Come see me at the Oxford Indie Book Fair!

If you’re in Oxford, U.K. on Saturday, July 6, do swing by the Oxford Indie Book Fair to say hello! I’ll be there selling all my books at a special discounted rate. I’m also always delighted to sign old copies of my books, so do bring them along! Many thanks to #OxIndieBookFair and @artsfestivaloxford for … More Come see me at the Oxford Indie Book Fair!

Read the Preface to “Island-Pilgrim”, Book 3 in the award-winning historical-fiction series “The Chronicles of Iona”

The Chronicles of Iona:
Island-Pilgrim
Preface
More Read the Preface to “Island-Pilgrim”, Book 3 in the award-winning historical-fiction series “The Chronicles of Iona”

Book 2, The Chronicles of Iona: Prophet, is here!

   The second book in my historical-fiction series The Chronicles of Iona, called Prophet, is now out! The story picks up where the first book, Exile, left off, beginning in the year 567 A.D.  Four years after journeying with Scottish warrior Aedan mac Gabran into the land of the wild Picts, Irish abbot-prince Columba is forced back there … More Book 2, The Chronicles of Iona: Prophet, is here!

Here’s the cover for Book 2 in “The Chronicles of Iona”, “Prophet”

Here’s the cover of Book 2 in the series “The Chronicles of Iona”, called “Prophet”.   Yes: there’s been a name change.  Book 2 was originally entitled “Peregrinatio” which in Latin means a pilgrimage, a spiritual wandering, in this case to refer both to Columba in his exile on the island of Iona, and to Aedan, stuck in … More Here’s the cover for Book 2 in “The Chronicles of Iona”, “Prophet”

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

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)

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)

My book’s done!

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!

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

  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

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

Where in the world is Dál Riata?

  Paula de Fougerolles 2009 Looking across Loch Crinan at Duntrune Castle from the Loch Crinan Hotel The early medieval kingdom of Dál Riata (or Dalriada, as it is now commonly known) comprises much of the modern Scottish region of Argyll and Bute.  The original heartland of the kingdom of Scotland, this is the part … More Where in the world is Dál Riata?