Barrett Magill's "Highland Dew" New Book

April 2018

About Me

My background

Retired after 35 years as a Registered Nurse. Moved to the High Desert of New Mexico

My writing roots

I began writing a medical thriller that grew like the ever expanding "Herman" bread dough. I got serious about writing with my first attempt at National Novel Writers Month in 2008. That required 50K words written in 30 days.

Since then I've published six novels and three novellas.

My style

I consider myself an evolving "panster" (writes without an outline--"seat-of-the-pants") On my last story I made an attempt at using an outline. Results are pending.

My Updates on the Book Journey

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Hogmanay & First Footing

December 31, 2017

In Scotland, Christmas itself was until recent times a purely Religious festival and New Year was and still is the main holiday for Scots. Christmas was not traditionally celebrated in Scotland because it was banned for nearly 400 years until the 1950's. Hogmanay was the real traditional celebration.

Thousands of people gather in Edinburgh, in Scotland, every year for a big parade, food and fireworks. They are celebrating Hogmanay - which is a Scottish word that means 'new year'. Hogmanay celebrations take place all over Scotland and lasts for three days, beginning at the end of December and ending on January 2nd.

The roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the "Daft Days" as they were sometimes called in Scotland.

The "First Footing" is a tradition celebrated on Hogmanay, a Scottish New Year's celebration. It is supposed to bring luck and prosperity to the household for the new year. It is a ritual involving the first person to step into a household from the outside in a new year.

Highland Dew Excerpt

A brief reading

"Highland Dew"

Original song by Yarin Swid

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I'll be posting information about the research and process of writing about Whisky. Also when and where to get a copy when it's released.

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Barrett Magill's "Highland Dew"