Dave Michael's Blog: Feather of Hawk
August 1, 2023
THE CALEDONIAN-Treachery
Just to let readers know,my second book has just been published. This is Book One of a serial novel. I had the idea, of using this structure, watching the making of Stephen King's film,'The Green Mile.' I was struggling and overwhelmed with writing an 80000 word manuscript, until I discovered that The Mile was written as a serial novel, in six installments. I bought Book One,'The Two Dead Girls,'--and thought this would be a great way to aproach my next piece or pieces of writing. Book One is written. Book Two and Three are in good developmental shape-- I find it much better to focus on segments of the story-and do not feel as overwhlmed, because I do not have to worry about, the beginning, middle and end approach. It also gives me more time to absorb, plan and invent the next phases of the plot. Exciting things can happen during the process. All of your comments would be most welcome-Dave
August 24, 2017
The Journey Begins
'Feather of Hawk - Rebellion' took twelve years to write. An endless, uphill struggle to deliver a gripping story done to the best of my ability. Holding the reader's attention was my main goal - I hope I have achieved this as I tried to make the story as unpredictable as possible.
There are many complicated threads in the story. There is a mystical thread of the Feather of Hawk - a sacred gift of a warrior shaman called Hawk to Calach the Swordsman (the main protagonist ).
As the story progresses the sacred feather becomes a changing and deeply symbolic object - it was related to an event several years ago when I lost a dear friend. Some weeks after his loss I discovered a flower he had given me- faded and worn - I found it by the dashboard of my car. I can not explain it- but such a feeling of love and peace flooded my senses and put any fears and anxieties to rest. It was if my friend was telling me he was fine and he was near.
Something was lost long ago- this sixth sense, which I am sure we all had and still have, have been eroded and destroyed by rationality and science. We live in a strictly material world, a world in which status, money and power dominate over the sacred, mysterious and sublime. It really was that feeling I had when I found the faded flower as well as an extended road trip through Scotland that was the catalyst to write Feather of Hawk.
The novel tells story of the Celts and their bitter struggle against Roman invaders. The Celts were a superstitious and highly tuned in people- but these ancient people were not cardboard cut outs pictured in our history books or often portayed in mainstream culture as simple ‘savages’ - no, I believe they were a sophisticated people who were tuned into the energies of the earth, nature, and themselves. We need to follow our intuition; we need to follow our dreams and visions because they are important. In a world in which money is the God, maybe it is time to try and tune into who we really are and then we may discover new and exciting pathways.
Like the Celts, our lives should be a rich tapestry on this soulful journey for the duration of the little time we have. In adversity we find new bridges to cross and take up the challenges that this difficult life throws at us.
Dave Michael.
There are many complicated threads in the story. There is a mystical thread of the Feather of Hawk - a sacred gift of a warrior shaman called Hawk to Calach the Swordsman (the main protagonist ).
As the story progresses the sacred feather becomes a changing and deeply symbolic object - it was related to an event several years ago when I lost a dear friend. Some weeks after his loss I discovered a flower he had given me- faded and worn - I found it by the dashboard of my car. I can not explain it- but such a feeling of love and peace flooded my senses and put any fears and anxieties to rest. It was if my friend was telling me he was fine and he was near.
Something was lost long ago- this sixth sense, which I am sure we all had and still have, have been eroded and destroyed by rationality and science. We live in a strictly material world, a world in which status, money and power dominate over the sacred, mysterious and sublime. It really was that feeling I had when I found the faded flower as well as an extended road trip through Scotland that was the catalyst to write Feather of Hawk.
The novel tells story of the Celts and their bitter struggle against Roman invaders. The Celts were a superstitious and highly tuned in people- but these ancient people were not cardboard cut outs pictured in our history books or often portayed in mainstream culture as simple ‘savages’ - no, I believe they were a sophisticated people who were tuned into the energies of the earth, nature, and themselves. We need to follow our intuition; we need to follow our dreams and visions because they are important. In a world in which money is the God, maybe it is time to try and tune into who we really are and then we may discover new and exciting pathways.
Like the Celts, our lives should be a rich tapestry on this soulful journey for the duration of the little time we have. In adversity we find new bridges to cross and take up the challenges that this difficult life throws at us.
Dave Michael.
August 15, 2017
Why this story?
Feather of Hawk – Rebellion
SCOTLAND’S FORGOTTEN LEGEND LIVES ON!
The Celts once inhabited much of Europe long before the Roman Empire almost wiped them off the face of the earth. We know very little about them as they did not leave written records. These ancient people were an oral society; societies whose bards, seers and druids passed down their unique stories that would live in the hearts and minds of their people. The Celtic heroes were superhuman; larger than life, boastful and courageous, fearless and flawed and were doomed to a dark fate. It was a fascination with the Celts that drove on my desire to write a story about the lesser known Celtic prince called Calach the Swordsman.
The idea for the historical fiction, ‘Feather of Hawk – Rebellion,’ began with a road trip through the Scottish landscape along the Antonine and Hadrian’s Wall. I discovered an old Roman Fort in Peel Park, north of Glasgow. A cold winter day. A bleak scene of snowy mountain tops. The winds froze my hands and limbs to the bone as I looked out to northern Scotland. What where the Romans doing here? Why would these soldiers from Italy, used to the hot climates of the Mediterranean, want to be here at all? I will remember that road trip for the rest of my days; a stay over in an old fiesta car van at the old Roman fort of Vindolanda. A strange mist enveloped the site as I tried to get to sleep. Suddenly, even though I was on a dirt track in the middle of nowhere, I sensed that the road was full of ancient traffic of marching Legionaries and their neighing horses. The distinct clatter of their armour, as they paced to a steady beat, filled my ears and the whole road was vibrantly alive. I had to drive the car off and park somewhere quieter. I went into Glasgow and bought a second hand copy of Peter Salway’s book, ‘Roman Britain.’ It was from Peter’s research on Tacitus, the renowned Roman historian who describes Calach's epic struggle. Before the final, decisive battle between Celt and Roman Tacitus notes that there was, ‘a man of outstanding valour and nobility named Calgacus; ( this was his Roman name ) who addressed the close packed multitude of men clamouring for battle.’ Calach’s achievements, using Tacitus as the source, were as follows ;
• Calach united the Caledonian tribes of ancient Scotland against the Roman invaders.
• He almost destroyed the Roman Ninth Legion in their garrison fort of Eborecum.
(present day York- Northern England.)
• A great battle took place between Calach’s United Celtic Army and the Roman army.
Why did Calach rebel? It must have been something terrible, something evil, perpetrated against him, which drove on his desire to destroy the hated invaders. I wanted to portray Calach as the Spartacus of ancient Britain. I penned him as a fearless and highly skilled sword warrior who inspired a nation not yet born to rise. I wanted to make the chapters as vivid and gripping as possible and, where I could, lace the story with earthy humor. The novel has a strong love interest, a whole host of colourful characters, a few bloody battle scenes as well as a shadowy traitor who stalks Calach. The theme of the story is revenge and how revenge poisons Calach’s humanity. The main protagonist begins to realize that he has become the monster that he is fighting, but is it too late for him to reverse his burning hatred and find some sort of salvation?
SCOTLAND’S FORGOTTEN LEGEND LIVES ON!
The Celts once inhabited much of Europe long before the Roman Empire almost wiped them off the face of the earth. We know very little about them as they did not leave written records. These ancient people were an oral society; societies whose bards, seers and druids passed down their unique stories that would live in the hearts and minds of their people. The Celtic heroes were superhuman; larger than life, boastful and courageous, fearless and flawed and were doomed to a dark fate. It was a fascination with the Celts that drove on my desire to write a story about the lesser known Celtic prince called Calach the Swordsman.
The idea for the historical fiction, ‘Feather of Hawk – Rebellion,’ began with a road trip through the Scottish landscape along the Antonine and Hadrian’s Wall. I discovered an old Roman Fort in Peel Park, north of Glasgow. A cold winter day. A bleak scene of snowy mountain tops. The winds froze my hands and limbs to the bone as I looked out to northern Scotland. What where the Romans doing here? Why would these soldiers from Italy, used to the hot climates of the Mediterranean, want to be here at all? I will remember that road trip for the rest of my days; a stay over in an old fiesta car van at the old Roman fort of Vindolanda. A strange mist enveloped the site as I tried to get to sleep. Suddenly, even though I was on a dirt track in the middle of nowhere, I sensed that the road was full of ancient traffic of marching Legionaries and their neighing horses. The distinct clatter of their armour, as they paced to a steady beat, filled my ears and the whole road was vibrantly alive. I had to drive the car off and park somewhere quieter. I went into Glasgow and bought a second hand copy of Peter Salway’s book, ‘Roman Britain.’ It was from Peter’s research on Tacitus, the renowned Roman historian who describes Calach's epic struggle. Before the final, decisive battle between Celt and Roman Tacitus notes that there was, ‘a man of outstanding valour and nobility named Calgacus; ( this was his Roman name ) who addressed the close packed multitude of men clamouring for battle.’ Calach’s achievements, using Tacitus as the source, were as follows ;
• Calach united the Caledonian tribes of ancient Scotland against the Roman invaders.
• He almost destroyed the Roman Ninth Legion in their garrison fort of Eborecum.
(present day York- Northern England.)
• A great battle took place between Calach’s United Celtic Army and the Roman army.
Why did Calach rebel? It must have been something terrible, something evil, perpetrated against him, which drove on his desire to destroy the hated invaders. I wanted to portray Calach as the Spartacus of ancient Britain. I penned him as a fearless and highly skilled sword warrior who inspired a nation not yet born to rise. I wanted to make the chapters as vivid and gripping as possible and, where I could, lace the story with earthy humor. The novel has a strong love interest, a whole host of colourful characters, a few bloody battle scenes as well as a shadowy traitor who stalks Calach. The theme of the story is revenge and how revenge poisons Calach’s humanity. The main protagonist begins to realize that he has become the monster that he is fighting, but is it too late for him to reverse his burning hatred and find some sort of salvation?
Feather of Hawk
The story of an ordinary man whose love for family and tribe drives him on a ruthless quest for revenge. Calach sips from the poisonous cup of hatred, but will this make him no better than the vile be ...more
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