Christmas 2026 must-have: beautifully packaged folktale collection, Moon, Snow, Blossom: Wintry Folk Tales from Across Japan
Elliott & Thompson are delighted to announce the acquisition of Moon, Snow, Blossom: Wintry Folk Tales From Across Japan by poet Erica Hesketh and storyteller Laura Sampson– a collection of beautifully reimagined Japanese folktales set in the winter months, from the last maple leaves to the first plum blossom. Publishing Director Sarah Rigby acquired World All Language rights, including audio, direct from the authors. The book will be published in hardback and ebook on 29th October 2026.
Winter in Japan. A season of sudden snow and biting wind, whispering volcanoes and sun-tipped forests, of warrior monks and restless ghosts. A season to gather and delight in the ancient tales – to wash away the old year and usher in the new.
Moon, Snow, Blossom is full of wintry folklore that offers a glimpse into the shimmer and shiver of story traditions from across Japan. From wondrous creation myths to mischievous mountain spirits and eerie fox fires, from frost-bitten tales of the deep north to stories of foolhardy fishermen off the southern coast, join two friends on a journey through deep drifts of Japanese heritage and culture.
Packaged sumptuously for the Christmas gift market, Moon, Snow, Blossom weaves together story, poem, legend and lore to delight and surprise even the most knowledgeable Japanophile.
Sarah Rigby, Publishing Director at Elliott & Thompson said:
‘Reading Moon, Snow, Blossom is the literary equivalent of sitting by the fire as a storm rages outside. Warm and inviting, frost-covered and chill by turn, these tales and myths of Japanese winter are full of the comforting, mysterious and unexpected. Erica and Laura combine perfectly judged storytelling with deep knowledge of Japanese culture. They are the ideal guides to this world of mountain spirits, fox fires and transformations under a full moon. I know it will be found in so many Christmas stockings this time next year.’
Erica Hesketh and Laura Sampson, authors of Moon, Snow, Blossom, said:
‘We had so much fun choosing our favourite wintry stories for this book, and exploring how diverse strands of Japanese story culture have shaped one another over the centuries. We hope readers enjoy the “journey through the season” we’ve created, and perhaps discover a side of Japan they didn’t already know. We’re thrilled to be publishing this collection with Elliott & Thompson.’
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ERICA HESKETH is a poet and editor, originally from Japan and Denmark and now based in London. Her poetry has been commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall, Spread the Word and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been longlisted for the National Poetry Competition, and highly commended in the Forward Prizes for Poetry. From 2016 to 2024 she was the Director of the Poetry Translation Centre. She is the author of In the Lily Room (poetry), and editor of Living in Language: International reflections for the practising poet (essays).
LAURA SAMPSON is a British-Caribbean storyteller, noh practitioner and writer based in London. She has practised noh (a 700-year-old Japanese theatre form) since 2011 and performs with Theatre Nohgaku in the UK and internationally. Her unique storytelling style incorporates elements of noh, with work commissioned by the Noh Reimagined festival (Kings Place, London), the V&A Museums, and leading UK storytelling organisation the Crick Crack Club. She is the author of two story collections, Enchanted Tales and Mythical Tales, and holds a MA in Japanese Studies (SOAS).