North Rona is now considered a “special area of conservation.” To me, it still sounds like a magical place, with seals, sea birds and ruins all over the island. The Giant’s Cave also exists, and so do the ruins of St. Ronan, a Sixth Century monk, who somehow ended up on a tiny island in the remote North Sea—why? Well, I’d like to believe there truly is fairy dust out there in the cosmos and that it, like the essence of our stories is catching. Alas, these characters only exist in this writer’s mind—and now in yours. I hope you’ll keep them in your hearts, as I do mine.
What’s next? Malcom MacKinnon’s story! Much grown and much changed, he’ll take us on a journey into the Border Lands of England, during the anarchy between England and Scotland. Until then, happy reading!
Alba gu brath!
(Scotland forever!)
Dictionary
Provided for better reading enjoyment. For Gaelic words not included here, the meaning has been worked into the story itself. Look for both the Gaelic words and the English translation in italics.
Am Monadh Ruadh: the Cairngorms, but literally the red hills, distinguishing them from Am Monadh Liath, the grey hills
Aurochs: large wild cattle, now extinct
Bean sìth: banshee
Ben: mountain
Breacan: short for breacan-an-feileadh, or great kilt
Brollachans: ghouls
Corries: half-open precipitous hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside
Crannóg: wooden dwellings the early Picts used as homes, often built over a body of water
Dwale: a drink made of nightshade or belladonna, often used for anesthesia
Inbhir Nis: Inverness
Fortnight: fourteen nights
Keek stane: a scrying stone, or crystal ball
Loch: lake
Mormaerdom: Gaelic name for the Kingdom of Moray
Mormaer: Gaelic name for a regional or provincial ruler
Quintain: a piece of training equipment used for jousting, often formed in the shape of a person
Reiver: raider on the English-Scottish border
Scotia: Scotland, also known as Alba
Selkies: mythological creatures, said to live as seals in the ocean but shed their skin to become human on land
Sennight: seven nights
Sluag: God of the Underworld
Targe: a circular shield used for defense
The Blue Men: mythological creatures, also known as storm kelpies
The Mounth: range of hills on the southern edge of Strathdee in northeast Scotland
The Minch: a fjord in northwest Scotland, separating the northwest Highlands and the northern Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
Trews: close-fitting tartan trousers
Uisge-beatha: whisky, literally means water of life
Vin aigre: vinegar or sour wine
Woad: a dye extracted from the woad plant
Once Upon a Highland Legend
Curious about Uhtreda’s prophecy? Have you read Once Upon a Highland Legend? Don’t miss the legend that started everything. Join Annie Ross as she journeys from present day Scotland, all the way back to 878 A.D., where she must take her place as a guardian of the Destiny Stone, and find a way to restore the faith of a powerful Highland chieftain.
Read Once Upon a Highland Legend
Guardians of the Stone
Series Bibliography
Also available as Audiobooks
Once Upon a Highland Legend
Highland Fire
Highland Steel
Highland Storm
Maiden from the Mist
Also connected…
The Highland Brides
The MacKinnon’s Bride
Lyon’s Gift
On Bended Knee
Lion Heart
Highland Song
&
Angel Of Fire
Also by Tanya Anne Crosby
The Highland Brides
The MacKinnon’s Bride
Lyon’s Gift
On Bended Knee
Lion Heart
Highland Song
MacKinnon’s Hope
Guardians of the Stone
Once Upon a Highland Legend
Highland Fire
Highland Steel
Highland Storm
Maiden of the Mist
The Medievals Heroes
Once Upon a Kiss
Angel Of Fire
Viking’s Prize
The Impostor Series
The Impostor’s Kiss
The Impostor Prince
Redeemable Rogues
Happily Ever After
Perfect In My Sight
Kissed by a Rogue
Anthologies & Novellas
Lady’s Man
Mischief & Mistletoe
Married at Midnight
The Winter Stone
Romantic Suspense
Speak No Evil
Tell No Lies
Leave No Trace
Mainstream Fiction
The Girl Who Stayed
The Things We Leave Behind
Redemption Song (1/2018)
Everyday Lies (8/2018)
About the Author
Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five novels. She has been featured in magazines, such as People, Romantic Times and Publisher's Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first novel was published in 1992 by Avon Books, where Tanya was hailed as "one of Avon's fastest rising stars." Her fourth book was chosen to launch the company's Avon Romantic Treasure imprint.
Known for stories charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters Tanya is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor, and her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews.
Tanya and her writer husband split their time between Charleston, SC, where she was raised, and northern Michigan, where the couple make their home.
For more information
www.tanyaannecrosby.com
tanya@tanyaannecrosby.com