Local Author’s Debut Novel Is Inspired by Love of North Derbyshire Folklore

Ever been out for a walk and wondered about the stories hidden in the landscape? The old stone circles, the mysteriously named hills, the strange local legends your grandparents might have told you. It turns out, those stories can travel.

For one local author, a deep love for the myths and folklore of North Derbyshire has sparked a thrilling tale set hundreds ofmiles away in the windswept islands of Scotland. Hope Valley author Anna Caig is set to release her debut novel, The Wise Witch of Orkney, in February 2026, and it’s a story that proves inspiration can be found right on your doorstep, even if the adventure it leads to is somewhere else entirely.

From the Peak District to the Scottish court

You’d think a book set in 16th-century Scotland would be inspired by, well, Scotland. But for Anna Caig, who has lived in the Hope Valley for over eighteen years, the seeds of her story were planted much closer to home. It’s the rugged beauty and whispered tales of the Peak District that really got her imagination going. Walking through the hills and dales of North Derbyshire, it’s hard not to feel the history all around. It's this atmosphere that sparked a fascination with folklore and witchcraft.

“You can’t help but be inspired by stories of local legends from the Bakewell witches to the nine ladies turned to stone on Stanton Moor,” said Anna Caig. “My fascination with folklore and witchcraft - and what might really have been going on behind these stories - led me to research and write my book.” It’s a classic case of ‘what if?’. What if those women accused of being witches were just clever, resourceful people trying to get by? This question took her on a journey from the familiar paths of the Peak District to the dramatic court of a witch-hunting king. With strong local roots, having worked for many years at Sheffield City Council and The University of Sheffield, where she also graduated in English Literature back in 2001, Anna Caig’s story is a brilliant example of how our home ground can shape our biggest adventures.

What’s the story about?

Get ready for a bit of a time-travel trip. The Wise Witch of Orkney is set in 1593, a pretty scary time to be alive, especially if you were a woman who knew a bit too much about herbs. The story is set in Scotland, where King James VI is on a serious mission to hunt down every witch in the country. But here's the twist: the people he’s hunting are already inside his own palace.

The book follows Elspet Balfour, who sounds like an amazing character. She’s a ‘spae wife’ from the remote islands of Orkney - basically a wise woman and herbalist who knows her stuff. She gets summoned to the royal court, not to be celebrated, but to go undercover. Her mission? To act as a lady-in-waiting for the pregnant Queen Anna of Denmark. The queen is worried about her baby and wants Elspet to use her skills to cast a protective spell. Talk about high stakes. Elspet has to navigate a court full of paranoia, where one wrong move could get her killed, all while keeping her true identity a secret. As if that wasn't enough, another woman named Kitty Muirhead, who is poor and unmarried, desperately needs Elspet’s help. The three women—a queen, a wise woman, and a commone, could not be more different, but they have to team up to save each other before they're all branded with that one terrifying word: witch.

A dream come true for a local author

Anyone who’s ever tried to write a story, paint a picture, or just finish a really big project knows it takes a lot of effort. For Anna Caig, getting her debut novel published is the result of years of hard work and not giving up. It's a proper dream-come-true moment. "All my life, I’ve dreamt of being a published author,” she said. “This is the third novel I’ve written but the first to be picked up by a publisher - so this really is a dream come true for me.”

The Wise Witch of Orkney is clearly a story that means a lot to her, and it shines a light on characters that don’t always get the spotlight. “It’s a story very close to my heart. I love writing about women in their forties and beyond continuing to live rich, adventurous lives,” she explained. This is so important. History is often all about kings and battles, but what about the everyday women? Back in the 1590s, women didn't have much official power, so they had to be clever. Anna added, “At a time when women had little explicit power, they must find secret, covert ways to exert agency over their own lives.” This debut novel celebrates that hidden strength and ingenuity.

A tale of two homes

The book also explores something that everyone can relate to: the powerful connection people feel to their home. For the main character, Elspet Balfour, that place is the wild, beautiful islands of Orkney. It’s the source of her strength and her knowledge. And it seems that while writing the story, the author also fell for its charms.

“The book is also about how strongly we feel connected to the place we live - the place we call home. For Elspet, this is Orkney, and I have definitely fallen in love with those islands while writing this story,” Anna Caig shared. But while Orkney might be the book's setting, the author’s heart is firmly in North Derbyshire. That deep-rooted connection to her own home is what gives the story its soul. “But for me, this is North Derbyshire. What Daniel Defoe called the ‘howling wilderness’ of the Peak District and its stories has got under my skin and inspired me to write.” It’s a wonderful reminder that the places that shape us give us the power to tell incredible stories, no matter where they’re set. So, next time you're wandering through the stunning scenery of the Peak District, remember that its 'howling wilderness' has inspired a tale of secrets, magic, and survival in the Scottish court. You can discover it for yourself when The Wise Witch of Orkney is published by Bonnier Books Ltd on 26 February 2026.