THE DRAW OF THE SEA
WINNER OF THE ROGER DEAKIN AWARD
The ocean fires our imagination, provides joy, solace and play but also wields immense destructive power. The Draw of the Sea explores communities whose lives revolve around the coasts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. In the specifics of these livelihoods and their rich histories and traditions, Wyl Menmuir captures the universal human connection to the sea.Into this seductive tapestry, Wyl weaves the story of how the sea has beckoned, consoled and restored him.
Funny and uplifting, personal and profound, The Draw of the Sea will delight anyone familiar with the intimate and powerful pull of the sea. It’s the must-read of summer 2022.
"A beautiful portrait of lives shaped by the swell of ocean and tide - a powerful salt-thread of connection."
Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path
"A work of enormous grace and humanity that pulls us to the deep and gently returns us home."
Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters
NOVELIST, EDITOR & TEACHER OF WRITING
Wyl Menmuir is an award-winning author based in Cornwall. His 2016 debut novel, The Many was longlisted for the Man-Booker Award and was an Observer Best Fiction of the year pick. His second novel Fox Fires was published in 2021 and his short fiction has been published by Nightjar Press, Kneehigh Theatre and National Trust Books and appeared in Best British Short Stories. Wyl's first full-length non fiction book, The Draw of the Sea, won the Roger Deakin Award from the Society of Authors and is published in 2022. A former journalist, Wyl has written for Radio 4’s Open Book, The Guardian and The Observer, and the journal Elementum. He is co-creator of the Cornish writing centre, The Writers’ Block and lectures in creative writing at Falmouth University.
Born in Stockport in 1979, Wyl now lives on Cornwall's north coast with his wife and two children. When he is not writing or teaching writing, Wyl enjoys messing around in boats.
BOOKS
TEACHING AND MENTORING
When I am not writing I do a lot of both teaching and mentoring. My roles include:
Lecturer on the MA Professional Practice in Creative Writing at Falmouth University.
Lead writer at The Writers' Block Cornwall.
Reader and mentor for Curtis Brown Creative.
Course leader at Arvon Foundation where I teach on residential fiction and non fiction courses.
Associate literacy consultant for the National Literacy Trust.
I also offer:
Mentoring and manuscript assessment.
CONTACT
For media inquiries about The Draw of The Sea, please contact Colin Midson.
Email: colinmidson@bookshaped.com
Bookshaped PR
Wyl is represented by Peter Straus of Rogers, Coleridge and White.