Overview

Step into the wild heart of Scotland, where mountains brood beneath cloud and mist, and lochs keep their secrets in their dark, still waters. Tales From The Land of the Brave gathers a rich collection of Scottish myths, legends, folktales, and fairy tales, stories once told by peat fire and candlelight to bind the generations, to warn, to wonder, and to remember. This new, revised and updated edition celebrates the fi erce and lyrical tradition of Scottish storytelling. Within its pages you'll fi nd proud warriors, bold heroines, selkies and kelpies, tricksters, ghosts, and otherworldly beings that drift between light and shadow. These are tales shaped by wind and wave, by moor and glen, and by the deep music of a people whose history and imagination have always been intertwined. Some tales are wild and tragic, others tender or quietly wise, but all are bright with the pulse of living myth. In these Scottish tales you may hear the world's oldest echoes, the shared heartbeat of story that crosses borders and centuries alike. Though each landscape has its own voice, the themes of courage, love, loss, and laughter remain the same, as old and enduring as the hills themselves. Tales From The Land of the Brave reminds us that storytelling is not just a pastime but a way of belonging. These are the stories that have carried Scotland's spirit through fire and frost, through memory and dream. So draw near, open the book, and listen well as the stag lifts its head, the wind rises through the heather, and the tales begin again

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9781915081643

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Reviews

I have edited Clive Gilson's books for over a decade now - he's prolific and can turn his hand to many genres. poetry, short fiction, contemporary novels, folklore, and science fiction - and the common theme is that none of them ever fails to take my breath away. There's something in each story that is either memorably poignant, hauntingly unnerving, or sidesplittingly funny - Lorna Howarth, The Write Factor Ragged A**** Ruffian reviewed on Amazon in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2021 - A truly heartwarming, interesting, story with a wonderful narrative. Unquestionably a splendid read A Solitude of Stars: With deft turns of phrase and an imagination that would make Philip K. Dick jealous, Gilson foresees a dystopian future, the seeds of which are definitely being sown right now. The story is a chilling glimpse of what may come to pass, warmed by a thread of love that raises the narrative beyond despair. I found the stories disturbing and breath-taking in equal measure. The Apparat and Dirigiste tribes are ranging across our solar system seeking peace by waging war, raising the question; is humanity actually capable of peace? A riveting read. - Rob Swan, The Write Factor Songs of Bliss gripped me from the start - I had to read right to the end. Loved the humour. Impressed by the surprising empathy that I felt for rather - on the face of it - unlikeable characters. Look forward to seeing it in print. - Maighdean-Mhara, commenting on Authonomy - Richer Daniel Laporte, California, December 2021 Publishers Weekly Melodies In Black Ink: A collection of darkly captivating short tales, each inspired by the melodies that move us, the lyrics that linger, and the stories hidden between the notes. Gilson (editor of the international Fireside Stories series) offers a dark, poignant collection of genre-crossing stories, all inspired by songs, that explore the fragile intersections of love, loss, resilience, and the shadows we carry. Ranging from children with superpowers to accounts of blossoming love, abusive relationships, unexpected pregnancies, and the isolating rhythm of a machine-driven society, Gilson's stories capture raw textures of the human experience in a key suggested by their musical inspirations, which include lushly brooding tracks from Kate Bush, This Mortal Coil, Angel Olsen, The Cure, and Youssou N'Dour (the sublime ""7 Seconds,"" a duet with Neneh Cherry.) Gilson has a gift for moment-to-moment storytelling that grips and then lingers, like Gorilla Glue stuck to one's fingertips, resisting even the harshest solvents of reason. US Review Of Books Melodies in Black Ink: This work is not just another set of tales linked together by a myriad of characters who sometimes appear in more than one narrative. In fact, this is much more than just another short story collection. It is also a reflective, musical journey. Accompanying each story is an explanation of the song that inspired the writing. Most impressive is the wide expanse of musical genres, artists, and songs included in this book. From Wardruna to Metric to Blue Oyster Cult to Dot Allison, the book's audience will experience a musical journey unlike any other. The incorporation of the notes discussing each inspirational song provides an informative background. It also provides historical context, along with the author's personal anecdotes, about each song.

Author Information

Clive Gilson was born in 1962 into a household steeped in sport and rhythm. His father was a senior amateur and lower-league professional footballer, while his mother, equally formidable, was an award-winning ballroom dancer. Their spirited household didn't just hum with ambition, it danced to it.After earning a degree in History from Leeds University, Clive took an unexpected turn into the then-nascent world of information technology in the late 1980s. Yet, the call of story and stage never left him. Alongside a thriving tech career, he freelanced as a journalist and book reviewer, earning one small by-line in the national press, and also spent over a decade performing in village halls and professional theatres across the south of England.A true inheritor of his family's sporting zeal, Clive later pivoted into live sports broadcasting. In the 1990s, he became a trusted rugby 'stato' for the BBC, ITV, EuroSport, and TVNZ, bringing insight and analysis to major tournaments including the Heineken Cup, Six Nations, World Sevens, and Rugby World Cups.As a writer, Clive has made his mark across genres. His debut novel, Songs of Bliss, was published in 2017, followed by A Solitude of Stars in 2019. Since then, he has released three acclaimed short story collections, The Mechanic's Curse, The Insomniac Booth, and, in 2025, Melodies in Black Ink.He is also an award-winning poet and the author of a biography detailing the life of a former professional footballer, namely his father. Since 2018, Clive has served as Managing Editor of the Firesides Tales Project, a global storytelling initiative that has published over 30 collections of folktales, fairy tales, myths, and legends from around the world.Today, Clive continues to write fiction rich in folklore, memory, and quiet transformation, combining his deep love of narrative with a lifelong fascination with the human spirit.For more about his work, visit clivegilson.com, where stories are always waiting to be found.

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