Through the teachings of Merlin, a Celtic druid, Alex was to discover how all life in the Otherworld revolved around the Wheel of the Year. This was the quintessential calendar for those who lived by nature, each festival honouring and celebrating the seasons and cycles of life. “Magic is not always serious or solemn. It is a joyous celebration and merging with the life-force.”— Scott Cunningham “Today,” the wizard spoke gently, “is Nos Kalan Gwav *—the eve before the day we celebrate the…..
Last year was definitely one of the most exciting so far. In February our youngest daughter and son-in-law presented us with another gorgeous grandson ready to make his mark on the world. Then in May, after taking my pet cow Rosalind (named for the “Fair Rosalind” in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”, being so gentle and sweet) to her summer pasture after a long cold winter, my husband and I jetted off to New York City on our first visit…..
A forest closes around me as I stumble after my rescuer, tripping over half-buried tree roots and stubbing my toes on hidden boulders. Brambles reach out, grabbing at me with sharp, hard thorns as I push through the undergrowth on the snaking path that meanders through ancient oaks. We pass over knolls and through green, leafy dells and as I look around, I realize the forest is beautiful. I feel my senses opening to my surroundings. I can hear birds…..
Every now and then a person enters your universe who implants an unforgettable impression on your psyche and even if that impression leaves a bad taste, you know it is going to stay with you for the whole of your life. Tanguistl, a witch chanced upon by Alex in “Alex and the Druids’ Eclipse: A Cornish Tale”, is one such personality. Here is her story (Part 1-The Early Years). I was born during the night of a black moon, a…..
I was born early one Sunday morning, at my parents’ home in Liskeard, a market town in East Cornwall where, from a very early age, I soon realized I was bound by love, spirit, cultural heritage, myth and legend to this Celtic peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the sea and partially separated from England by the Tamar River. My paternal grandparents lived just down the road and the tales they told of ‘old’ Cornwall captivated and influenced me to…..
It’s hard to imagine that just a year ago I was clinging to a newly published book with no clue as to what was expected of me in the marketing minefield. I had heard of Twitter, of course, but had never had my interest piqued enough to find out what it was all about. Face Book – that was just for keeping in touch with friends and family – wasn’t it? And as far as putting my persona ‘out there’,…..
Following my return from Cornwall in July, I am sad to say the summer has run away on me. It always seems to pass so quickly, unlike the winter that seems to torment us by hanging on for as long as possible, but we’ll crank up the heating, get the blankets and sweaters at the ready and a good supply of chai latte mix to keep the chills away. But it’s good to keep busy and I have been that,…..
Home again from Cornwall after three weeks of gorgeous weather, morning walks to the beach, get-togethers with family and the freedom to trace Alex’s footsteps over the majestic Cornish coastline, down over dramatic cliff-scapes and onto golden sands. Into caves, inconspicuous among the intermittent shadow and sunlight flitting across its face, that stumble back, deep under field and heath. The fogou is fundamental at both the inception and finale of Alex’s adventure in Alex and the Druids’ Eclipse: A Cornish…..
After receiving an invite from my publisher to attend the 2018 Book Expo America at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City I had been excitedly anticipating the event although not without a smidgeon of trepidation- it was more than a little scary to read that 17,300 industry leaders and professionals were scheduled to be joining together for the event, which to a Cornish gal who has lived in rural Canada for the past twenty-two years, seemed…..
It’s the middle of April-Friday the thirteenth no less-and it is still freezing cold outside, although it would be remiss of me not to be grateful that the sun is shining and the snow is gradually fizzling out. I have been asked, on numerous occasions, what inspired me to write Alex and the Druids’ Eclipse: A Cornish Tale. Digging deep into my ideological beliefs I have tried to recognise and sift through what moves me and I truly believe that…..