Music Monday: Ruaghéim

I've been listening to a lot of Irish music this spring, and finding that I can pick up more Gaeilge (Irish) that way than I am on Duolingo or by just looking up words and sentences. While waiting for Chasing Abbey to put out Saoirse, I'm sharing a song from the Irish Kings. Enjoy...and ROAR.

Lyrics:

Fair auld pride for the county I
Was called upon to lead
Was born and bred with a braisened head
By a wild Atlantic sea

Through fear we ride and death we stride
And face a life of toil
We're marching on where we belong
On Ireland's rugged soil

So run and power on and power on
And follow me
I'll bring you to the light
In through the fight

As men we live and bleed
So fear be gone and blood be on
Our tweed and garments wore
And men will pray and rue the day
They hear the Irish roar

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)


We are but land and grit and sand
And bog and stone and flame
Our spirits wake through crashing lakes
And songs without a name

From Clare to Down, from hill to town
The bloodline runs afar
And every grave where good men lay
Shall guide us through the dark

So rise and power on and power on
And follow me
I'll lead you through the light, into the fight
As men we shall but lead

Our mothers weep, their sorrows deep
But know the cause is true
For every son that bears a gun
A thousand more will do

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)


Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)


(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)


Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.


Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.

Ireland
Bleed Ireland
Live Ireland
Breathe Ireland
Lift Ireland
Lead Ireland
Be I.R.E.L.A.N.D.


(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)
(Glóir, Croí, Grá, Éire)

Music Monday: 7 reasons why (I love this song)...

When I was living in the UK this song was in an advert for The Sarah Silverman Show and it was one of my favorites...the show and the song. I can't get it on Spotify now, but it came up in my social media memories yesterday and I had to listen to it and smile. Also, the lyrics make me think of some of my couples...specifically Luke and Scarlet, whom y'all haven't met yet. Enjoy. {The lyrics are in the captions.}

Music Monday: The Statues are...Golden...

I watched the Oscars last night, and while I was really hoping that Sinners would win all 16 categories for which it was nominated, I was also holding hope for "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters as the best original song. Not just because that bop is a total earworm, but because it's been a first. The first KPop song nominated for an Oscar (I think). And as it happens, the first one to win an Oscar...and before they could say much, they were played off. But they won...and here is the lyric video for the song. It speaks to me as me as well as my characters, with the theme of working through obstacles to get to who you are meant to be. 즐기다 (pronounced jeulgida...Enjoy.)

On the most magical of dogs...🍀

[I sent a part of this essay to the program 1A on NPR this morning, but it had to be short. If you have met an Irish Wolfhound, you know that there is nothing short in that experience, so here is the rest.]

Bryn (L) and Ciaragh (R)

When I was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, my Irish Wolfhounds really saw me through it. This is my thank you to them...and don't worry, Willow-Pickle has her own story.

Ciaragh at GARF

Ciaragh (Keerah), my younger girl, was diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after I started chemo. At almost 7, she didn't make it through that battle, even though we were briefly on in the same chemo regimine, so when I rang that bell in Dec of 2023, I could feel her clobberpaws on my chest. You can see it in the video... It looks like I grabbed the rope and got knocked backwards a step or two. Our Cailín Ádh. We were the lucky ones, my Kiki-Bear.

Bryn after a successful heist at GARF

When I finished treatment in 2024, I didn't know it at the time but I was being given the time to focus on walking my 11.5 year old wolfhound Bryn home to the Bridge, as she deserved. Always there with her silly expression and snuggly nature, she made sure that I never gave up because someone had to feed her and give her treats when my husband was at work! Our Bryndled Beastie, who taught us so much about living with these giant, mythical dogs...and how to hide my snacks up HIGH.

Stanley, the Ken Doll of Irish Wolfhounds

And now that I'm navigating my new normal and new body, I have Stanley... He is a huge, gorgeous, blond boy who has learned to help me up off the floor and is just always there, carrying the souls of my two big girls in his beautiful caramel colored eyes. Our Bánbhuí Beastie...my sweet protector and buddy, here to lead me out of my sadness and into the backyard.

🍀

Go raibh míle maith agaibh, a mhadraí luachmhara. Is leatsa mo ghrá go léir.

🍀

Music Monday: Féile Éireannach

This weekend was the Irish Fest in Camden, SC. We took Stanley and Willow and had a pretty good if not SUNNY AND HOT good time. Today's music choice is one I was already familiar with and heard played...it's an absolute banger and a sad take on the leftovers after the British ruled Ireland. Éire go deo.

Music Monday: Zombie

(No, Tony, I am not making the turn into writing horror...)

This is my latest hyperfixation, partially because he is from West Yorks and his accent makes me homesick but also because he was so close with Ozzy. That makes someone A-OK in my book. But this song took my breath away a little bit, and then more when he said it was for nurses. I remember hearing him say in an interview that it was about his grandparents. For me...it's about me. I'm in a phase right now where the differences Eugene left in me are in the forefront. Not just the weirdly curly hair or the pain in my joints, but the brain fog and the fatigue and everything left by the efforts to yeet Eugene. The lines: 

If I was to talk about the words

They would hurt, they would hurt

So if you were to ask about the pain

I would lie, I would lie

To fix my mind, I need time

I want me back, but I am forced to get to know this new me...and I don't always like her. Don't worry...I will make peace with her, it's just taking a longer time than I'd thought.

Enjoy. The lyrics are in TEENY captions on the screen.

Music Monday: Meet me at the...South Korea?

It's a total earworm, y'all, and since I need something these days to keep my mind off all of the EVERYTHING that is going on, both in my personal life and the world at large, I find myself singing this more than I'd really care to admit. Just don't ask Willow-Pickle or Stanley, they will tell you how much...

Next thing you know it will be the soundtrack to K Pop Demon Hunters...aw man, now it's a medley of this and Golden. *bops away in Old Lady*

Apparently this song is based on a drinking game in Korea. I don't know from that, and my drinking game days are WELL behind me, but here's my latest...comfort song? Good gracious. Enjoy--lyrics are on the video.

Music Monday: Once More, into D&D

It is true, what the memes say, that one of the worst of the big bads in Dungeons and Dragons when you play as an adult is scheduling. Take the schedules of 6-8 grown humans and try to make them fit into a single weekend day where everyone is available and let me know what you come up with, please?

Pure chaos, that's what you will come up with...but somehow, my group (Lorem Ipsum) seems to manage even when it has been several months between sessions. So today's Music Monday is for them...and for Barb, DK, Annet, Sloane, Rei, Widow, and Maera, our characters who were left in a pretty precarious situation yesterday. Huzzah! Chaotic Social Worker Wombat Wranglers Assemble! (It's cooler than it sounds, I promise.)

[Verse 1]Stuck in a dungeon, no gold to my name,

Kobolds in my face, and the cleric’s effing lame.

Spellbook’s heavy, but my heart’s full of spite,

Gonna light this crypt up with some arcane dynamite!

I’m no apprentice, I’m a wizard supreme,

Forget your lame ass healing potions, I’m living the dream.

One somatic gesture, and the whole room’s toast,

Fireball’s my baby, let’s burn down the coast!

[Pre-Chorus]

No more sneaking, rogue, put your daggers away,

This ain’t a stealth mission, it’s a blaze of glory day!

Point and shoot, let the flames run wild,

Fireball’s the spell that makes the DM cry!

[Chorus]

Fireball, let it rip, watch the whole place fry!

8 D 6 damage, kiss those minions goodbye!

Boom, crash, burn, let the chaos ignite,

Fireball, Fireball, we’re exploding tonight!

Scorch the beholder, roast the troll’s ugly mug,

Bard’s on fire, guess he shouldn’t have shrugged!

Raise your staff, let the inferno fly,

Fireball, Fireball, watching everybody die!

[Verse 2]

Party’s screaming, “Aim it somewhere else, you dick!”

But I’m laughing like a lich as the flames start to lick.

Fighter’s got plate mail, but it’s melting to slag,

“Sorry, bro, you’re crispy—blame my spell slot brag!”

Forget your Eldritch Blast, that’s warlock trash,

Ice Knife’s for hipsters, and Thunderwave’s a rash.

Fireball’s the king, it’s the wizard’s true jam,

One bad reflex save, and you’re ash in a can!

[Pre-Chorus]

No counterspell’s touching this, I’m a magical god,

Arcane focus my power, prepare to be awed

From the Underdark to the tavern’s front door,

Fireball’s the reason we keep settling scores!

[Chorus]

Fireball, let it rip, watch the whole place fry!

8 D 6 damage, kiss your minions goodbye!

Boom, crash, burn, let the chaos ignite,

Fireball, Fireball, we’re exploding tonight!

Scorch the beholder, roast the troll’s ugly mug,

Bard’s on fire, guess he shouldn’t have shrugged!

Raise your staff, let the inferno fly,

Fireball, Fireball, watch the hit points die!

[Bridge]

Roll, roll, roll those dice, let the damage stack!

Paladin’s praying, but his god ain’t got his back!

Cast, cast, cast, no regrets, full send!

“Sorry, Druid, your treant’s kindling—make amends!”

You’re not just a caster, you’re a walking apocalypse,

Turning goblins to charcoal with a flick of your wrist!

So crank the volume, let the table go mad,

Fireball’s the spell that makes the whole campaign sad!

[Final Chorus]

Fireball, let it rip, watch the whole place fry!

8 D 6 damage, kiss your minions goodbye!

Boom, crash, burn, let the chaos ignite,

Fireball, Fireball, we’re exploding tonight!

Nuke the mind flayer, torch the lich’s whole vibe,

DM’s screaming, “My plotline won’t survive!”

Raise your staff, let the inferno fly,

Fireball, Fireball, watch the hit points die!

Another Day, Another Scammy Email

Here's a quick non-musical post to follow up on the last one about receiving scammy emails. There are two kinds, in my opinion, and the last post was in the "I've never read the books I'm writing you about." This one is similar. 

The other category is "I can legit do something for you as an author but you have to pay me loads of money that you shouldn't have to pay under normal circumstances." I will get to that one in a minute.

Over the weekend while at a book signing event, I received another of the first category of scams. It was pretty obvious from the subject line: Podcast & Radio Opportunities for "My Name Is Resolute: A Novel by the Author of Sarah's Quilt " This Quarter Nancy E. Dunne, Writer

What? I haven't written anything with a title even close to that, and normally I would just delete it (bye bye, AI!) but my curiosity got the better of me. After all, who of us hasn't sent an email to the wrong recipient? No? Just me? Cool, cool.

So I read on as my email program previews the first bits of it and the first paragraph contained this line: "Hello Nancy E. Dunne, Writer

I don’t reach out often like this, butcHers To Keep genuinely "My Name Is Resolute: A Novel by the Author of Sarah's Quilt" 

What?

So I'm sorry, Ava Holmes, Author & Media Outreach Consultant, Podcast & FM Radio Interview Placement, Helping authors connect with engaged listeners beyond social media, but maybe next time use a better AI to type your clearly mass-sent email? Yeesh.

Now, on to the other type that requires a lot of money...usually I can see these coming a mile away, but for the most recent one I was genuinely taken in and it hurt my feelings a little bit, if I'm honest, to realize what was happening with that email.

The subject line looked like something I would have written (which should have been a clue, I guess): Rift — One of the best books I’ve read in a looong time. Now, I'm sure for authors with huge followings these emails come all the time. Not for me. I'm lucky if I have three readers that might react to one of my books like this (and I know which three by name), so I started off thinking this had to be a scam.

Was it written by AI? No idea. The email read like it came from a real person who was able to pass my normal Is This AI tests as though she had read the book. She went on to describe the service she provides--book trailers--and even sent me a mock up sample of a script and an audio of said script. Her signature even included how much she loved my storytelling. Oof.

Listening to that audio left me in tears, I will admit. At a book event last summer I met a young man who has a podcast focused on supporting indie authors by performing an audio selection of their books--I wrote about that here and it can still be found by searching The Wandering Tavern wherever you get your podcasts. It was real. My words, read by someone else. So this hit me right in those feels again.

However, I kept enough of my wits about me to ask a very important question (after I found out the price for such a production, which was out of my budget and clued me in that something was up here): how much AI is used to produce these trailers because I am against using AI voices instead of real human voice actors. She assured me that even though the snippet she'd sent me was an AI voice, that was a choice the author could make. If you preferred a human voice actor instead, that could be arranged.

Finally, I asked if the project could be put on hold because I wasn't able to afford the price she quoted. SURE, she said, but then went on to offer me discounts on doing both Rift and Storm and using voice actors and OHHHHHH but she loved the books so much she was already coming up with ideas for compelling trailers in her head and SOOOO excited to get to work on them.

No. I just didn't answer any of those things and said no, I couldn't do that right now, but thank you for sending the scripts and the audio file and have a good day. No response. Here's where the hurt feelings come in--I wanted it to be real. I wanted her to write back and say she understood or hoped that there would be a third Arcstone book or something. Crickets. Of course, because it wasn't real.

Indie published and self published authors, stay frosty when you open emails. The AI is getting better. The "promoters" are becoming smarter. But at the end of the day, the only people that will promote our work is us...and those three readers of mine. I wish I had a happy ending involving massive real engagement or a movie/TV option, but I don't. The former is a work in progress and the latter would be a scam anyway.

Back to work on the WIP.

Music Monday: Generational Wars

Quick one today...I saw this in a meme on social media and I've internalized it now so...Congrats, Gen Alpha. You poked the GenX bear and here we go. 

(8, 8, I FORGET WHAT 8 WAS FOR is the answer to 6 7.)

Music Monday: What Dreams May...Be Wild

Back to the beginning here...we didn't lose power during the storm, and we've had another one since then--just snow this time--and during all this time with nowhere to go and plenty of time to write...I haven't.

By write, I mean put words on a page. I have, though, had some of the craziest dreams and I've been taking notes and I may have a second book in the steampunk adjacent series in the bare bones stage. It's the wildest dreams phase.

This song first came to my attention on what I lovingly call the clock app, in a series of videos describing the MMC in a rom com, but even though I don't write those I can use the descriptions from the videos and the general feel of the song. Hang on, Elys and Hack, your story is developing.

Music Monday: If you're seeing this...

I'm writing this early this time. It's Friday, 23 January, and we are staring down a winter storm that will almost certainly bring ice and mean that by this time actually on Monday I won't have power or heat. So I do what anyone else would do...I turn to Dolly Parton, who just celebrated her birthday recently. This special version of one of her songs from 1977 makes my heart happy because of the amazing artists joining her--but let's be honest, she does that all on her own. Enjoy...and if you're looking at this on a phone screen huddled up under a blanket, I see you. I won't share my blanket with you, but I see you. 😃

(lyrics below)

Light of a Clear Blue Morningby Dolly Parton
It's been a long dark nightAnd I've been a waitin' for the morningIt's been a long hard fightBut I see a brand new day a dawningI've been looking for the sunshineYou know I ain't seen it in so longBut everything's gonna work out just fineAnd everything's gonna be all rightThat's been all wrong
'Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morningI can see the light of a brand new dayI can see the light of a clear blue morningOh, and everything's gonna be all rightIt's gonna be okay
It's been a long long timeSince I've known the taste of freedomAnd those clinging vinesThat had me bound, well I don't need 'emOh, I've been like a captured eagle, you know an eagle's born to flyNow that I have won my freedom, like an eagle I am eager for the sky
And I can see the light of a clear blue morningI can see the light of brand new dayI can see the light of a clear blue morningOh, and everything's gonna be all rightIt's gonna be okay
I can see the light of a clear blue morningI can see the light of brand new dayI can see the light of a clear blue morningOoh, everything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightIt's gonna be okay
And I can see the light of a clear blue morningI can see the light of a brand new dayI can see the light of a clear blue morningOoh and everything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightIt's gonna be okay
I can see the light of a clear blue morningI can see the light of brand new dayI can see the light of a clear blue morningEverything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightEverything's gonna be all rightIt's gonna be okay

Music Monday: MLK Day, 2026

Here we are in January of 2026. One year after our nation changed--irrevocably? That remains to be seen. Five years after a mob of insurrectionists, white supremacists, and other such angry people stormed our nation's capitol and broke things, stole things, and killed/injured people.

But we have moments of peace in this January, 2026. A group of venerable monks and their dog, Aloka, are currently on a 2,300 journey from Texas to Washington DC to promote peace. Just knowing that they are there makes my heart sing.

It's dark out there, y'all. The country I grew up in is unrecognizable now, and while I kept trusting that things would get better--trusting that the people that other folks sent to congress would do their jobs and put a stop to this (I'm from SC y'all, Lindsey Graham and Nancy Mace territory. When I write to Rep. Timmons he writes me back to mansplain why I am wrong.). They haven't--maybe they can't--but it just gets worse and worse. Dunne Evacuation back to the UK is in the expidited planning stages now.

But during all this awful, we remember that this is the month we celebrate one of our country's most notable fighters for equality who is often mistaken as only seeking peace. We remember the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his convictions and determination during January. For today's Music Monday, I looked for his favorite hymns. His absolute favorite, from what I could find, was the one I've shared today. "Take my hand, Precious Lord." Fill in Precious Lord with whatever deity or philosophy makes you feel seen, precious, and safe. 

Namaste.🤟

Music Monday: ASL FTW

 Veering off into my past, I give you an ASL version of a song that is speaking to me about some characters that I'm not actively working with right now. Because of course. Enjoy.

Music Monday: So Unfair

Oh, welcome to the new year. While I'm trying to make it my mantra in 2026 to not be so negative, to protect my own calm and peace, and to worry about my reaction to things/people/rhetoric rather that those things themselves. During my holiday break from the DayJob in years past I have enjoyed being a full time writer for two weeks, spending my days working on manuscripts, editing, and generally living my dream of doing this full time.

Then January rolls around and it's time to go back to gathering schedules and making sure that my students have their accommodations and keeping up with classes and zoom sessions and the like. I don't dislike my job... but without interpreting in the mix, it isn't the same as it was. When you have something that makes you as happy and fulfilled as writing does for me, it's hard to put it down for anything less than a lateral move.

In that vein, today's Music Monday is speaking to my feelings--that I have firmly crawled up inside, mind you, with a soft blanket and a mug of warm cider--and I hope it will speak to you too, if you have your own blanket to stave off the back to work after the holiday blues. Captions are on the video. Enjoy... if you can.