Mere with Danielle Giles

We’re thrilled to welcome author Danielle Giles to Mr B’s to discuss her stunning debut novel, Mere.

Mere is a hypnotic historical novel set deep in the heart of the 10th Century Norfolk fens. It’s about fear and survival, power and position, and a love that takes hold in the darkest of places. It’s one that has been eagerly devoured by the Mr B’s team, cementing it as one of our most anticipated debuts of 2025.

Danielle Giles is a writer and researcher based in Bristol. She has been shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize and longlisted for the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize. She won the Local Prize in the 2023 Bath Short Story Award. Mere is her first novel.

About the book:

Norfolk, 990 AD. 

Deep in the Fens, isolated by a vast and treacherous mere, an order of holy sisters make their home. Under the steely guidance of Abbess Sigeburg they follow God’s path, looking to their infirmarian, Hilda, to provide what comfort and cures she can.

But when the mere takes a young servant boy, Sigeburg’s grip falters and Hilda quickly realizes this place holds secrets darker and more unholy than she can fathom.

Then proud Sister Wulfrun, a recent arrival to the convent, has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. Is she saint or serpent? To Hilda, Wulfrun is a signal bolder and brighter than any fire set – one she cannot help but follow…

‘Beautifully written’ – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of The Square of Sevens

‘Chilling, dark and immersive, I raced through Mere. Such a treat of a novel’ – Rosanna Pike, author of A Little Trickerie

‘This is an artful and atmospheric novel that reveals uncomfortable truths about the way we lived then and, for the thoughtful, the way we live now’ – Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily