The old world in all its green and youthful beauty

I could fly from one side of Ireland to the other and I’d hear nothing but the rush of the wind, the running of the rivers and the wild creatures of the forests. There were no machines, no engines, no metal birds roaring through the sky. No roads and railways. No concrete buildings and smoking chimneys. No bellowing and rumbling of the industry of man. Just the old world in all its green and youthful beauty. Oh how I long for those days to return.

From The Cry of the Sebac, a novel by Anthony Murphy. Available on Amazon Kindle and coming to print soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Cry-Sebac-Anthony-Murphy-Journalist-ebook/dp/B01DE75Z50/

Newgrange: Monument to Immortality being reprinted

I have received good news from The Liffey Press. Newgrange: Monument to Immortality is currently being reprinted, following its recent selling out. The first edition was published in 2012 and is now sold out. The new print run should arrive at the distributor on 16th November, and so should be available in the shops shortly afterwards.

This is the second of my non-fiction books to sell out. Island of the Setting Sun - In Search of Ireland's Ancient Astronomers was first published in 2006 and sold out in 13 months. It was republished as a second edition in 2008 and has since sold out again, but regrettably is not being republished at this time. I would like to see Island being republished as I think it will continue to sell for years to come.

Land of the Ever-Living Ones now available as an eBook to purchase on Amazon Kindle!

My new novella, 'Land of the Ever-Living Ones', is now available to purchase as an eBook on the Amazon Kindle platform. If you have a Kindle, you can purchase and download the book easily by searching for "ever living ones", or at this link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Ever-Living-Ones-Anthony-Murphy-ebook/dp/B00GPMOS0U/

The cover of my new novella, 'Land of the Ever-Living Ones'

It's a very exciting time for me. As an established non-fiction author, I'm naturally apprehensive about my first work of fiction. It draws on many themes explored on Mythical Ireland and in my non-fiction books, and could easily fit under a number of categories and keywords, including mythology, spirituality, eternity, afterlife, nature, cosmos, elements, humanity, earth wisdom, new age, self-help. It is a moving dialogue between a sean-draoi (wise old man) and a young boy and reaches into cosmic and spiritual realms. A full description can be read here:

http://www.mythicalireland.com/landoftheeverlivingones/land-of-the-ever-living-ones.html

In the meantime, if you would like to read it you can get it on your Kindle. If you enjoy it, I would greatly appreciate a nice review on Amazon. And, of course, don't forget to give me your feedback in a comment on this blog. Thank you very much.

First copy of 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality'

I am delighted to report that I have just received the first copy of 'Newgrange: Monument to Immortality' from The Liffey Press. I received a call this morning to say the first two copies had been received at the publisher's office in Raheny, Dublin, from the printer. (The rest will follow next week).

Publisher David Givens presenting me with the first copy of 'Newgrange:
Monument to Immortality' in The Liffey Press offices today.

It is a long-standing tradition, although not widely upheld today apparently, that the author receives the first copy of his or her work. Thankfully, The Liffey Press publisher David Givens still believes in this old mantra! And so, just after midday, myself and my wife Ann were on the M1 motorway heading for Dublin. I have to say that I felt like a child waiting to see what Santa had left . . . I couldn't wait.

The book is beautifully printed and finished, and feels quite weighty in the hand. I am thrilled that so many colour photographs have been used in the book. It is a top quality production - and I wouldn't expect anything less after the tremendous job that was done with 'Island of the Setting Sun'.

The book should be available in the bookshops by the end of the month, and the first official launch will take place in The Barbican, Drogheda, on Friday, November 9th.

The new Newgrange book alongside Island of the Setting Sun.

New novel featuring Newgrange just published

A new novel about Newgrange called 'Priestess of the Fire Temple - A Druid's Tale' has been published. The author is Ellen Evert Hopman, a well known druid leader and long-time contributor to the Irish-Stones mailing list. Here are some blurbs about this new novel:

Through intriguing characters we encounter sagas of war, love, life, and death, and are expertly introduced to herb lore along with other insights into Druidic knowledge that will whet the appetite for more. Riveting.

—Carmel Diviney, Bandruí agus Filidh, heritage activist with SaveTara.com and Tara Skryne Preservation Group in Dublin, Ireland

This tale of the spiritual awakening of a young woman, breaking free of the expectations that her ancient society imposes, is a master class in storytelling. 

 

—Raymond MacSuibhne, Pagan Federation Ireland National Coordinator and lifelong resident of County Cill Dara (Cell Daro), Ireland 

 

Herbal lore, ancient Celtic ways, Druidic secrets, magical workings, and much more are woven into a tale that will touch your heart and grace your life. 

 

—Susun S. Weed, wise woman, herbalist, and author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year 

 

A captivating and fast-paced story that sweeps the reader up in the mystery and turmoil of fifth-century Ireland … The best in the series so far. Definitely a must-read! 

 

—Morgan Daimler, author of By Land, Sea, and Sky: A Selection of Re-Paganized Prayers and Charms from the Carmina Gadelica 

 

Romance, royalty, cattle raids, herbalism, some wonderful poetry … I felt as if I were living at that time. Thumping good plot, as well as a “teaching” book. Couldn’t put it down! 

 

—Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D., author of The Hammer of the Smith and The Divine Thunderbolt: Missile of the Gods 

 

A treasure-trove of fascinating herbal lore and prayers of old, sure to delight anyone interested in the old Celtic ways. 

 

—Andrew Theitic, editor, The Witches’ Almanac, Ltd. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellen Evert Hopman was vice president of the Henge of Keltria, an international Druid fellowship, for nine years. She is the founder of the Whiteoak Internet mailing list (an online Druid ethics study group) and is a co-founder and former co-chief of the Order of the Whiteoak (Ord Na Darach Gile). She lives and writes in an oak forest in Massachusetts. www.elleneverthopman.com