University of Brighton lecturer and author, Craig Jordan-Baker, draws on walks, foraging, and ordinary life to inspire his fiction. He will celebrate his new novel, Brick Dust, at Waterstones Brighton on 1 October.
Craig’s writing is shaped by his love of everyday life and the natural world. A keen walker, forager, and advocate for nature-based practices, he often draws inspiration from the countryside in both his teaching and fiction.
His latest novel, Brick Dust, grew from sketches developed during a residency in Ireland, evolving from a small pamphlet into a full-length novel with support from his publisher, époque press. The book continues the story of the Nacullian family, first introduced in Craig’s debut, The Nacullians, weaving together scraps of letters, library fines, clippings, and anecdotes into a rich patchwork of migration, marriage, Morris dancing, and everyday life.
His new novel highlights the resilience of working-class Anglo-Irish families and reflects Craig’s interest in what he calls “politics with a small p” – the politics of daily life. It asks readers to consider whose stories are remembered and whose are forgotten. Rather than grand narratives, Craig explores ordinary lives, finding depth and meaning in stories that often go unnoticed, while celebrating community and the small details that shape life.
At the University of Brighton, Craig teaches Creative Writing, leading modules such as Landscape, Environment, and Nature Writing. His work frequently intersects with his interests in ecology and natural history, and he regularly brings students and the wider public into outdoor, nature-based writing experiences.
Craig explained: “I’ve always been drawn to the everyday – the seemingly ‘mundane’ lives that rarely get centre stage in fiction. For me, there’s deep meaning in these stories, and I wanted Brick Dust to celebrate them, with all their humour, messiness, and beauty. Spending time in nature – walking, observing, foraging – has always shaped the way I see the world, and that sense of attentiveness and connection to the landscape naturally flows into my writing.”
The Brighton Waterstones launch event will include a reading and an opportunity for attendees to have their copies signed. It takes place from 18:30 to 20:00 on Wednesday 1 October 2025. Craig will also appear at October Books in Southampton on 8 October.
In October, he will also speak at the Resurgence Festival of Wellbeing, discussing walking, landscape, and space as therapeutic practices alongside leading environmental activists, including Tony Juniper CBE, CEO of Natural England.
Through his teaching, writing, and engagement with the landscape, Craig Jordan-Baker exemplifies a commitment to exploring life’s small, often overlooked stories and inspiring others to notice the beauty and complexity of the world around them.
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