We all know the iconic tartans of Scotland - each clan has their own, some tame, others quite wild. But this was not always the case. In the days of Alba, checked patterns would certainly exist, and regional variations would depend on what natural dyes were available in certain areas. But the tartan system as… Continue reading Friday Fact: the Fabric of Alba
Tag: history
Friday Fact: the Kingdom of Strathclyde
Before there was Scotland, a number of smaller kingdoms shared the land. One of these was Alba, itself a union between the native Picts and the Irish settlement of Dalriada. Alba eventually became dominant, swallowing up the Viking lands of Orkney, Caithness, and Sutherland to the north, the Isles and Galloway to the west, Anglo-Saxon… Continue reading Friday Fact: the Kingdom of Strathclyde
Friday Fact: Structures of Alba
At the time of my Alba novellas, the structural landscape of Scotland was just as diverse as its people. I thought I'd give you a visual taste of some of the buildings you might see if you wandered into my books. 😉 Brochs These weren't much in use at the time of Daughters… Continue reading Friday Fact: Structures of Alba
Friday Fact: The Bass Rock
When I was researching my book Legacy of Faith, the Bass Rock was an important part of John Mackilligen's story. He spent three years imprisoned on this barren island, along with many other Covenanters (illegal Presbyterians) at the time. The Rock itself is magnificent. It's basically a cube of volcanic rock that rises steep-sided out… Continue reading Friday Fact: The Bass Rock
Friday Fact: Red, White, and Green Martyrdom
We all know what a martyr is, right? Someone who dies for their faith, like the millions of heroes who have died rather than renounce the name of Jesus Christ. But did you know that in the Celtic Church there were two other kinds of martyrdom that don't involve bloodshed? I first encountered this interesting… Continue reading Friday Fact: Red, White, and Green Martyrdom
Friday Fact: Sigurd the Stout
Doing my research for Sons of Alba, I came across the interesting story of Sigurd the Stout, who was the Jarl (or king) of the Orkney Islands just prior to the time period. At that time, Orkney was a thoroughly pagan Viking kingdom, still involved in heavy raiding along the mainland of Alba (Scotland). But… Continue reading Friday Fact: Sigurd the Stout
Friday Fact: Born to be King?
You might know the song about Bonnie Prince Charlie, about him being "the lad that's born to be King". The Jacobites believed him to be the rightful king of Scotland based on the accident of his birth. But before the Medieval Normans got a hold of Scotland - or Alba as it was once known… Continue reading Friday Fact: Born to be King?
Tuesday Critique: Donnchad and Liosa
Here's what I've been working on: a sneak peak of Sons of Alba, the sequel to Daughters of Alba. In this scene, young Donnchad has recently arrived at Sgain, the royal capital of Alba, to be fostered at the court of the Ard Righ. Donnchad stood politely still as the two older men conversed, but… Continue reading Tuesday Critique: Donnchad and Liosa
Friday Fact: The Real Macbeth
You might have read Shakespeare's dark drama Macbeth in school: a grasping noble kills his aging king to seize the Scottish throne then lives and dies tormented by guilt and fear. But did you know that Macbeth was a real Scottish king? While researching for my latest wip Sons of Alba, I came across some… Continue reading Friday Fact: The Real Macbeth
Friday Fact: How to pronounce Gaelic
My latest books, Daughters of Alba, have a lot of Gaelic (Gaidhlig) in them. A lot. When I wrote them I was having fun with learning the language and trying to make my work as authentic as possible. But some of my early readers begged me for a pronunciation guide. So, in honour of D… Continue reading Friday Fact: How to pronounce Gaelic
Erin E. M. Hatton 