Welcome to my web site. Take your time and enjoy!
True tales of Scottish history and mystery.
Hi there! I’m Nigel, welcome.
You may have noticed a few changes from the previous web site, but I have written more books and so the site has been redesigned to accomodate my new works and give an overview of each novel as well as essential background information uncovered during my researches, which may or may not be included in the book.
My first book started as a curious exploration into the history of the Neolithic standing stone in Gourock, known locally as Granny Kempoch, turned into an investigation into witchcraft throughout Scotland. Mainly young or very old single women were accused and viciously tortured for political or personal gain, often on purely circumstantial evidence.
There is a lot to find on the site, and so each book has it´s own section which are detailed below:
Section 1 – Granny Kempock
Granny Kempock, tells true tales of Scottish witchcraft and mystery. It is an anthology of stories both ancient and modern and is a combination of fact and fiction. The novel has been based on the facts that could be found and infilled details with what could have happened. Most of the characters are based on historical figures at the time and these are interwoven with fictional accounts to provide continuity to the stories.
Section 2 – Steamers.
My second book was actually written well before Granny Kempock, but given the success of my first book I have finally managed to get it published on Amazon in both paperback and as a Kindle Edition. The web site is set out in the same way as Granny Kempock, so just click back and relax.
Section 3 – Black Douglas Chronicles.
Black Douglas Chronicles tells the story of possibly the most courageous and outrageous family in Scotland during the 13th and 14th centuries. They rose to fame by their loyalty and warrior prowess which gradually disintegrated over several generations into greed, treachery and an attempt to take the throne.
Section 4 – New Werk
New Werk – Newark Castle has almost no tale to tell.” So wrote the famous Author and Historian Hugh MacDonald in 1860.
This story covers the period circa 1550 to 1650 and the turbulent life of Sir Patrick Maxwell of Newark. The Maxwells of Newark were relatively short lived as a branch of the Maxwells of Pollock and it is possibly as a result of their relative obscurity that little has been written about them, however they have proved to be a typical microcosm of life in medieval Scotland and lived through the one of the greatest political and social transformations in the British Isles when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and the United Kingdom.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome and I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have. Granny Kempock was written using mainly contemporary accounts and opens up a whole host of questions related to the written and accepted historical versions available today.
Enjoy!