From the beloved author of "The Once and Future Celt" comes the reissue of his first two books

April 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Bill Watkins has the gift of a storyteller—a gift that should not be forgotten. Throughout his trilogy weaves many tales of youthful explorations, merriment, and pleasure. His first two books, originally printed in 1999 and 2000, are now set for reissue by Scarletta Press on August 9, 2011. With Scarletta previously publishing the third book of the trilogy, The Once and Future Celt (ISBN 978-0-9765201-9-1), in 2008, all three books are finally available through one press. Both reissued books are set to be available in EBOOK and POD formats, with a short print run. Scotland Is Not for the Squeamish even includes a never-before-read missing chapter.

A Celtic Childhood (ISBN 978-0-9765201-8-4 tr | 978-0-9824584-6-4 ebook) vividly portrays Bill's eccentric and richly colloquial Celtic family; his vibrant Irish mam whose “hand is on the tiller” as the head of the household; his principled but stout-loving Welsh dad, who dances a jig to escape from the fairies; an uncle, who gets the “heebie-jeebies” from round food; and his Grandda, who has “a generous supply of Celtic songs and tall stories for all social occasions.” The fleádh nights with his family bring forth a rich understanding of young Bill’s place in Celtic history.

Rich and colorful, Bill Watkins deftly mingles Celtic poetry, history, and song with true and tall tales of his high-seas adventures and explorations of the Scottish highlands. Continuing from where A Celtic Childhood left off, Scotland Is Not for the Squeamish (ISBN 978-0-9765201-7-7 tr | 978-0-9824584-5-7 ebook) reflects on the events that transpired through Bill’s early twenties and shaped him as a man. After realizing his childhood dream of becoming a wireless operator at seas, Watkins takes his readers to the places he visits, the people he meets, and the work and predicaments he gets into.

For full sell sheets and/or electronic galleys for review of A Celtic Childhood and Scotland Is Not for the Squeamish please email Desiree Bussiere, Scarletta Press Publicity Director, desiree@scarlettapress.com.

What critics are saying:

“Stuffed full of mischief and yearning, and all manner of whimsical absurdity that bedevils the soul of the dispossessed Celt.” — Erin Hart, author of Haunted Ground, Lake of Sorrows, and False Mermaid

“Will appeal to all people who enjoy music and myths and a wee bit of mischief.” — San Antonio Express-News

Author Biography
Bill Watkins was born in Birmingham, England, to a Welsh/Irish family in 1950. His bilingual parents were notable traditional singers. Having learned to play the tin whistle, fiddle, guitar, banjo and mandolin at an early age, Bill is also an accomplished singer/songwriter whose most famous ditty, “The Errant Apprentice,” has been recorded worldwide. Now living in Minneapolis, he serves as the cultural ambassador at Merlins Rest Pub. Bill's company, Keltcom LLC, designs and builds Irish and British Isles pubs, repairs vintage radio equipment and makes kilts. Visit www.keltcom.com or www.merlinsrest.com.

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