The cars are fast, the talk is tough, the guns blaze. Nicholas Litchfield lovingly recreates an atmosphere in which tough guy Ray Stokes, jaded crook and cocky ladies man, gets more than he bargained for. This gripping story is well worth the read.”
—MARK JACOBS, author of A Handful of Kings and Stone Cowboy
“Nicholas Litchfield brings his noir characters to life with Chandleresque dialogue and Dashiell Hammett twists. A fun, fast, five-star read.”
—MICKEY J. CORRIGAN, author of What I Did for Love and Project XX
“Crackling dialogue and a depraved cast of characters make this a noir thriller you can’t put down.”
—ART BELL, author of What She’s Hiding
“Hessman’s Necklace is a fast-paced enjoyable read. I pictured the anti-hero Ray as what a young Philip Marlowe might have been like, if Marlowe was hungover, had fewer moral scruples, and had turned his skills to crime instead of detective work. I won’t give it away here, but
trust me, the ending is fraught with suspense and surprises.”
—ROBERT GARNER McBREARTY, author of A Night at the Y and The Problem You Have
When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed
ISBN-10: 173233286X
ISBN-13: 978-1732332867
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | April 1, 2025
List Price: $17.95 US | $24.95 CAN
Kindle Edition | $6.99
“Pulsating with danger and menace, and infused with sharp-edged English humour, this excellently exotic adventure is the literary equivalent of a made-for-Hollywood big screen delight!”
—Pam Norfolk, YORKSHIRE EVENING POST
“When the Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed is for readers who like their thrillers with grit, grime, and a side of dark humor. It’s a wild ride through the underbelly of the film world, complete with egos, accidents, existential crises, and gunshots. Definitely recommended for fans of noir, black comedy, and stories where everything that can go wrong does, and then some.”
—LITERARY TITAN
“Nicholas Litchfield’s novel pans across the seedy side of movie-making. As Dominic Graves, a struggling actor with a killer smile, gets pushed and pulled through scenes shot in the heart of Montevideo, he quickly learns his big break will leave marks that aren’t part of the script. Litchfield’s entertaining and gritty novel reads like a 1970s car-chase shot with a handheld camera, full of jolts and scrapes and Technicolor chaos.”
— ADAM BERLIN, author of Belmondo Style and All Around They’re Taking Down the Lights
“A cinematic page-turner about Hollywood gone by, movie-making, and a throwback to a golden era of hard-boiled stories of noir and shadows, questionable morals, devious sins, and the unforgettable characters that made that world their own.”
— CHRISTOPHER COSMOS, bestselling author of Once We Were Here and Young Conquerors
“Litchfield writes with sardonic vigor.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Fans of edge-of-the-seat thrillers filled with exotic settings, non-stop action, and a cast of ambitious artistes battling fears, egos, insecurities, and daily disasters, will relish Nicholas Litchfield’s pulse-pounding novel, When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed.”
—THE STAR
“Author Nicholas Litchfield holds nothing back in this edgy romp through actor Dominic Graves’ efforts to stay sane and alive while reaching for fame. Ceaseless action and witty dialogue whip the reader through Dominic’s crazy life at a cyclone pace as the weeks of shooting unreel and the director assures Dominic that he has that ineffable “star quality” (if he only survives). Wounds, copious blood loss, and bruises both real and faked by the makeup artist blur together in this unrelenting peek into filmmaking hell.”
— LINDA BOROFF, screenwriter of Murder in Fashion
“This tale of a down-on-his luck actor, so desperate for work that he accepts to play the male lead in a film directed by a well-known sadist, is fast-paced, violent and horrifying. It’s a made-for-Hollywood novel that testifies to the author’s familiarity with the conventions of movie-making and his ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I couldn’t put it down.”
— MARY DONALDSON-EVANS, author of Madame Bovary at the Movies
“[A] riveting story. The plot is well-paced, with an absolute gem of an opening that guaranteed my continued reading. Dominic is an engaging character, and I couldn’t look away as he immediately began making a series of unfortunate behavioral choices and what he experienced once on set. The behind-the-scenes glimpses of film creation were interesting, and the discussions around the practical aspects, especially the safety concerns for those involved, were fascinating.”
—KAREN SIDDALL, Reedsy Discovery
“Litchfield’s intense and topical drama sizzles like charred meat over hot coals, eventually erupting into a massive blaze of mesmerising chaos. Amidst the thrills and spills, readers encounter a cast of well-defined characters whose actions and voices manage to rise above the risible film script.”
—LANCASHIRE POST
“A refreshingly different take on international thrillers. Litchfield makes the most of his South American setting in this cinematic page-turner that will keep you engrossed to the very end.”
— TIMOTHY J. LOCKHART, author of Smith and Pirates
“Take ambition, greed, and a dash of corruption and mix them thoroughly on a movie set. Place it in a hot climate until boiling, and you will have the recipe for Nicholas Litchfield’s entertaining novel.”
— SHELDON RUSSELL, author of the Hook Runyan Mystery Series
Unfamiliar Territory
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 1732332843
ISBN-13: 978-1732332843
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | January 31, 2025
Available for pre-order
“Unfamiliar Territory is the latest release from the Lowestoft Chronicle, a collection of short stories and poems which are bound together by the theme of travel through foreign lands. Ranging from the poetic to the meditative to the fascinated and fascinating, there is something within this book to appeal to many different styles of readers, whether they are frequent travelers or have never left their hometown. The collection also has a substantial amount of creative nonfiction, and this is where I found it to truly shine. Unfamiliar Territory will likely appeal most to those who are already fans of the Lowestoft Chronicle’s work, though hopefully it draws a few new fans to the publisher as well. I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for more of their books.”
—Jo Niederhoff, San Diego Book Review
“This short story collection pulls you from whatever chair you sit on and plunges you deep into the true essence of life, bringing to the fore the themes of love, friendship, family, parenting, death, and human daily struggles. Also contained in this collection are interviews and poems, all agreeably complementing the stories. While Unfamiliar Territory is fun to read, it also offers valuable lessons, especially to writers—particularly those who love short stories. I felt inspired and learnt how to craft engaging short stories, all thanks to these wonderful authors. The interviews also offer insights that would be beneficial to writers.”
— Kennedy Odindo, Reedsy Discovery
A Place to Pause
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 1-7323328-3-5
ISBN-13: 978-1732332836
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | October 31, 2022
Special Offer: $14.95 US | List Price: $17.95 US
“A Place to Pause is a wonderful collection of work from the fine literary journal, the Lowestoft Chronicle. Anyone who loves travel writing, or just plain good writing, will enjoy the variety of voices and situations chronicled here. Fresh, original, unpretentious, these writers and their work take us to a surprising number of physical and emotional places. A pure delight.”
— Jim Daniels, award–winning author of Places/Everyone and Birth Marks
“A Place to Pause is a delightful blend of captivating stories that inspired me to step away from my desk and experience all the vast glories beyond our screens.”
—Brian Sacca, actor and screenwriter of Buffaloed
“The latest in a series presents 32 pieces with settings that range from Africa to Asia to North America, with many stops along the way. The collection is evenly split between poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, with three interviews with authors added for background…[and] delivers a certain uniformity in tone. Creative variations on a theme that often makes for vibrant reading.”
— Kirkus Reviews
An Adventurous Spirit
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 1732332827
ISBN-13: 978-1732332829
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | October 31, 2022
Special Offer: $14.95 US | List Price: $16.95 US
“A refreshingly original collection of sharp tales. Overall, it’s entertaining, varied, and clever writing.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“I know every serious reader is awash with excitement when they accidentally discover a treasure trove of excellent writing. This volume lives up to its claim of spirited adventure… The poetry also is remarkable. This book is a great find.”
—Julia McMichael, Seattle Book Review
“The collected works in An Adventurous Spirit invite the reader to come away on a journey, and what a journey it is! This anthology is a wide-ranging showcase of Lowestoft Chronicle’s writers, and the reader cannot help but be changed by this collective force. This line from the poem “Druich” by James B. Nicola truly captures the essence of the book, “Though overseas it wears a foreign face/ enchantment is enchantment any place.”
— Cat Dixon, The Good Life Review Poetry Editor
“Across continents and even states of consciousness, An Adventurous Spirit moves deftly, displays a remarkable range, and reminds us why we crave travel literature. Read and enjoy!”
— Charles Holdefer, author of The Contractor
The Vicarious Traveler
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 1732332819
ISBN-13: 978-1732332812
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | November 15, 2019
Special Offer: $11.99 US | List Price: $16.95 US
“Charm, a love of travel, often sly humor, and a clear reverence of story make up the backbone of Lowestoft Chronicle.”
— Keith Rosson, author of The Mercy of the Tide and Smoke City
“This cornucopia of riveting tales and vivid poetry lures a reader to myriad new destinations, both internal and external. The Vicarious Traveler beckons you to escape, and I savored every locale. From the richly drawn desolation of the Texas panhandle in Sharon Frame Gay’s “Song of the Highway” to the lush, bird-teeming lawns of “The Buzzing” by Philip Barbara; from the American nostalgia of “Mr. O’Brien’s Last Soliloquy” by Robert Garner McBrearty to the Turkish apple orchard of Dave Gregory, this collection abounds with amazing language, arresting insight, and sharply drawn landscapes. Fix a cup of tea and get ready to roam.”
— Linda Boroff, screenwriter of Murder in Fashion
“The Vicarious Traveler is a welcome travel-themed anthology that has something for everyone — adventure, crime, and humor all served up in sparkling prose and poetry. Editor Nicholas Litchfield has once again done admirable work in selecting and presenting a memorable miscellany of fiction, nonfiction, and verse that beckons to literary travelers and leads them onward from one entertaining stop to another, smoothly mixing the temptation to linger with the desire to race ahead and see what is next on this intriguing journey.”
— Timothy J. Lockhart, author of Smith and Pirates
Invigorating Passages
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536593
ISBN-13:978-0982536599
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | April 1, 2018
Special Offer: $10.99 US | List Price: $15.95 US
“Two things one wants from an anthology: everything should be different and everything should be good. An anthology of travel writing—generously conceived, like this one—should serve up a variety of trips to surprise and stimulate the mental traveler. Invigorating Passages delivers on all counts, hits on all cylinders too. Here you will find journeys not only to varied locales in space and time but into the inexhaustible intricacies of human psychology, adventures of all sorts and in every genre: poetry, nonfiction, stories. The writing is skilled, the choices rich, the passages manifold, and the invigoration unfailing.”
— Robert Wexelblatt, award-winning author of Zublinka Among Women
“Looking for drama, adventure and a taste of the exotic? Then look no further than the latest anthology from the refreshingly unique Lowestoft Chronicle, Suffolk’s leading literary journal. Invigorating Passages is a rare and dynamic literary collection which grabs readers firmly and sweeps them away to strange and exhilarating places, presenting intriguing situations, colourful characters, and making us yearn to strap on the backpack and go exploring.”
— Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Post
“A wonderful collection from a fine literary journal that transports readers to places they’ve never been. A plan for murder in Japan, a strange discovery in Austria, putting out fires in Portugal, lost on a motorbike on the backroads of Thailand, a shark encounter off Key West, a cruise to the Galápagos, and so much more. Fine writing that stirs the imagination, often amuses and always entertains.”
— Dietrich Kalteis, award-winning author of Ride the Lightning
“Invigorating Passages is a powerful literary passport — this adventurous anthology is all stamped up with exciting travel-themed writing. With humor, darkness, and charm, its lively prose and poetry will drop you into memorable physical and psychological landscapes. Pack your bags!”
— Joseph Scapellato, acclaimed author of Big Lonesome
Steadfast Trekkers
A Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology
ISBN-10: 1732332800
ISBN-13: 978-1732332805
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | September 30, 2018
Special Offer: $10.99 US | List Price: $15.95 US
Available now.
Grand Departures
Lowestoft Chronicle’s 2016 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536585
ISBN-13: 978-0982536582
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | November 1, 2016
Special Offer: $10.99 US | List Price: $15.95 US
“The stories, poems, and essays in Nicholas Litchfield’s latest anthology, Grand Departures, are haunting, idiosyncratic, and unexpected, like the true delights of travel.”
— Ivy Goodman, award-winning author of Heart Failure and A Chapter from Her Upbringing
“A father putting his life on the line searching for his daughter in the swamps of Florida, a girlfriend who finds her soul mate on a butte in the Badlands, a wife who tolerates her husband’s eccentricities in Vatican City, and a writer and his agent traveling from one bizarre topic to another to find the perfect, next thing in literature. These are only a smattering of the poignant and funny stories, memoirs, and poems found in this must-have collection of travelers’ delights and demons.”
— Nancy Caronia, contributor to Somewhere, Sometime and co-editor of Personal Effects
“An impressive collection of travel works that sweeps the reader across the globe. The characters here, though sometimes lost in distant lands and curious customs, never fail to be lost in wonder. Here is your ticket to travel with them, to lose yourself in these pages, to satisfy your inner nomad.”
— Dorene O’Brien, award-winning author of Voices of the Lost and Found
Other Places
Lowestoft Chronicle’s 2015 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536569
ISBN-13: 978-0982536568
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | July 1, 2015
Special Offer: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US | $18.95 CAN
“Other Places, a mouth-watering feast of short stories, poems, narrative non-fiction, and in-depth interviews, is the latest anthology from the much-admired Lowestoft Chronicle, an eclectic and innovative online journal of new writing focusing on travel and humour. Packed into the pages are stories to entice, enthral, and entertain. Marvel at the inventiveness of Mary Donaldson-Evans’s sparklingly witty ‘Curious in Corsica: A Tale of Two Couples’…Or be seduced by ‘Uprisings at Cap d’Antibes,’ Robert Mangeot’s acutely observed tale of revolution at a tennis academy in the glittering Cote d’Azur. Litchfield also serves up a tasty blend of pleasing and deftly prepared poems. They include Jay Parini’s stirring spiritual poem ‘Midrash,’ and the wonderfully clever, witty ‘Shooing Flies’ by David Havird. And if you still aren’t sated by this literary banquet, tuck into Litchfield’s incisive and enlightening interviews with three critically acclaimed, multitalented writers. Other Places is the perfect holiday destination, offering truly original locations, a cast of unforgettable travellers, some fun-filled outings, and plenty of local colour.”
— Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post
“In the age of tweets and sound bites, it’s heartening to read Other Places: Lowestoft Chronicle’s 2015 Anthology, a publication celebrating the power and beauty of a story well told.”
— Sheldon Russell, author of the Hook Runyon Mystery series
“I really loved the latest anthology from Lowestoft, OTHER PLACES. It’s a brilliant, savory, sharp, amusing and varied taste of my favorite magazine, Lowestoft Chronicle. I’m delighted that a place exists for this kind of travel writing — if that’s a term for it. And it’s not a good one. This is just great writing about place, ranging from the spirit of place to the human spirit. Go anywhere with Lowestoft. And enjoy the trip.”
—Jay Parini, bestselling author of The Last Station and The Passages of H.M.
“OTHER PLACES is the usual delightful mix of stories, poems, author interviews, and non-fiction gleaned from the pages of the Lowestoft Chronicle, the only literary magazine I read on a regular basis. Always entertaining and insightful, OTHER PLACES is well worth your time, whether you’re a veteran traveler or a hermit like me!”
—James Reasoner, author of the cult classics Texas Wind and Dust Devils
“Armchair travelers, rejoice! Editor Nicholas Litchfield has released Lowestoft Chronicle’s anthology for summer 2015, Other Places. Filled with fiction, nonfiction and poetry about travel and destinations, the book brings the far corners of the world to the reader’s armchair. The stories and poems vary in tone from dead serious to delightful whimsy, offering something for every taste. Humor, adventure and mystery share the pages with intriguing result. Three author interviews interspersed among the articles add a personal element to the volume, as do the contributor biographies at the back of the book. Each entry reflects a different voice, so a discussion of the book’s voice must indicate the variety of perspective and subject matter. The casual reader may not love every entry, but will surely find several to love.”
—Mary Beth Magee, Examiner.com
“Sick of fly-by journalism and travel dilettantes? The antidote is Lowestoft Chronicle’s most recent anthology, Other Places—a collection of essays, stories, and poetry devoted to the in-depth experience of culture. Whether humorous, touching, or revelatory, these expertly curated pieces throw you in contact with the real.”
— Scott Dominic Carpenter, author of Theory of Remainders and This Jealous Earth
Somewhere, Sometime…
Lowestoft Chronicle’s 2014 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536577
ISBN-13: 978-0982536568
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | March 15, 2014
Special Offer: $9.95 US | List Price: $12.95 US | $14.95 CAN
“The latest collection of prose and poetry from the Lowestoft Chronicle is a genuine pleasure. Take it with you on your next trip, no matter how far or flung. Nicholas Litchfield has put together something very special, something to celebrate, enjoy, savor.”
— Jay Parini, bestselling author of The Last Station and Why Poetry Matters
“What a lovely book. Well designed, thoughtfully laid out, and with a grand assortment of content. I’m flattered and honored to be in the mix.”
— Matthew P. Mayo, Spur Award-winning author of Tucker’s Reckoning
Intrepid Travelers
Lowestoft Chronicle’s 2013 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536542
ISBN-13: 978-0982536544
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | June 1, 2013
Special Offer Price: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US
“Intrepid Travelers is an exhilarating, uplifting and offbeat journey to the world’s most exciting and exotic locations; a paean to life’s adventurers, those plucky, inspirational souls who travel to enjoy rather than to arrive. From frank and fascinating interviews…to poetic musings on piano playing, an Ice Age grotto and those terrifying moments of plane take-off, Intrepid Travelers is a coruscating cornucopia of humour, drama and big, beautiful adventures. Highly original and entertaining. Don’t miss it!”
— Lancashire Evening Post
“Without a single stinker or filler piece in the bunch, this wonderful 160-page ‘little’ anthology definitely bids well for the strength of work the online magazine version must regularly publish. I was extremely impressed, after reading it, with the variety and quality of the writing. There’s something here for everyone to check out between novels while on vacation or holiday, a lunch break, or even while you’re waiting to board a plane, train or bus. Intrepid Travelers is a solid collection of funny and fine travel-themed stories, poetry, essays and interviews that easily fits in a back pocket or carry-on bag.”
— Examiner.com
“Refreshing and well-written, Intrepid Travelers takes the reader to a wide variety of literary destinations, and makes even a confirmed hermit like me want to get up and go somewhere. Highly recommended.”
— James Reasoner, Rough Edges
Swampjack Virus
ISBN-10: 0982536550
ISBN-13: 978-0982536551
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | October 21, 2013
Special Offer: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US | $16.95 CAN | £10.95 GBP
“A fast-paced, well-plotted and gripping 21st century espionage thriller…Litchfield paints a pitch perfect portrait of a delightfully offbeat US spy who bucks the trend by coming out of the heat and into the cold. Swampjack Virus, with its ironic undertones, charismatic cast and nail-biting suspense, takes us on a high-speed, rollercoaster journey from the opulent colonial lake houses in New York State to the slate-grey industrial towns and bleak back lanes of England. Don’t miss the all-action adventure…”
— Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post
“Bond fans take notice: With Swampjack Virus, Nicholas Litchfield has penned a fast-paced spy-guy thriller filled to the brim with suspense and old-school intrigue. Swampjack Virus will leave readers shaken, stirred …and thirsty for more.”
— Matthew P. Mayo, Spur Award-winning author of Tucker’s Reckoning
“Swampjack Virus possesses all the qualities of a classic thriller. It is taut, intense and engaging from start to finish. Litchfield gives us a tale well worth our time.”
— Michael C. Keith, acclaimed author of The Next Better Place
Far-flung and Foreign
The Lowestoft Chronicle 2012 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536534
ISBN-13: 978-0982536537
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | March 1, 2012
Special Offer Price: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US
“A tip of the hat (sombrero, fez) to Lowestoft Chronicle for fueling our urge to turn off Jersey Shore, toss our cell phones into a lake, and go embrace this amazing planet of ours. Bon Voyage!”
— Franz Wisner, New York Times bestselling author of Honeymoon with My brother and How the World Makes Love
“Nicely laid out … eclectic … humorous pieces with an emphasis on travel, hence many of the works take one to far-away and exotic places. I immensely enjoyed ‘The Adventures of Root Beer Float Man’ by Michael Frissore. For poetry, try Wayne Lee’s ‘Ordinary Deckhand.'”
— NewPages
The Sad Man in the Sports Car
ISBN-10: 0982536526
ISBN-13: 978-0982536520
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | March 1, 2012
Special Offer: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US | $16.95 CAN | £10.95 GBP
“This short, quirky and rather downbeat novel centres on the lives of two eccentric upper middle class English bachelors and their quests for sex, love and success …the reading pleasure lying in the pair’s exchanges and musings on life and, in particular, the fairer sex. The twin protagonists come across as carefully-carved caricatures (viciously incisive ones at that) …in a book otherwise to be savoured.”
— WritersBox.net
Lowestoft Chronicle 2011 Anthology
ISBN-10: 0982536518
ISBN-13: 978-0982536513
Trade Paperback | Lowestoft Chronicle Press | June 1, 2011
Special Offer: $9.99 US | List Price: $14.95 US
“This is a fine anthology that I found both provocative and enjoyable. Highest praise: it made me want to write short stories again.”
— Luke Rhinehart, author of the cult classic The Dice Man
“All things considered, it might just be a very good thing if the Lowestoft Chronicle were to achieve their goal of world domination.”
— Cheryl LaGuardia, e-Views, Library Journal