Hah! I think the title of this post should be a book title. Not in my plans just now, but I wanted to share with you these two videos. Both are Celtic harps, something like what Robbie Elliot would play in The Harp and the Sea. And then I’m going to share an excerpt. (Yes, folks, this is very similar to a combination of recent Facebook posts. Cheating a little, but I still want to share here. Also, read on for a link to my newsletter, which gets you to some giveaway news!

First, click here and you can hear Catriona’s Lament played on a wire-strung Celtic Harp not far different fro the one Robbie Elliot has in The Harp and the Sea! Possibly, Robbie’s was built toward the end of the 16th Century, and possibly sounded a little throatier—the harps were used as military marching instruments at one time, and the sound was powerful. Robbie’s Harp has followed him through a century and a half of demi-life, destined to “sing” when at last he finds love. But with it’s strength restored, it helps turn the tide of a battle at the melodious cave known as An Uaimh-Binnh.

Beautiful, right? But click right here for another example. This one, and the style of the song being played, is probably even closer to what Robbie Elliot played in The Harp and the Sea. And, the location here is the wild and lonely Isle of Skye, where much of our story takes place.

Okay, so much for harps and history, here’s that excerpt, about Robbie and his harp and the magic set upon them both. It’s from late in the story, but it’s not exactly a spoiler, more of a teaser, I hope. 🙂
___________
He’d worked through the octaves, found an easy-to-hear open fifth, and worked octaves up and down from that note. By the time he had two of those fairly well-tuned, he began to hear the music of the cavern again. He finished the last of the fifths and moved on to the flat, churchy sound of a fourth from the first C he’d touched, and then doubled the F’s at the octaves up and down. Now the cave’s music grew louder, and its sound changed. It was reaching, Robbie thought, for the harp’s tones. By the time he’d tuned all of the strings that had survived, the harp had begun to sound its own complex music. The last time Robbie had come ashore—decades past—he heard a harp played with gut strings. The sound
had been lullaby sweet, hardly resembling the almost military strength of the brass strings he was used to. Now that fervent, metallic sound marched out by its own volition, a song never composed, chords and snips of melody playing and sparring amidst the insistent harmonies and dissonances voiced by ancient An Uaimh Bhinn, the whole of it a campaign song for a devil’s army.
___________

Meet Robbie, the magic, the harp, and the sexy Highlander Ian MacDonald in The Harp and the Sea (click here) by Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell.

“Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell have created a classic in the MM romance genre; a rare gem in its historical and fantastical elements, lacking nothing in passion, action, and intrigue.” —Mia Kerick/Jude Munro

____________
Okay, to finish up so I can go help with my grandson’s birthday breakfast, here’s my newsletter sign-up page. You get a free book for signing up, and in the most recent issue (which you’ll get) are some intriguing things like giveaways (including another BIG one, an excerpt, and some recs for other peoples books. 🙂

Thanks for reading!