Think you know the Cotswolds? Not like this, you don’t…

A new book is coming out that will show some of our best-known Cotswold locations as you’ve never seen them before.

A skeletal dinosaur roams the countryside near Chipping Norton… A ghostly apparition beckons you to enter haunted Chastleton House… and is that something akin to Martian red weed populating the streets of Stow-on-the-Wold, or is it the blood of the many killed during the English Civil War?

Cotswold Mist is an illustrated cinematic fantasy novel for both adults and older children, written by Inga Teder, fuelled by her imagination and inspired by true historical events and the mythology of the Cotswolds.

See the Cotswolds as never before... (Image: Cotswold Mist Ltd) The book will feature stunning digital illustrations (not AI), introducing new locations as you journey around picturesque towns, villages and landmarks, encountering mythical entities along the way and unravelling the secrets hidden within.

Written by Inga and enhanced by a team of award-winning filmmakers – involved with films and games such as The Jungle Book, The Witcher, The Lion King and Dead Space – the book brings together 28 cinematic illustrations by renowned digital artists, including Stefan Koidl, Alex Andreev, Damir G Martin, Eren Arik, Thomas Walker and Luzhan Liu.

‘I fell in love with the Cotswolds the moment I saw its charming fairytale-like honey-coloured cottages and velvet green rolling hills,’ says Inga. ‘There truly is no other place in the world quite like it! When He Sun [executive creative director of Cotswold Mist] suggested I write a fictional story that captures the essence of the Cotswolds, I was immediately captivated by the idea. Soon after, the Cotswolds became my weekend getaway. Even now, I am continually amazed at how the places seemed to whisper their stories to me. Each time I visited a new place, the narrative unfolded in front of me, revealing its unique magic and mystery.’

From the Rollright Stones to Bliss Mill, Chipping Norton, recognisable Cotswold locations are featured in the book (Image: Cotswold Mist Ltd) It took over two-and-a-half years to complete the manuscript, involving intensive research and travel across the Cotswolds. This journey included exploring local history and folklore and collecting the area’s myths and legends. A key element of the story is the inclusion of real locations, allowing readers to use the novel as a travel guide to rediscover the region's history and folklore from a new perspective.

Executive producer, Neil Blackler, whose family is rooted in the Cotswold countryside, was keen to honour the locations featured.

‘Born and raised in Oxfordshire,’ he says, ‘I have fond memories of family visits to the Cotswolds. With my 20+ years of experience in the entertainment industry, I knew the challenges we would face in creating the perfect blend of fantasy fiction with real-world locations, retaining historical accuracy and authenticity. It’s been a fundamental principle that we forge strong relationships with the locations in the book. An important aspect of the project is to celebrate the heritage of the Cotswolds, bringing local history to a wider audience, both to enhance the quality of the book and promote our location partners to benefit the local economy.’

And this is just the beginning. The aim is to expand the story into more immersive experiences, including an interactive book, VR experiences and, eventually, a game, film and TV series.

Cotswold Mist is inspired by true historical events and the mythology of the Cotswolds (Image: Cotswold Mist Ltd) ‘Following the successful publication of this book,’ continues Neil, ‘we plan to immediately embark on the next adventure, exploring the heritage and captivating history of other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Our goal is to build the Misty Universe with compelling, down-to-earth characters, quirky yet charming misfits, and incredible beasts and spirits, creating a sprawling, immersive world that you, our reader, can explore in various forms.’