The Anchoress
Paul Blaney
What happens when someone chooses to withdraw from the world entirely? The Anchoress explores the life of a woman who seals herself away from society, examining the fragile threads that bind us to one another and what it truly means to be alone.
"A moving and intriguing thought experiment about loneliness and human connections. Blaney has a real talent for capturing the texture of everyday life." — Justine Roberts, founder and CEO of Mumsnet
Paul Blaney brings a quiet, precise eye to the interior world of his protagonist, crafting a novel that is at once intimate and universal. The book was available through Amazon in both paperback and ebook editions.
More from Red Button
Red Button Publishing was an independent fiction imprint founded in 2012 by Karen Ings and Caroline Goldsmith. The press championed stories that made readers think, laugh, and feel — including works by Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone, Christopher Russell, Paul Blaney, and Johnny Rich.
The imprint ceased publishing under the Red Button name after June 2016.
The act of withdrawing from the world, as explored in this novel, raises profound questions about the nature of solitude and connection. Independent fiction publishing has long championed stories that mainstream houses might overlook, giving voice to quiet, introspective narratives that linger in the mind long after the final page. Such works remind us that the richest human dramas often unfold not in grand events, but in the subtle, interior spaces of a single life, where every thought and memory carries the weight of the world.
For writers seeking to bring nuanced, character-driven fiction to readers, the journey from manuscript to published book requires both patience and a keen editorial eye. The consultancy services once offered by this press reflected a deep commitment to nurturing emerging voices, helping authors refine their craft while preserving the unique qualities that made their stories worth telling. This dedication to literary quality over commercial trends is what allows small presses to leave an enduring mark on the literary landscape.
The themes of isolation and human connection explored in contemporary fiction resonate powerfully in an age of constant digital noise. Readers increasingly crave stories that slow down time, that examine the fragile threads binding us to one another with honesty and care. It is this appetite for authentic, emotionally resonant storytelling that independent publishers have always understood best, championing works that challenge, comfort, and ultimately remind us of our shared humanity across the distances that separate us.