The New Book!

Detail of a 6-7th century AD Pictish standing stone showing their mysterious symbols alongside horsemen on the rampage..

Every cloud has a silver lining. In a year that the majority of us will be glad to put behind us, I had the significant encouragement of a publishing contract for a novel. The book started five years ago but needed a major edit, something that I was unable to do comprehensively until Covid closed down most of my usual operations this year. ‘Z-Rod’, the title of the book, is due to be released in Spring 2021.

So, what’s it about? Here is the blurb:

“A gripping saga, involving prophetic body art, ancient druidic rituals and spiritual battle. Set in mysterious Pictish Scotland where tribal power struggles are further intensified when trail-blazers from Ireland arrive.”

This book and Roaming Scotland have something in common: a passion for the stories of the Picts and the Celts. The Picts were a major indigenous people living in the land we now call Scotland. With the arrival of adventurous Celtic saints from Ireland, an alternative worldview and sanctuary were offered, away from the inter-tribal strife and brutality of the times.