Local Author Returns to Somerset Roots with Queer Fantasy Novel for Pride Month
On Friday, May 30th, 2025, author Alexander Paul Burton will be releasing his highly anticipated queer fantasy novel, The Hollow Vale. Born in Bridgwater, raised near Glastonbury, and schooled at Crispin School in Street, Burton’s novel is a love letter to his Somerset roots and a reimagining of the Mendips and Avalon as a post-Roman magical borderland.
The book, which has already garnered attention for its unique blend of Arthurian myth, Roman Britain, and childhood landscapes, has been described by Burton as a world where “nature remembers the stories we forget.” In an interview, Burton shared that The Hollow Vale is “the kind of story I wish I had at 13: mystical, dark, but full of hope. And unapologetically gay.”
As part of Pride Month, Burton is championing LGBTQ+ self-publishing and mental health advocacy. He speaks openly about his own experiences with estrangement, focus challenges, and the power of creative independence. Copies of The Hollow Vale have already been gifted to Westover Green Primary, Catcott Primary, and an autism school, showing how speculative fiction can inspire neurodivergent and queer youth.
Burton’s rural Somerset roots have greatly influenced his writing, as he spent weekends in Glastonbury, walking the Tor and writing poems in notebooks. Names and landscapes from Somerset appear throughout the book, hidden in the lore. In an interview, Burton shared, “The Hollow Vale is a love letter to the West Country — with all its ghosts.”
At a time when queer voices are under threat, Burton wanted to use his novel to show the power of creating one’s own mythologies. He stated, “I’m not interested in fitting in. I’m interested in growing something new from where I’m from.”
For local Pride features, Burton is available for interviews via Zoom. He’s happy to speak on topics such as queer rural identity, self-publishing as an outsider, writing fantasy inspired by local myths, estrangement and chosen family, and how Glastonbury shaped his creative life.
The media kit for The Hollow Vale includes an author photo, cover art, original artwork and calligraphy, an excerpt sampler, a book reading and short video, and other content. Burton’s books are released independently, with gold-foiled covers, hand-drawn maps, and music albums accompanying the story. He also uses AI editing tools to make writing accessible, not to “cheat.”
Donations of The Hollow Vale will continue to be made to Somerset schools with neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ students, showcasing Burton’s commitment to giving back and using self-publishing as a form of activism.
For more information, please visit https://pressat.co.uk/