The Bard S Daughter

Alexandria Findahl's father was her hero. He was a famous Bard, known throughout Adelay for his catchy tunes and haunting ballads and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. She started her training with him at the age of five and was determined to become as good, maybe even better, than he was. She was not interested in love, the domestic duties of being a wife and a mother bored her. She thought her mother weak and unfulfilled and vowed to never let a man weaken her or stop her from pursuing her dreams. However, when she was a teenager she was tempted briefly with the one man who ever interested her, Daniel Thacher. They shared one embrace that awakened passion inside of her that she had only heard about. She thought that he felt the same but when he did not pursue the relationship she hardened her resolve and continued on with her dream. Set to take on the country with her talents, she completes her training and is about to embark on her first journey into her new profession when she discovers that her father has gone missing. He has been leading a secret life all this time as a member of a secret society tasked with protecting the King and the citizens of Adelay and now his enemies have abducted him. Alexandria has no idea where to even start looking for him or how to save him. Daniel Thacher comes back into her life, telling her that he also belongs to this secret society and will help her save her father. She accepts his help, warily, and along with her two new best friends, the group sets out into the country determined to save her father. Alexandria thought she was over Daniel but with each passing day her infatuation grows, tempting her with passion that she has only had a taste of and that she finds she wants to sample again. Daniel Thacher, is a wizard and known all over the country for his acts of kindness and bravery. His family is well known for their power and they have long held a friendship with Gregor Findahl and his family. Daniel found Alexandria very attractive when he was younger and even once indulged in a kiss with her that set him afire; however, he was engaged at the time and felt terrible for betraying he woman he had promised to marry. Years later, he has joined the same secret society her father is a member of and is no longer promised to anyone. When Gregor goes missing he seeks out Alexandria's help with an ulterior motive in mind. He has never been able to get her off his mind and he is hoping that she feels the same way. Will he be able to make her remember the passion they both felt when they kissed that day? Can he complete their mission and save his dear friend with her help or will his feelings for Alexandria cloud his judgement and cause death to come seeking them all?

The Bagel Bards are a group of poets varied in age, race, gender, who meet, share poems, discuss poetry, drink lots of coffee, chew a bagel if so desired, sometimes sell their books. The atmosphere is generous and open to all, and you don’t have to be a poet to attend. What I find most exciting about the Bards, people here are not conscious of reputation and achievement, but love the poem and good friendly unpretentious talk. That doesn’t mean that pretensions don’t exist if that’s what you desire, but the coffee is strong, the people sincere and are publishers of small press magazines, pamphlets and books. If you want to be in an atmosphere that is intelligent without self-involved, convoluted literary talk of people who need to prove themselves and announce themselves as artists,here is a place to find the pleasure that good literary company may offer. — Sam Cornish, Poet Laureate of Boston, MA

Gwen must clear her father’s name before his music is silenced … forever. As a bard’s daughter, Gwen has spent her life traveling from castle to castle and village to village with her family, following the music. In the winter of 1141, Gwen’s family is contracted to provide the entertainment for the coming-of-age celebration of a lord's son. But before the celebration can begin, Gwen’s father is found over the body of his friend, with a harp string as the murder weapon and blood on his hands. With the lord of the castle uninterested in finding the true killer, it is up to Gwen to clear her father’s name before her father’s music is silenced … forever. The Bard's Daughter is a prequel novella to the Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries. It is followed by Book 1, The Good Knight. Complete Series reading order: The Bard's Daughter, The Good Knight, The Uninvited Guest, The Fourth Horseman, The Fallen Princess, The Unlikely Spy, The Lost Brother, The Renegade Merchant, The Unexpected Ally, The Worthy Soldier, The Favored Son, The Viking Prince, The Irish Bride, The Prince’s Man, The Faithless Fool, The Honorable Traitor.

This book marks the centenary of Neil MacLeod's death in 1913 with the republication of some of his work. It also publishes for the first time all of the identifiable work of his brother, Iain Dubh (1847 - 1901), and of their father, Domhnall nan Oran (c.1787 - 1873). Their contrasting styles mark a fascinating period of transition in literary tastes between the 18th and early 20th centuries at a time of profound social upheaval. Neil Macleod left Glendale in Skye to become a tea-merchant in Edinburgh. His songs were prized by his fellow Gaels for their sweetness of sentiment and melody, which placed a balm on the recent wounds of emigration and clearance. They are still very widely known, and Neil's collection Clarsach an Doire was reprinted four times. Professor Derick Thomson rightly described him as 'the example par excellence of the popular poet in Gaelic'. However, many prefer the earthy quality of the work of his less famous brother, Iain Dubh. This book contains 58 poems in all (32 by Neil, 14 by Iain and 22 by Domhnall), with translations, background notes and the melodies where known. Biographies are given of the three poets, while the introduction reflects on the difference in style between them and places each in his literary context. An essay in Gaelic by Professor Norman MacDonald reflects on the social significance of the family in the general Gaelic diaspora.

The latest "rich, resonant" (Publishers Weekly) fantasy from the World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Bell at Sealey Head. Eager to graduate from the school on the hill, Phelan Cle chose Bone Plain for his final paper because he thought it would be an easy topic. Immortalized by poets and debated by scholars, it was commonly accepted-even at a school steeped in bardic tradition-that Bone Plain, with its three trials, three terrors, and three treasures, was nothing more than a legend, a metaphor. But as his research leads him to the life of Nairn, the Wandering Bard, the Unforgiven, Phelan starts to wonder if there are any easy answers...