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The Tales of Tanglewood blog focuses on two things:
One: postings from the Scribe, he who has been given the task of putting the many Tales of Tanglewood to paper, and instilling them within the Well of Knowledge, so that the history of the 'wood may always be available to all of the fey who require it.
Two: News and relevant topics, such as Irish and Celtic folklore, interesting facts and websites used for research for the book, and even music, recipes, and other things that I, in all my wisdom, deem important enough to place here.
Statistics for The Tales of Tanglewood
Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 1
Bairtlemead smiled again. “Words, written and spoken, are very magical indeed. Words have power; the power to hurt, the power to heal, to make you laugh or cry, to instill confidence, or to spread fear. Words can be very powerful, but if used incorrectly or for the wrong purpose, they can also produce disastrous results.
“The written word is also very powerful magic. It can be used to teach us many things, but it can be used falsely as well. It can also be used to tell wonderful stories.
"Writing is an art. It is a creative journey that begins in the mind, an impulse inspired by thoughts, pictures, feelings, and sounds. A writer takes those impulses and composes them into a format by which others can experience those same visions and ideas. A writer can transport you from your current surroundings to a mystical place of faraway legend. A writer can teach you about things you never knew before. Or a writer can lift one’s spirits toward the heavens and the stars, toward Alastar himself, and make someone else feel good and powerful. That, Colin, is great magic.”
Meet Scott Kessman -- the author of The Tales of Tanglewood -- a fantasy/folklore adventure story that will take you back to your childhood and the fey (fairies) that live in the wood. Hear the interview at this link
The 2nd book is complete at long last. Just need to do the illustrations, which will be far better than the pictures in the first book, as I'll be pulling my mighty artistic talent of the storage closet. In the meantime, I'll also be submitting the second novel to larger publishers as well, so not entirely sure when the book may be out, but you can always download the preview from the website http://www.talesoftanglewood.com
Novel Writing Tips from Scott Kessman - Author of Tales of TangleWood:
I was recently interviewed by Corey Freeman on Outstanding Writer.
The Tales of Tanglewood:
The Curse of Satyr Stump
Colin, Blood of the Fey, returns to Tanglewood shortly before Sahwen night, a time when the magic of the 'wood has a strange effect on all things within it. Things have entered the ‘wood that should not be there, and the pathways are no longer safe.
The blackberries have spoiled, a pooka roams the ‘wood, and a strong calling pulls Colin close to Satyr Stump, where Fionn the satyr has been cursed by Grainne, the Grey Lady.
Tasked to face the dark druidess and help break the curse upon Fionn, Colin seeks help from the druid Bairtlemead Muffingrow, the ferrish Ailfrid, and the elfin girl Deidre. But it will be the satyr chieftain himself who joins Colin, seeking to help restore another piece of Tanglewood that has been claimed by deiney corruption.
But the Grey Lady will not yield so easily, and Colin and Fionn are both nearly powerless in her domain. Colin learns very quickly that during Sahwen, Tanglewood can be a very dangerous place indeed.
Sahwen is the Gaelic pronunciation of Halloween, which is actually spelled "Samhain."
Visit the official Tales of Tanglewood website to download a preview of The Second Tale.
Finally added the December review to the website
The Tales of Tanglewood Facebook Group page can be found at this link
The book signing at I-Con went very well, and the discussion panels I was a part of were very interesting and entertaining.
This morning I was on a Realms of Fantasy discussion panel with Holly Black (author of The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Jane Yolen (author of over 300 books).
I will be a guest author at I-Con 28 at SCCC Brentwood Campus, April 4th & 5th. I will be available to sign my book from 1pm - 2pm on Saturday, and will be on panels discussing fantasy and other subjects on both Saturday and Sunday, along with Spiderwick author Holly Black & others. (See the I-Con schedule for full details)
I-Con 28 website & schedule information
“What Do I Read After Harry Potter?” The Answer Now Available on the Kindle
Shortly after the release of the last Harry Potter novel, hundreds of thousands of readers with an appetite for more magical adventures were left asking “What do I read next?”
The Spiderwick Chronicles filled the void for younger readers, and Eragon sustained many in the young adult market, as did the Twilight series. But as those captivating novels and other series have also come to an end, or will not release any new additions for quite some time, there remains a void that still needs to be filled.
Enter The Tales of Tanglewood. Written by Long Island author Scott Michael Kessman, The Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle is the first in a new series of fantasy/folklore adventures surrounding a boy named Colin and his magical connection to a place called Tanglewood.
Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle melds together influences of Celtic and Irish mythology with modern-day folklore. Within its pages, readers will find the adventures of Colin, a child who is fully aware of the hidden world of myth and wonder hiding within the woods just beyond his home, long kept secret by old magic. Only the fey magic which runs through his veins has enabled him to find what others cannot; the Tanglewood, the wood within the woods. Full of odd characters and fey beings, the Tanglewood is a world of magnificent folklore come to life.
Several reviewers of The Tales of Tanglewood have likened it to Harry Potter and other popular fantasy series, recommending it as a suitable follow-up:
“How many of us were so involved with Harry Potter and his world that we were sad to come to the end of Book 7…There are so many fantastic series being published today. But which one to choose? The Tales of Tanglewood, I believe, is such a series.” – C. Aphrodite Spanos
“The descriptions paint a beautiful picture of Tanglewood and its creatures and there is plenty of the magical beauty that tends to enchant younger readers in the first place (you know, that same sort of magical beauty that drew us all into Harry Potter, except here it is the intrigue that grabs those younger readers).” - Shaun Duke "Arconna"
"Tales of Tanglewood" brought me the same type of enjoyment that I had when I was first introduced to Harry Potter. – Anonymous review
“It would not surprise me if this book became a cherished tale like that of Eragon.” – Ashley Sinatra
The Tales of Tanglewood: The Lon Dubh Whistle is available in most bookstores and online stores such as Amazon.com, and is now available on the Amazon Kindle as well, for a low introductory cost of $3.99.
The website, located at www.talesoftanglewood.com, includes additional information about the books and characters, and allows visitors to download the first three chapters of the first book, as well as the first three chapters of the second novel, due out in the latter part of 2009.
Exploring the green countryside amongst the rolling hills of County Kerry in Ireland, we stumbled by what appeared to be a Faerie Fort; a large, circular grouping of trees, in which the fey were said to reside.
The Faerie Fort was surrounded by a tall barrier of thick undergrowth, easily deterring any who would seek entry, ans we would have likely continued back home had I not spotted what appeared to be a rather small opening. It was nearly cloaked in shadow, as the sun was beginning to set, but dared invitation, and we were both of a mind to oblige it.
Upon first pushing my head through the opening, I was greeted by a sight that was at once magical as at was surprising. Ireland is green, to be sure, but within the Faerie Fort, the colors were lush and vibrant, and the air was thick with a mysterious, magical essence that sent ripples of excitement circulating through my veins.
I pushed the rest of the way through and called for my wife to follow. Together, we stood within what could only be described as fairytale wonderland. The entire floor was a thick carpet of bright green clover, and thin vines wrapped their creeping tendrils up the lengths of the trees. We walked softly, breathing deep the fresh scents of the earth and the trees.
There was no discernible path to be found with the faerie fort, but the grouping of the trees formed sort of a spiral. If we were to have followed their subtle direction, it would have undoubtedlty led us to the center.
But within the Faerie Fort, it was rapidly growing dark, as the canopy of leaves overhead let little of the remaining sunlight through to light our way. It was as though the fey were teasing us, daring us to try to navigate our way through the Faerie Fort in the coming darkness. Suspiciously, the battery in our video camera began blinking a warning that it was about to expire, defying our attempt to film the magical beauty of this strange environment.
Reluctantly, we decided to take our leave of the place while scant light remained, but our exit was not without incident. A long, sharp thorn drew blood from the finger of my wife. Was it a warning? Or perhaps payment for a wish that was made within the fort?
One day, we shall return to County Kerry and the Faerie Fort, and walk to the center, to see what secrets lay under the protection of the fey, and what magic will ultimately be revealed.
The floor of the Faerie Fort covering with a carpet of clover
A night image of the Faerie Fort, just before the rising of the moon and the arrival of the fey...
The second Tales of Tanglewood book,The Curse of Satyr Stump, is nearly finished. I've placed the prologue and the first two chapters on the website as a free download.
I will also be a Guest Author at I-Con 28 in Brentwood, April 4th and 5th.
I will reading and discussing my book. as well as selling and signing copies, at (drum roll please...)
Border's Books
2130 Nesconset Hwy
Stony Brook, NY
Sunday, Dec. 14th
3:00 pm
I will reading and discussing my book. as well as selling and signing copies, at Cool Beanz in St. James, Nov. 24th at 8:00 pm.
Great atmosphere, wine, coffee and food, and of course, a good book! Visit me at Cool Beanz and make a Monday night a little more special.
What is Cool Beanz?
Located in a strip mall that also houses a fitness club and salon, Cool Beanz is a warm space with a decor of mismatched leather couches, tasseled pillows, chandeliers and local artwork.
Menu: Traditional coffees, seasonal drinks and cocktails made with liquor. Soup, biscotti, pound cake and other pastries are all prepared in-house.
When writing my book, I utilized a number of Gaelic words when naming the fey and other things, but I ran into the problem of spelling vs. pronunciation. Gaelic words are spelled very differently from how they are actually pronounced, and it was difficult to find proper pronunciation for all of them when I tried to make a pronunciation guide. Instead I wound up writing them as they should sound.
Recently, I came across a website which has a number of Irish sayings translated into Gaelic, along with audio samples so you can really hear how they should be spoken, an invaluable tool. The site is very comprehensive, interesting and informative.
http://www.irish-sayings.com/
This site offers you a chance to hear Irish natives speak over 400 words and phrases in the main dialects of the Irish language ("Irish Gaelic").
While I will unfortunately not be appearing at the The 2008 Long Island Irish Festival to promote my fantasy novel as I had originally planned, I'm sure the festival will still be a minor success without me, haha.
For those of you who may be interested in fantasy fiction that incorporates Irish and Celtic folklore, specifically that of faeries, the fey, brownies, sprites and others, then feel free to visit the official Tales of Tanglewood website to download the first three chapters for free, or visit Amazon.com or your local book store to purchase the book.
More information about The Tales of Tanglewood can be found here and at the website, and who knows, maybe while your walking around the The 2008 Long Island Irish Festival this weekend, that guy standing next to you might be me. If you happen to have your Tales of Tanglewood book in hand, I'll happily sign it!
Irish Sayings, Blessings, Toasts and Prayers are part of an old tradition, and are basically meant to convey feelings of warmth and happiness, amongst both friends and strangers.
Whereas traditional Irish Blessings and Prayers are deeply meaningful and quite heartfelt, and often beautifully poetic, Irish toasts are more jovial and full of mirth.
Many Irish Blessings and Toasts are usually straightforward and can be applied for any occasion, but there are also Irish Blessings meant for specific occasions, such as weddings or before embarking on a journey.
The Irish Blessings below are just a small sampling. For more complete resources of Irish Blessings and relevant information, check out the links to the books below, which can be purchased on Amazon.com
This small sampling of Irish Blessings are some of the oldest and perhaps the most well known of all the blessings:
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Another very old Irish Blessing:
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
There are of course literally hundreds more Irish blessings and toasts.
Those of you who read the first book may have noted that feasting played a minor role in Tanglewood. A feast in the 'wood is always a grand thing, full of music and magic and of course, food.
In the Second Tale, tentatively titled The Secret of Satyr Stump, there are more feasts to be enjoyed, and I've decided to include a few recipes for some of the sweet treats Colin might find at these feasts. As the Second Tale takes place during Samhain, at around the time the chestnuts in Chestnut Grove are being harvested by Cox and the brownies, there will of course be treats made from the chestnuts as well, but I'll write about those sometime in the future.
These recipes were found at the website Irish Culture & Customs. Be sure to pay the site a visit for lots more info about Irish Culture, Customes, and many more Irish Recipes. Also check out the books at the bottom of the post for great Irish & Celtic Recipes, both old and new.
Crunchy Apple & Blackberry Crumble
Contributed by Hartson Dowd
"In autumn the hedgerows are bursting with juicy, plump blackberries. Apples are the perfect flavor partner to blackberries, and now is the time when local varieties are in season. Crumbles are a classic and so easy to make. Here is one to welcome in the autumn!"
Ingredients:
For the filling:
2lb Bramley or Granny Smith cooking apples
1lb blackberries
6oz brown sugar
2 lemons
For the topping
8oz plain flour
6oz butter
2oz brown sugar
4oz muesli or a mixture of oats, seeds and chopped nuts
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
2. Peel, core and chop the apples into small chunks. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice over the apple and mix well. This not only adds flavour but prevents the freshly peeled apples from discoloring.
3. Layer the apples, blackberries, and sugar in a large pie dish
4. Place the flour in a large bowl and then rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs - leave a few lumps of butter so that the topping is not too fine. Add the muesli or oat/seed/nut mixture and the sugar and mix through.
5. Use a spoon to sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit. Bake for 45 minutes or until the fruit is cooked and bubbling juices seep through the topping.
6. Cool for a few minutes and then serve with custard or fresh cream.
Serves 6 to 8
Irish Fraughan Sunday Cake with Fraughan Cream
Contributed by Hartson Dowd
Fraughans, herts or bilberries are the names used in different parts of Ireland for the intensely flavored wild blueberries that grow on the acid hilltop soil. The 'Huckleberry' of North America is the equivalent of the European bilberry - the name being a corruption of 'Whortleberry.'
If you live in North America, there are about 40 native species of huckleberries, but in some parts of the United States the name "huckleberry" is improperly used for both blueberries and true huckleberries. Other people mistakenly believe that blueberries always have blue or bluish fruit, and that all huckleberries are black or purplish black. However, there are dark-colored blueberries, and huckleberries that are distinctly blue, but there is a sure way to tell one from the other: blueberries have a large number of tiny soft seeds, whereas the huckleberries have 10 rather large, bony seeds. Huckleberries would be an appropriate substitute in the following recipes; however, in the absence of bilberries or huckleberries, tart, fresh blueberries should work just as well.
Ingredients:
Fraughan Cake
8-oz self-rising flour
6-oz granulated sugar
6-oz butter
4-oz fraughans
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp milk
Fraughan Cream
6fl-oz whipping cream
2-oz fraughans
1 tbsp granulated sugar
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350°F
Butter a 7-inch round cake tin. Cream together the butter, sugar, until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding 1 tablespoon of flour with the last of the eggs. Sift the remaining flour and fold in, adding enough milk to produce a stiff mixture. Gently stir in the fraughans, ensuring they are evenly distributed through the mixture. In a bowl, cream the sugar and butter and beat the eggs in one at a time. Transfer to the prepared tin. Bake for 1 hour.
Remove from the tin. Allow to cool on a rack for 1-2 hours before serving.
Fraughan Cream
Place the fraughans in a bowl and mash into a juicy pulp. In a separate bowl whip the cream and sugar until stiff; fold in the fraughan pulp.
Chill before serving.
Serve a slice of cake accompanied with a portion of the cream.
Connemara Apple Tart
Edited and adapted from a a recipe published by George Steeler in the Irish Heritage newsletter. If you would like to subscribe, send George an email: [email protected]
In the old days, after the crops had been built into stacks, dried out and then brought into the haggard, it was time for the threshing. Entire communities would come together to help each other out and farmer's wives would vie with each other to produce the best feed for the menfolk. Topping off the main course would be apple or rhubarb tart served with big mugs of hot sweet tea.
Ingredients:
1 cup self rising flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 large apples - Granny Smith, Bramley or other green cooking apple
1 beaten Egg
2 ounces butter
1/4 cup milk
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Topping:
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
Method:
Sift flour, ginger, salt and sugar. Rub in the fat. Add milk and eggs to bake a soft dough. Roll out on a floured board. Cover the base of a greased pie dish with the pastry. Grate the apples onto the pastry. Dot with butter. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over top. Bake in a moderate oven for 1/2 hour. Serve hot with custard.*
Check out these books for great Irish & Celtic Recipes, both old and new!
Called by any number of names, whether it be fairy, faery, fae, fey, shee, wee people, and many more, the fairies of Irish folklore have fascinated us through the years.
No doubt as children, many of us searched for evidence of fairies, sprites, brownies, leprechauns, and other fey, in dark corners of our attics, rings of toadstools in our backyards, and secluded areas of woods, all magical places unto themselves.
Whilst writing my own book, I cam across a few tomes that are exceptionally entertaining and instrumental for anyone wanting to learn more about the many fairies of Ireland, and the myths and legends that go along with them. Aside from the more well-known fairy types, these books also introduce you to other fey that are no less intriguing, such as the banshee and the pooka.
10 years in business, delivering nothing but the best, authentic Irish food & groceries
As neighborhoods become more culturally diverse, supermarkets have adjusted, allocating more shelf space to international and ethnic foods. Whereas several years ago, the international section consisted mainly of Asian and Mexican foods, you can now find Polish, Irish, and other cultural groceries, depending upon where you might shop.
Unfortunately, selection is still rather limited, but thanks to the internet, you can easily order any type of ethic or international food you desire, including authentic Irish food. It is very hard to find any stores, on the internet or in your hometown, where you can purchase authentic Irish sausages, bacon, bread, and fish, among other Irish products. Luckily, internet store Food Ireland can easily meet your needs for fresh Irish food, along with a bevy of additional Irish and European products.
Read more...
Visit the FoodIreland website
The 2008 Long Island Irish Festival
will be held July 18th, 19th and 20th, 2008
Abbess Farm, 3581 Middle Country Road,
Calverton, NY
I originally intended to have a booth at this great event to promote my book, but alas, I will only be a visitor this year. Still, it is a great way to spend the weekend.
There will be 3 large stages, featuring over a dozen great Irish bands, including Black 47, Mythica, Stone Cross, and more.
The marketplace features over 40 vendors selling everything from clothing, music, decor, crystal, and many unique items.
Additionally, you'll find a lot of great food vendors, Irish step-dancing performances, various workshops, and much more.
Visit
the website for more information and to purchase advance tickets.
Rain is not common in Tanglewood, but it has fallen quite often as of late. Some of the sheehogue say this it is the work of Grainne, the Grey Lady, who calls down the rain to match her melancholy mood.
There will be no more blackberry tea for some time. With the coming of Samhain, so too has come the pookha. The presence of the strange, shapeshifting creature has caused the blackberries to spoil.
A small matter, as the spiced apple tea is no less alluring and flavorful.
Monohan has given me a handful of coins to carry with me. He insists I keep them on my person whenver I journey through the 'wood. Should I encounter the pookha, I am to give these coins to the creature, and make my escape quickly while it is distracted.
I now know that the central figure depicted in the tapestry above Monohan's hearth is Alastar. The star too far still watches over Tanglewood, and I think Colin in particular. I wonder if there is some undiscovered relation there that the trees have not yet revealed to me. Perhaps even the trees do not know themselves.
But there is the mystery of Colin's fey blood to consider. And Bairtlemead has his own suspicions as well. I can only hope that all will be revealed in another tale.
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Wonderful story, I love it.
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Sonya