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INSPIRATION

My books are inspired by my different interests - history, myths, spiritual ideas, and the landscapes of Scotland and Ireland. 

After studying archaeology I always draw, of course, from history. My Dalriada trilogy, about the Roman invasions of Scotland, was based on Roman history and British, Irish and Gaulish archaeology. I also wound tidbits of mythology through it. The plotlines in the second series, starting with The Swan Maiden, are however wholly based on Irish myths. Here, I only ground the lifestyles of the characters in archaeology, and written Roman and Greek sources.

I have always been interested in aspects of the religion and spirituality of the early peoples of the British Isles: the  Britons, Welsh, Scots, and Picts; and the Irish. I am also drawn to aspects of modern pagan belief, and wind both together in my books. These ideas trigger the emotional journeys of my characters. People often ask me what emotional or spiritual themes I was exploring among the battles, sword-fights and romance. On the Spirit page, I’ve given you some thoughts.

Lastly, my creativity is seeded and nurtured by the wild landscapes of these isles, particularly western Scotland, where I now live. I’ve posted a few photos to give you a flavour of the places I write about.

Rights queries: Russell Galen
at Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency

Publicity queries: Kathleen Rudkin
at Bantam Dell