Fennel’s Journal Book of Secrets
Book of Secrets links all editions of Fennel’s Journal together. With 14 Journals in the series, and 14 core chapters in this edition, it’s the ‘one book to bind them all’. In it, lifestyle author Fennel Hudson reveals the previously private writing that explains the background and meaning behind each Journal, with each chapter providing the continuity story from one Journal to the next.
It can be read in two ways: firstly as a standalone Journal to be enjoyed in one go, and secondly as individual prequels to each edition of Fennel’s Journal, where you read one chapter and then go back and read the Journal to which it refers. Which is why this ‘book of secrets’ adds meaning to the overall story.
If you’ve ever wondered why each Journal is themed the way it is, or tried to find the metaphor in each edition, then Book of Secrets is for you.
Chapters
- Introduction – The meaning and metaphors of each Journal.
- The Wedding Speech that Never Was – Prequel to A Meaningful Life.
- Seeing the Lake for the Trees – Prequel to A Waterside Year.
- Finding One’s Voice – Prequel to A Writer’s Year.
- Journey of Discovery and Recovery – Prequel to Wild Carp.
- Escapism and Adventure – Prequel to Fly Fishing.
- Traditional Angling Evolution – Prequel to Traditional Angling. Read sample chapter.
- It’s in Our Nature – Prequel to The Quiet Fields.
- The Finest of Things – Prequel to Fine Things.
- The Roots of Life – Prequel to A Gardener’s Year.
- Reaching for Dreams – Prequel to The Lighter Side.
- Friendship Matters – Prequel to Friendship.
- Making the Escape – Prequel to Nature Escape.
- The Secrets We Keep – Prequel to Book of Secrets.
- Moonlight Perspective – Prequel to The Pursuit of Life. Read sample chapter.
- Not for Sale – Prequel to The One You Can't Buy.
- Always for You – It was never meant for me. It was always meant for you.
Publication details
Published by Fennel’s Priory Limited.
- Limited edition collectors' magazine published in 2017
- eBook published in 2018
- Extended version in hardback and eBook published in 2018
- Audiobook – pending publication
Book specification
- Dimensions: 216 x 140 x 14 mm (8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 in)
- Page count: 170 pages
- Language: English
Copyright © Fennel Hudson 2017, 2018
- Hardback ISBN 978-1-909947-58-0
- Kindle ISBN 978-1-909947-56-6
- Audiobook download ISBN 978-1-909947-60-3
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Fennel's Commentary
The Fennel’s Journal story concluded in 2016 with the publication of Nature Escape. But whilst the journey was complete, there was still a great deal I wanted to say, and which readers wanted to hear. The result was two additional books: Book of Secrets and The Pursuit of Life.
Whilst each book in the Fennel’s Journal series can be read at face value, each one is a metaphor for something deeper. Not all readers noticed this, and therefore were content to read the Journals as a collection of lifestyle or countryside stories. Also, I never fully explained the background and context of each Journal – to make it clear exactly why I themed each Journal as I did.
Part confession and part revelation, Book of Secrets provides the answers that the Friends of the Priory have sought for ten years.
So if you ever wondered what compelled me to complete my twenty-year quest for wild carp, why friendship and identity are so important to me, or why it took two breakdowns for me to realise the importance of my dream, then Book of Secrets is for you.
Favourite Quote
"There’s a greater man than me who can sum up our journey, a mountaineer who in 1865 first climbed the Matterhorn. Edward Whymper, over to you: “There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell, and with these in mind I say, climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are naught without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste, look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end.”"
Fennel Hudson, Book of Secrets, Fennel's Journal No. 13
