Camp NaNoWriMo Day 17 Part 06 #Selkie

Day 17 Camp NaNoWriMo

Sadly with my work colleague being off sick once again I have had a wordless Camp Day.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have better luck?

---

‘The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry’ Teaser

Click the image to open in another window for ease of reading.

The Great Artist

Murdoc had a great gift; he was an artist when it came to the carving of wood.  His hands were so skilful and for his special friends he created two beautiful seals. One he gave to Múirne, the other much smaller he gave to Rònan. The child loved both sea creatures and would play with them for hours. At the time the gift was given Murdoc had lifted the small boy upon his knee and the boy wrapped his arms around the elder hugging him tight.

Murdoc smiled, and then held up the seal on the palm of his hand.

“This here is your namesake, your name Rònan, means seal”

The child giggled and pulled the seal into his chest. He loved that his name meant seal. His small mind imagined himself swimming in the sea as a seal.

I found some beautiful carved seals online tonight here is just one of my favourites. This is the sort of thing I believe Murdoc would have carved for

Available from buy the sea in the UK

Thank you for visiting

Advertisements

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 14 Part 05 #Selkie

Day 14 Camp NaNoWriMo

Happy Sunday folk. So I had a very productive day today approx. 2,500 words handwritten with just under half already typed up.

---

‘The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry’ Teaser

Click the image to read the teaser with ease. Opens in a new tab

Character	Name	Meaning (no surnames until after the 10th century)
Father of Múirne (deceased)	Coinneach	KON ik ~ Gaelic meaning handsome
Grandfather of Maire	Murdoc	MUR doc ~ warrior of the sea
Grandmother of Múirne Healer/Matriach	Brighde	BREE ju ~ celtic goddess of strength, Bree for short
Main Character Nursemaid	Múirne	MUR neh ~ Affection, beloved
Mother of Maire	Roisin	ROSH-een ~ Celtic little rose
Mother of Múirne	Alana	A LAR na ~ Beautiful
Son of Múirne & the Selkie	Rònan	ROE nan ~ Seal
Surrogate daughter of Múirne	Maire	MARE ~ Latin star of the sea
The Great Selkie	Solas	SOH lus ~ Comfort, joy, solace Scottish Gaelic  also acronym Safety of Life at Sea
The Hunter              Father of Maire	Conall	Kon ul ~ high powerful

This table I believe is now the final listing of all the characters in the story.

The elder and the healer

Rònan was not like any other child, his growth was rapid. Múirne stayed away from the village, and it was only on the rare occasions that anyone visited in need of her healing herbs and advice.

One such person was Murdoc; he was one of the elders of the village. His daughter Roisin was with child, but had always been a sickly girl so it was feared she may not carry the baby to term.

It was whispered that Murdoc’s mother had drown in an unfortunate accident, but he believes her to have been a Selkie Bride and she had merely returned to the sea to her family there. He was the only one who had seen Rònan and looked into his eyes, seeing in them the stormy waters and he knew this boy was special, a child of the ocean. Yet he said nothing, and told no one. He was a regular visitor to Múirne, as he needed her potions to be fresh. The old man walked the five miles or so at least once a week.

The burden of knowing her lover was a Selkie weighed heavy on Múirne’s shoulders. On the odd occasion she would offer  a warm meal to Murdoc they would sit in comfortable silence. Occasionally he would regal her and the boy with the old folktales of long ago. As the winter crept in Conall, the husband of Roisin could not venture out to the stormy sea. He was therefore able to stay home and take care of her. When this was the case the old man stayed over and slept in the rocking chair that he had constructed as payment for the medicine Múirne made up for his daughter.

With the fire flames dancing around the little cottage Murdoc would sip wine from his tankard and tell the story of his mother the ‘Selkie Bride’ or sometimes he would refer to her as ‘Seal Mother.’ Rònan was entranced by the magical words and the flickering flames. The child would sit motionless, who knew what the boy could understand but he sat still never the less. Perhaps he saw the images dancing within the flames, as he stares mesmerised.

There has to be some truth behind folktales and this one Múirne  believe to be true (although possibly elaborated upon). After all did not Solas tell her he himself had come from the sea from Sule Skerry. How else could she explain the fine white seal pup-like fur upon her son’s body, and the webbed fingers and toes? Múirne liked the elder immensely; he was like the father she never knew. The father lost at sea.

I would love your thoughts on this small section, infact on any of my writing about ‘The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry’. Comments even negative ones are always welcome. Remember this is for Camp NaNoWriMo so as yet un-edited.

 

Thank you for visiting

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 08 Part 03 #Selkie

Day 08 Camp NaNoWriMo

Happy Monday, goodness how time flies. So work has been busy, I only managed a few hundred words today and now I feel shattered.

Plus on top of everything I have been helping my son apply for his own job. (He has been working with our team for just over five years but on the bank which is like agency. They finally say he can be permenant but he has to re-apply for his own job. Crazy.) Another tick in the box of jobs that needed doing.

---

The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry

I thought it would be nice to share a little bit of background about my story. I love doing research and found a wonderful website plus I use Internet Archive to view old and ancient text that is not in digital formats (Great sourse of info.)

The above page comes from a copy of English & Scottish Popular Ballards

By Francis James Child. Click HERE to see the volume it appears in.

So originally this is the sad tale of the Great Selkie of Sule Skerry a traditional folk song from the Orkney Islands  (it appeared as Child’s ballad #113) and I am re-writing it to fill in a few gaps, make it more into a folktale rather than ballad.

The ballad is believed to have originated around the Shetland Islands. The first record of the words being written down were communicated to Captain F.W.L Thomas from a dictation by a highly respected lady of Snarra Voe in the Shetland Islands in 1852.

---

A tiny teaser

At the very edge of the Scottish Islands, where the coast is rugged and life is harsh a small fishing community thrive on the bountiful fishing waters. They make their living by harvesting the fish and selling them to the towns and cities further inland. In days gone by the families would gather at night around the fire and share old folk tales centred on the oceans. Many are tales of the Selkie folk, seals who can transform into humans.

---

Orkneyjar, more info from the Orkney Islands

Click the link on the image below to find out more

---

Thanks for visiting Happy Reading

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 06 Part 2 #Selkie

Day 06 Camp NaNoWriMo

Today I believe fate was giving me a guiding hand because I spotted a special offer on an editing package available for September. I sent off an email and was lucky enough to bag the final spot. So now I have something to aim for.

YouTube The Grey Selkie of Sule Skerry

I also came across a wonderful YouTube video the Icicle Divers swimming with grey seals. The short film was accompanied by the most beautiful version of the old folk ballad that I have ever heard by Maz O’Connor check it out. So very inspiring I’ve been listening to it most of the day.

‘The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry’ Teaser 2

I have been toying with the idea of using the original cover for Seal Mother as the basis of this new story. Love to read your thoughts, drop me a message below. Thank you. Click the image to enlarge (opens in a new window).

Image FREE Pixabay DarkWorkX

Character	Name	Meaning
Nursemaid  (Main Character)	Múirne	MUR neh ~ Affection, beloved
Grandmother Matriach	Brighde	BREE ju ~ celtic goddess of strength, Bree for short
Mother of Múirne	Alana	A LAR na ~ Beautiful
Father of Múirne (deceased)	Coinneach	KON ik ~ Gaelic meaning handsome

In her youth Múirne was loved by many because her great kindness over spilled from every pore. Like her grandmother Brighde she had become a nurse-maid caring for the fishermen and their families, who lived at the furthest edge of the land.

Múirne had little time for a love of her own, always putting others first. Her father had been a fisherman, but like so many others he had lost his life at sea leaving a young widow and babe barely out of the crib. Alana the child’s mother was heartbroken and she became bitter blaming the girl, if not for the extra mouth to feed Coinneach would still be there. He would never before have gone out in an approaching storm, but they needed to eat so he braved the waves but never returned.

As the girl grew she spent more time with her grandmother in the small but homely cottage on the edge of the village close to the shore. Granny Bree taught her the healing ways using herbs grown in her seaside garden, and kelp taken from the water’s edge. As Brighde took more and more care of her granddaughter Alana felt herself becoming free of the burden of motherhood. Eventually she left the little coastal village with a fish merchant who delivered fresh fish to the hotels and taverns of the city down in the south of the country. He promised her new dresses, jewels and a warm home where no sea storms would ever pound upon her door again.

It was no great loss for the child for she loved her grandmother dearly and the old nurse was more a mother to her than her own ever could have been. Wise beyond her years the girl grew strong, intelligent and independent with a love for all things. Her caring nature passed down from the great matriarch. Life was good.

(Please don’t forget this is un-edited in Camp NaNo we are only trying to get words on paper. Thank you).

Thank you for visiting. Happy Reading

1,713 Words written today

A review by Maria Gibbs of Seal Mother ~ A Selkie Tale in Verse by Rose English

WOW what a beautiful review thank you so much, I am so glad you enjoyed the book Maria.

‘Seal Mother ~ A Selkie Tale in Verse’

Currently available in paperback at a REDUCED PRICE. Click the image below to check it out. RRP £4.99 on Amazon UK currently down to £1.20 but not for long.

Maria’s full review can be seen by clicking the link below. Check out her books too and her blog posts whilst you are there you will not be disappointed.

gibbsdream

*****Five Stars*****

I devoured this short story, so skilfully written by an author who I have the utmost respect for. She doesn’t write for the masses, she doesn’t stray into writing what is popular or in fashion. Rose English writes from the heart about things that capture her vivid imagination and she weaves a story so beautiful that it feels as though she has placed her hands around your heart and is squeezing gently.
Seal Mother is a tragic tale of love, betrayal, loss and heart-breaking decisions.
It’s a children book, but don’t let that stop you from reading it as an adult. Let Rose’s poetical verse sweep you into a maelstrom of emotions as you forget your existence for a while and ride the waves with Seal Mother and her emotional journey.

View original post

#InternationalKissingDay & Seal Mother Reveal

Mwwahh! Happy #InternationalKissingDay

It has been a pleasant, but very busy evening and I thank you all for visiting on #InternationalKissingDay Hope you have been giving out those token’s of love to your nearest and dearest?

Well you have all waited long enough so let me share with you a final teaser and then the big reveal. I hope you like it. The cover illustrations, when I reveal them shortly are by the very talented young artist Hannah Ryan.

Seal Mother Teaser 03

My lovely Indie Author friend Maria Gibbs the Dreams to my Roses when we are at book events as Roses & Dreams let me use one of her beautiful holiday pics as a background.  You can see it above in the teaser, but watch how it makes the beautiful ‘Seal Mother ~ A Selkie Tale in Verse’ stand out in the reveal.

Seal Mother opening verse

On an oyster and pearl
kind of day
and oh how the waves
gently play.
As the sun pours down
upon waters calm,
the waves whisper to shore
like a soft spoken psalm.

~*~*~*~

There will be a chance to win a copy of the book at this evenings event over on Facebook later. Go check out the page by clicking the image below. Giveaway will be open until 12noon GMT UK Sunday 7th July 2018.

Finally the Seal Mother Reveal

Ta Dah!!

Well I do hope you like it? Love to hear your thoughts, the Kindle Copy will shortly be available to download on Amazon. Hardback versions can be ordered through me very soon.

There will be a chance to win extra goodies for those ordering to collect at the UK Indie Lit Fest on 28th July 2018 in Bradford UK

Seal Mother YouTube teaser

I made a short sample of a reading from the book have a listen when you have a spare moment.

 

Thanks for visiting Happy Reading

&

Happy Kissing on #InternationalKissingDay

#InternationalKissingDay

Mmwahh! Happy Kissing Day

Sending out the love and kisses to you all for #InternationalKissingDay

International Kissing Day is also known as World Kissing Day as you would guess it is celebrated in many different countries. Little is known of when it first started but it is believed to have been right here in the UK in the 19th Century. To find out more about the day visit Holidays Calendar by clicking HERE.

Seal Mother Cover Reveal

What better way to celebrate #InternationalKissingDay  than by sharing a Cover Reveal for the beautiful folktale of the Selkie Seal Mother. The actual reveal will be around 9pm GMT UK this evening over on Facebook but I will be sure to share it here immediately after.

Poetry & Kissing

There must be millions of poems that deal with the subject of kissing and love. However, my favourite of all has to be Love’s Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Click the image to enlarge (opens in a new window)

Love’s Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?—
~*~
See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?
~*~

Thanks for dropping in. If you have a favourite poem that features kissing I would love to see it. Drop your favourite line from it and a link perhaps in the comments below.

Happy #InternationalKissingDay