A York-based author has released his debut novel – and it’s proving to be a paw-sitive success!
Award-winning poet and former York St John University lecturer, Steve Nash, has released his debut novel Remington Platypus. The literary crime novel launched on 31 July 2025 with Yorkshire-based indie publisher Northdox Press.
The ‘genre-defying’ novel stars a badger detective who is investigating a series of mysterious murders – fusions of multiple species ‘Frankensteined’ together are turning up in the city and Remington knows he can’t look away.
Remington has never been good at playing it safe. But when nothing adds up, and no one is who they seem, who do you trust? In a city of fur, feathers, and fangs, where predators set the rules and prey vanish without a trace, Remington is about to learn that some monsters aren’t born – they’re made.
Steve is best known for his poetry and as a former Saboteur Award winner for Best Spoken Word Performer, having emerged from a shortlist that included Kae Tempest and Hollie McNish.
“It feels quite surreal to finally be releasing my debut novel after so many years as a poet and academic,” said Steve.
“I set out to write a historical novel based on my PhD research, but then this grumpy badger appeared in my mind and a crime thriller unfolded with a full animal cast.
“As a neurodivergent writer, I’ve been really heartened to hear the book described as ‘Noir for the neurodivergent soul’.
“I’m already at work on something very different, a horror novel set in a decaying riverside town haunted by guilt and folklore. But I know the publisher want another Remington novel, so if this story connects with readers then I might have to return to the animal world first.”
And it seems that it is connecting, as a second print run has already been needed ‘very quickly.’
“The first run sold out in just over 24 hours,” said Steve, “which is rather wonderful!”
Remington Platypus is available to order for £9.99 directly from the publisher or via Waterstones.
Keep up to date with Steve’s next writing adventure at his website here.