Tag: Saint Columba

Kirkus Reviews calls “The Chronicles of Iona: Exile” exciting, immersive and authentic

July 2, 2012

Kirkus has given “The Chronicles of Iona: Exile” a great review.  THE CHRONICLES OF IONA: EXILE This historical novel set in sixth-century Scotland relates the struggles of St. Columba to establish his monastery and of Aedan mac Gabran to gain a kingship. In 563, Columba, an exiled abbot (and future saint), arrives with his monks … More Kirkus Reviews calls “The Chronicles of Iona: Exile” exciting, immersive and authentic

ForeWord Clarion: The Chronicles of Iona: Exile gets 5 STARS (out of 5)

June 22, 2012

ForeWord Clarion Review HISTORICAL FICTION The Chronicles of Iona: Exile Paula de Fougerolles Careswell Press 978-0-615-60254-7 Five Stars (out of Five) “Iona is not a place one visits on a whim,” says a burly Scottish warlord to the Irish abbot who plans to colonize the isle. “Beset by vile storms” and surrounded by even viler … More ForeWord Clarion: The Chronicles of Iona: Exile gets 5 STARS (out of 5)

Here’s the cover of “The Chronicles of Iona, Exile”, coming June 2012.

March 30, 2012

Here is the cover of my book, The Chronicles of Iona: Exile, on its way in June.  The map detail of the Irish Sea, Argyll and the Isles, and Strathclyde is from Scotiae Tabula by Abraham Ortelius in his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1592-1606).  The map, which I have always loved, hangs on the wall in my study—a … More Here’s the cover of “The Chronicles of Iona, Exile”, coming June 2012.

“The Chronicles of Iona: Exile”: coming soon to a virtual bookstore near you …

February 28, 2012

 … as near to you, that is, as your nearest computer, or tablet, or Kindle, or Nook, or Sony e-reader, or what-have-you.  Because, in a few short weeks, The Chronicles of Iona: Exile, my historical fiction novel about the two men who “founded” Scotland in the sixth century, the saint Columba and the warlord Aedan mac … More “The Chronicles of Iona: Exile”: coming soon to a virtual bookstore near you …

Book II is done too …

September 28, 2011

It’s been a long hiatus, but a productive one, and I’m back with the news that Book II in my series is done too.   It’s called The Chronicles of Iona: Peregrinatio.  (That’s Latin for a “peregrination”, literally a wandering, but in this case, that is the early monastic case, a pilgrimage.   In Irish Latin usage, … More Book II is done too …

My book’s done!

March 1, 2010

Just wanted to let you know that my manuscript, The Chronicles of Iona: Exile is done and needing readers, and an agent and publisher. It’s a dual biography of St. Columba of Iona and Áedán mac nGabráin, king of the Scots of Dál Riáta, the first in a series of novels about their lives.  Columba is best known for bringing … More My book’s done!

The Pictish monastery of Portmahomack–a Columban foundation

January 21, 2010

(Looking out from Craig Phadrig towards Portmahomack) Finally, what may be proof that St Columba did indeed convert the Northern Picts to Christianity!  His Vita, the “biography” of Columba written a century after his death, suggests that he did, but that is hardly a surprising claim for such a work to make.  But the Venerable … More The Pictish monastery of Portmahomack–a Columban foundation

Is the Loch Ness Monster dead?

January 11, 2010

Researchers and fans of the extraordinary are despairing.  The number of sightings of the Loch Ness Monster has tailed off dramatically in recent years, so much so that many think the famed creature may actually be dead. But did you know that the first recorded story about the Loch Ness monster is in the Vita … More Is the Loch Ness Monster dead?

“In course of time Britain received a third race …” or The Peoples of the North

January 4, 2010

  Loch Crinan, gateway to Dunadd, the caput regionis of the Scots of Dál Riata There were four different peoples in Scotland in the early Middle Ages, speaking their own languages, with their distinctive material cultures, myths of origins, religions and ideologies.  All have left significant legacies in the history and landscape of Scotland. The … More “In course of time Britain received a third race …” or The Peoples of the North

Iona

January 1, 2010

Paula de Fougerolles 2009 The island of Iona with the modern Abbey left foreground, Dun I center   Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, was a center of Christianity in Europe for much of the Middle Ages.  Columba, or Colum Cille as he was known, exiled from … More Iona