MY LITERATURE

Here are details of some of the many books and magazines I have been involved with.All can be obtained direct from me.  Prices, including UK postage are shown below.  e mail me  if you have any queries or require foreign postal rates.
Cheques/ Postal Orders payable to 'O.Jennings' (not Pete) to 12, Carleton Close, Gt. Yeldham, Essex, CO9 4QJ

My next book will be about Penda, the Pagan Anglo Saxon king of Mercia. Keep watching here for more details in 2012.

'Haunted Ipswich'  published by History Press, October 2010 at £9.99 (ISBN 978-0-7524-5660-7)

Once a popular centre of pilgrimage and then a maritime gateway to East  Anglia, the historic county town of Ipswich is also home to ghosts, witches, orbs and poltergeists.  From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and supernatural phenomena, to first-hand encounters with phantoms, spirits and ghouls. Read about Buttermarket’s running man or the riddles of Ridleys department store.  From the unwelcome guest at the White horse Hotel to the sound of a human heartbeat throbbing in the walls of McGintys public house, this collection of spooky sightings from around the town is guaranteed to make your blood run cold.

 

Includes ghosts from all manner of locations, from the Buttermarket area to the docks.

'Heathen Paths: Viking and Anglo Saxon Pagan Beliefs'  was published by Capall Bann in August, 2007 at £14.95 (ISBN 186163286X) It has been a long task, (65,000 words) but this labour of love is written to academic standards, and brings together many sources of evidence both to demonstrate 'what Heathens did' and how that may be adapted for todays community. It is my biggest and most important literary undertaking, and will inevitably ruffle a few feathers as I slaughter herds of sacred cows with the material gathered!

“This book certainly brings you closer to the way things were seen and done in those times.” Pentacle magazine
"Pete's latest book is available now, and having read it myself can certainly recommend. As usual Pete has drawn from a wide variety and range of sources to reach his conclusions. Some people will agree with these, some not so, but anything that makes you think as such and ask your own questions has to be good."  Odalstone magazine
“Pete Jennings has done much to dispel such ignorance and prejudice and to place modern Heathenism proudly amongst neo-Paganism.” Widowinde

This illustrated book has been written from a different perspective to others published on what is known variously as Asatru, the Northern Tradition and Odinism, to present a handbook of accumulated data so that people can read and interpret it for themselves, aided by sometimes conflicting or complementary opinions clearly labelled as such.

Although the author frequently uses academic methods and arguments, he is an individual trying to make sense of a spiritual path he was drawn to a couple of decades ago. Trying to objectively observe a movement from within, whilst being a part of it oneself is a delicate path to tread, but in this book Pete Jennings does an admirable job, separating opinions from historical data.
Published by Capall Bann August 11th, 2007 at £14.95 (ISBN 186163286X) Available from me at this price inc. P&P

WYSIWG - The 6000 Beards of Athos GRUFF CD 002
A CD compilation of some tracks from the two late 80s albums (Awake & Chocks Away) by folk trio WYSIWYG. The Ipswich Evening Star described them as 'subversive knees-up music for consenting adults.' There are 14 tracks, both traditional and self penned, studio and live recorded. £6 inc. p&p from me.

HAUNTED SUFFOLK by Pete Jennings
Published 29/4/06 by Tempus. 96 pages, over 60 illustrations. ISBN 0752438441 £8.99 inc. P&P
"From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and related supernatural phenomena to first hand encounters with ghouls and spirits, this collection of stories contains new and well known spooky tales from around the county of Suffolk."  (Suffolk & Norfolk Life)

PYRAMID OF GOATS - NO KIDDING! ... CD re-issued from the original 1990 album Gruff 001.
This was Petes' best rock band, playing highly original hard rock. 12 tracks, 59minutes playing time. £6 inc. P&P

PAGAN PATHS by Pete Jennings
This book was published by Rider in March 2002, and has already gone for a fourth reprint.  £ 9.99 ISBN 0 7126 1106-1
"An excellent primer, taking in all the traditional earth - centred rituals as well as the more recent emergence of eco and cyber-paganism." The Times
"Brilliant read" Amazon Books
"An essential addition to the library of all Pagans wanting to understand the differences and similarities between our sisters and brothers on different paths." Pentacle
"For newcomers to the scene this resource guide is probably worth the cover price alone." Cauldron
"This is probably the best and most informative book on Paganism I have read in many years of study and practice." Pagan Dawn
"It is a mine of information" Eastern Spirit

PATHWORKING by Pete Jennings & Pete Sawyer.
This originally was published as a photocopied edition from Gruff Books 1992. A 2nd expanded properly printed paperback edition is available from Capall Bann books at £7.95 at Capall Bann Publishing, www.capallbann.co.uk, or order from your bookshop on
ISBN 1 898307 00 8. It is available from me  for £7.95 inc. p&p
"A complete, practical guide to the subject of pathworking and guided meditation ... Recommended." The Cauldron.
"Full of ideas and highly recommended" The Wiccan
"A real pleasure to read" Pagan Life Bulletin
"Definitely recommended" Wiccan Rede
"It gives good basic and easy to read steps." Insight

THE NORSE TRADITION - A beginners guide by Pete Jennings
Published in 1998 by Hodder & Stoughton at £5.99. (ISBN 0 340 72082 4.) The publisher went out of stock 1/6/00 and does not intend to reprint. Some copies will still be around in bookshops.

The book is now republished by Capall Bann October 2003, under the new title of  'The Northern Tradition.' (ISBN 186163187-1   £7.95 www.capallbann.co.uk or direct from me (as above) at the same price, including post & packing

Packed with information and practical advice on historic and modern Norse and Anglo Saxon belief systems (Asatru)
".....he can be classed as a bit of an authority on the subject." Dragon Chronicle

THE NORTHERN TRADITION INFORMATION PACK - by Pete Jennings
A 28 page introduction published in 1996 (revised in 2000) by The Pagan Federation at £2.50, from:
The Pagan Federation, BM Box 7097, London, WC1N 3XX.
To find more details about this organisation and its other publications visit their web site via the menu page.

SUPERNATURAL IPSWICH by Pete Jennings
A 32 page printed book from Gruff Books in 1998 at £2.50 available from me as above or from your bookshop ISBN 0 9519854 1 8.
Ghosts, witches, spontaneous human combustion, mysterious sounds, gruesome happenings and even dragons appear in this book! This is the old official guide book for The Original Gemini Ghost Tour of which I am the principal guide. To see the book jacket please click here.  Please see below for the new edition
See more about the tours by clicking here.

MYSTERIOUS IPSWICH - is a 40 page booklet, published by Gruff in 2003 that supercedes Supernatural Ipswich above, with expanded versions of the tales and several new ones we have learnt over the past five years. It is available from Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, the tour itself, or by sending a cheque for £3.50 payable to 'Gemini Ghosts Ltd.' at Gemini, 20 Sterling Complex, Farthing Rd., Ipswich IP1 5AP

SPOOKY SUFFOLK CD - November 2003 (GRUFF CD 020) by Pete Jennings & Ed Nicholls. Over one hour of stories, with music and special effects. Order yours now direct from me at £8 including p&p. As featured extensively on BBC Radio Suffolk.

OLD GLORY & THE CUTTY WREN book - December 2003. 28 pages, with coloured illustrations, published by Gruff in December 2003 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the revival. Describing the origins and history of both Old Glory Molly Dancers & Musicians, plus the unique traditional custom they revived over the last decade - the Cutty Wren. Middleton in Suffolk is the only place in England to have this ancient custom celebrated.

No longer available

OLD GLORY & THE CUTTY WREN CD - December 2003. (Gruff CD 021)The songs, tunes, dances, story plus interviews featured in a 55 minute documentary by BBC Radio Suffolk.

No longer available. 

THE GOTHI & THE RUNE STAVE August 2005 Gruff Books. 64 pages
1000AD in Iceland. There are tensions between the incoming Christianity and the older Heathenism. The servant of a Gothi (local chieftain, heathen priest, law speaker and poet) finds the body of a man who has been stabbed to death. He has a piece of wood with a message in runes on it. It appears to be a message from one Christianised leader to another, plotting the Gothi's own death. It is his duty to investigate the murder, and the causes behind it. His investigations are conducted at a horse fight and the Thing council, with witnesses as diverse as a Berserker warrior, carpenter, Volva seeress and the main suspects. His wife, a powerful figure in her own right has due cause to worry for her husbands' safety when he is accused as well.

Interwoven in this story are the colourful yet accurate features of a dynamic culture quite alien to anything found today. Although the story is fictional, it incorporates many known facts, characters, places and customs.
Available from me at £5.00 including P&P.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the story ... The descriptions of the places are wonderful and rituals of importance to the times described. I would recommend this book as not only a good story but also as a way to get a feel of the culture of Iceland at that time in history as well as an insight into the beliefs." - Pentacle Magazine

FAITHS IN FOCUS - various including Pete Jennings compiled by Cynthia Capey.
A guide to the beliefs, practices and contact details for the many religious groupings in and around Ipswich. Published by SIFRE (Suffolk Interfaith Resource) via University College Suffolk. They also publish
FINDING OUR WAY AND SHARING OUR STORIES - various including my partner Sue Smith. It is a collection of the life experiences of women within various faiths.

GIPPESWIC magazine: I edited and wrote for this Pagan magazine over its 12 issue, 4 year life. I may put a few of its articles into an archive file here sometime in the future. A few back issues are still available for £1 each at the above address. You may also find articles I wrote for a number of other Pagan magazines including Pagan Dawn, Pentacle, Deosil Dance, Wiccan, Bridestone etc. During my 3 years as media officer for The Pagan Federation I contributed research and interviews for many national and local papers, magazines plus TV and Radio.

Pagan Humour - published by Gruff March 2004. A collection of jokes, real life tales, Pagan web humour etc. Only available direct from me £4.50 inc. p&p. No longer available
Eastern Spirit said 'It's a laugh! Cheap enough to give to anyone you feel needs cheering up. What are you waiting for? Get it now!'

You may also find occasional articles by me in Pagan magazines such as Pentacle, the Anglo Saxon mag Widowinde and the re-enactment magazine Skirmish.

Oh yes, and if you ever come across magazines I edited whilst still at school in the late 60s you could embarrass me by sending a copy! There was The Doughnut (a satirical underground mag banned by Northgate Grammar School which I occasionally attended) and the Wargamer, devoted to that hobby which I was involved in at the time. I think there were some other short lived projects along the way to, of which I cannot even recall the names! e mail me. I also wrote music columns for a couple of free newspapers in Ipswich; the Ipswich Extra and Suffolk Leader.

To return to main menu click here.
Updated on 30/11/11