Ambient Literature and Canelo offer a haunting immersive accompaniment to Withered Hill

In David Barnett’s folk horror novel Withered Hill, described by horror maestro Laird Barron as ’the ultimate nightmare destination’, a young woman finds herself trapped in an isolated Lancashire village. But is it the inhabitants keeping her prisoner, smiles on their faces, or something else lurking in the woods…? 

To help promote the book, Ambient Literature, a pioneering developer of digital storytelling, have worked with Barnett and the Canelo team to produce an immersive audio experience like no other – one that transports you to Withered Hill no matter where you are in the world. 

Taking the form of an audio walk, Roads to Withered Hill begins wherever you find yourself. It draws you into the eponymous village, tightening around you like a snare with every step. The whole experience is narrated by a mysterious voice, one that seems to know far too much about the nature of Withered Hill and the secrets the village protects. 

Free to experience, the only requirement is a smartphone and a pair of earbuds (or headphones!). You’ll be asked to walk for about a mile, and as long as you have a phone signal at the start, the work will run anywhere in the world. Start your journey…

Ambient Literature’s Tom Abba says “This is the first time we’ve worked with a pre-existing text - and that brought its own set of narrative demands - but as soon as David explained the outline for Withered Hill, I knew we could rise to the challenge and bring readers to the village itself. Roads to Withered Hill builds on the work we’ve been making for the last few years, and the form we’ve developed lends itself beautifully to providing a reader an immersive experience that complements the novel, but also brings something unique to each person’s relationship with the book.” 

David Barnett adds “What Tom has created is, to my mind, the perfect companion to Withered Hill, extracting the feel and tone of the book and immersing the user in it, but then taking them off in a whole new direction and experience.” 

Commissioning Editor at Canelo, Kit Nevile, says: “Ambient Literature really pushes the boundaries of what storytelling can do, make us feel, and this interactive experience is an incredible accompaniment to David’s masterpiece of folkloric horror. With the audience for expanded theatre and film growing year-on-year, bridging literature and creative technology is an exciting route for Canelo to explore. I can’t wait to see the responses, to both the walk and the novel.” 

For more information and/or to speak to Tom Abba, David Barnett or Kit Nevile, please contact [email protected]