A novel about spiritual crisis & awakening. Explore the extras & behind the scenes here…
I slammed the front door behind me, swept through to the living room, and flung myself on the sofa. Jonah was composing on his synth at his computer in the corner, headphones clamped to his ears. He slipped them off and spun his chair to face me. ‘What happened?’ he said, looking worried. ‘He’s a… Continue reading Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 2
In autumn, the cobbled paths around Ouseburn are slowly transformed into a carpet of orange leaves. It’s like following the yellow brick road. Here’s some photos around the valley at this most colourful time of year: (click on the galleries to see the photos full size)
As soon as I walked through the supermarket doors I wanted to turn around and walk out again. I was still feeling jangled from my latest encounter with weirdness, like my skin had been pulled off. It was early, so Morrisons wasn’t too busy, but the light still hurt my eyes and the vacuous music… Continue reading Addled Chapter 8: The Ultimate Subversion – part 1
Fragmented images flashed and swirled about me, none of them lasting long enough to decipher. It was the tail end of a convoluted dream that had confused me even while I was having it, and I wanted to wake up and get back to reliable, linear reality. At last, I struggled into consciousness and lay… Continue reading Addled Chapter 7: Thumbprint of God
The lights had been up since October but it was only with the Big Day looming, that the mania set in. Everybody was getting stressed. I’d already had three desperate calls from panicked clients freaking out over poultry or puddings or oversized trees. Town was heaving. I dribbled forward like a snail, squeezing between crazed… Continue reading Addled Chapter 6: False Pretences
I was walking into Heaton, my backpack heavy on my shoulders, when my mobile rang. I knew it was Danny without looking and braced myself for the onslaught. Reality had penetrated the fug in his head and he wasn’t happy. ‘I’m not abandoning you, Dan. You’re not a child.’ I hung up feeling guilty. Then… Continue reading Addled Chapter 5: Maya
Wandering around Ouseburn you often come across unexpected things. As Zoe describes it in Addled, the area is “an evolving time capsule, an oasis of animals and art in the centre of town.” Here’s a glimpse of some of the most curious or arresting images I’ve stumbled across: (click pics for a closer look…) For more… Continue reading Street Art of Ouseburn
I stood before the open wardrobe and ran my eyes along the desultory collection of clothes huddled inside. Moving out was the perfect opportunity to get rid of my junk. There was stuff in here I hadn’t worn in years and couldn’t remember buying. I was going to have to be systematic and ruthless. Jonah… Continue reading Addled Chapter 4: Little Miss Ouseburn
Addled: Adventures of a Reluctant Mystic is a novel about spiritual awakening in a crazy world, and how the crisis of spiritual emergency can become an awakening. The story follows reluctant mystic Zoe Popper on her quest for inner peace and self-knowledge. Addled explores the line between mysticism and madness using the philosophy of Zen… Continue reading Addled Now Out in Paperback!
I took this shot of the old town wall on a beautiful sunny day, wandering around the city with my camera. But I didn’t notice the graffiti until I looked at the picture later – a perfect image for Addled. Zoe builds a wall around herself to protect her from the chaos she feels will… Continue reading Graffiti: Decay or Love?
The tide was coming in at Tynemouth and the water-logged sand reflected the cold blue sun, dazzling the handful of hardy dog walkers trudging up the beach, wrapped tightly against the wind. Their dogs ran and leapt and barked at the sea, which crashed and rolled as it advanced. Jonah and I ran down the… Continue reading Addled Chapter 3: Three Scary Monsters
Addled mostly happens in Newcastle, but the story begins on the other side of the river in Gateshead. Zoe Popper marches down Bottle Bank to cross the Tyne, before entering the Pitcher & Piano bar where the action kicks off. The word bottle is Saxon and means a house or habitation, which shows that Bottle… Continue reading Zoe’s Guide to Newcastle: Bottle Bank
Jessica Davidson 