Capturing life through words, sounds, and the lens. Fuelled by coffee and ink

The Folio

A paper trail of thoughts and ink-stained dreams


A living space for thoughts that emerge from a life of books, ideas, curiosity, and craft. Here we write about what moves and interests us, what we notice, and what we’ve learned along the way — from writing and reading to the experiences in between. Browse the posts below and linger where your curiosity leads.

A sophisticated Studio-style photograph of Malcolm Hollingdrake’s Harrogate Crime Series. Signed copies of Hell’s Gate, Only the Dead, and Dying Art are arranged on a dark mahogany desk with a vintage silver magnifying glass, a fountain pen, and a botanical anatomy postcard under soft dusk lighting. Continue reading...

Art, Atmosphere, and Anatomy: The Harrogate Crime Series

📚Crime & Thrillers | Detective & Mystery North Yorkshire Noir: The Gritty Sophistication of DCI Cyril Bennett The books in the Harrogate Crime Series masterfully blend police procedural, investigation, and personal narratives. The beautiful town of Harrogate provides a backdrop for the threat posed by cold-blooded (serial) killers. All written in Malcolm Hollingdrake’s unique, sometimes poetic but always eloquent, writing style we’ve come to love. The Heart of Harrogate: Cyril Bennett and His Team Each…

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A silhouette perspective of legs in vibrant orange and black striped tights and Mary Jane shoes, standing on a crosswalk against a detailed, crowded city street. Header for 'The Long Reads' by Jon & Caz Cole. Continue reading...

Dare to Stand Out

Life & Legacy | Personal Growth The Long Reads • A 6-minute reflection Or are you obsessed with being part of the herd? Discover the courage required to embrace your unique path and step away from the collective normal. The Psychology of the Collective Normal Growth and personal freedom begin when we stop hiding and start showing up as ourselves. Choosing to be different isn’t a rebellion — it’s an evolution. Own your uniqueness, own…

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Historical black and white photograph from 1940 showing thousands of Allied soldiers queued on the beaches of Dunkirk during the evacuation. This header image includes the title 'THE MIRACLE OF DUNKIRK' on a black top banner. Continue reading...

Did the Battle of Dunkirk stop the Axis winning WWII?

🖋️Bite-Size History | WWII ⏱️ The Long Reads • An 11-minute deep dive The Miracle of Dunkirk: How Operation Dynamo Saved an Army. Examining the theories and counter-theories from May-June 1940 The “Conventional” Wisdom about the Battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo The successful, relentless advance by German Army Group A under the direction of Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt, under operation Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), left over 400,000 Allied troops trapped at Dunkirk, their backs to…

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A warm, sunlit writer's desk featuring two coffee mugs labeled Jon and Caz, a vintage typewriter with a page reading 'A paper trail of thoughts and ink-stained dreams', and an open notebook surrounded by books and ink bottles. Continue reading...

Ink-Stained Hearts: A Shared Life in Words

Life & Legacy | Our Story The Long Reads • A 2-minute welcome The best partnerships aren’t just a meeting of people, but a collision of worlds. For us, it was an instant recognition of a shared spirit — wanting to live a life building a dream together through words, books, and music, fuelled by coffee, ink, and an ongoing curiosity into life and all that surrounds us. We felt and became “Ink-Stained Hearts” and started…

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Black and white historical photograph of the USS Arizona sinking under a thick cloud of black smoke during the Pearl Harbor attack, featuring "The Long Reads" branding for Jon & Caz Cole. Continue reading...

Was the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack avoidable?

🖋️Bite-Size History | WWII ⏱️ The Long Reads • A 9-minute deep dive A day of infamy. Analysing the evidence of Japan’s declaration on war on the US. Where were you when the Twin Towers were attacked? Where were you when American President J.F. Kennedy was assassinated? Do you know where you were when Princess Diana tragically died? For certain generations, that pivotal seismic event was the Japanese bombing of the US Naval Station at…

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