Song of the Selkie
$9.99 – $14.99
Publication Date: August 4, 2020 – Order Today
Enter the wondrous world of the Selkie.
According to Celtic legend, a selkie is a seal underwater and a woman on land. Sometimes she emerges from the ocean, shedding her white selkie-coat to dance on the sand in moonlight. In the liminal space of the shore, she is vulnerable to capture by a man, and she may become a man’s wife and the mother of children. In Song of the Selkie, the Selkie voices her experience of being caught between two worlds: the sea and the land. Other voices join in her song: a Lighthouse-Keeper, the spirit of Ruth, and even a baby. Through these poems, readers can enjoy the extraordinary magic of selkie stories, and—through their retelling—gain insight into experiences of love and loss, fear and choice, hope and redemption.
Additional information
| Publication Date | August 4, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Format | Perfect Paperback, eBook |
| ISBN | 978-1-951547-00-4, 978-1-951547-01-1 |
| Length | 74 pages |
| Trim | 5.5 x 8.5 inches |
Review on NetGalley
Song of the Selkie can be reviewed on NetGalley prior to publication by clicking here.
14 reviews for Song of the Selkie
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Marilyn McEntyre — author of “When Poets Pray” –
The poems in Song of the Selkie take us deep into dream space. They explore archetypes that arise from the surging ocean of psyche and soul. Drawn from Nordic tales and the biblical story of Ruth, the woman who speaks in these pages speaks with pathos, desire, and knowing that come from the mystery, the “deep, deep Ocean” inside. She summons readers to their own interior spaces where Spirit may speak in words familiar, rich, and strange. Readers, having traveled the paths they opened, will return to explore again.
Jay Parini — Professor at Middlebury College Author of “New and Collected Poems, 1975-2015” and “Why Poetry Matters” –
I read Song of the Selkie with great pleasure. Jane Beal is a poet I admire, and these poems are wonderfully appealing: sensuous, deeply lyrical, joyous, filled with the spirit. I would recommend these poems to anyone.
Farah Tahmasebi, Reviewer — NetGalley –
Is the earth young?
Is the earth old?
There’s so much more
in the depths of the earth
than silver and gold?
Let’s read the sedimentary rocks
and ask what their layers mean:
let’s interpret the Grand Canyon
And the Colorado River
and the past that no one has seen.
I’ve never come across the works of Jane Beal previously and I quite enjoyed the imaginary journey this book took me on. Hearing the words of the Selkie and those of ‘Ruth’ and getting to know them and their stories through prose that really captures the imagination. A really enjoyable read.
Lucia Chase, Reviewer — NetGalley –
I am intrigued by stories about selkies and mermaids so I was very curious about this book. It was very interesting and absorbing poetry. I truly enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley, the author Jane Beal and the publisher Aubade Publishing for a free ARC of this lovely collection of poetry.
Natalie Horman, All Books Great and Small — Reviewer on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Instagram –
I’ve always been fascinated with mythical creatures, whether they be dragons, Phoenix, mermaids, unicorns or even Selkies. I found this book of poems intriguing and enjoyed the story that unfolded between them. Some beautiful poems and words that really make the poems come alive.
Myshara Herbert-McMyn — Reviewer, NetGalley –
This is a collection of beautiful poems. They are well written and the story and thought process are easy to follow as the collection progresses. It gets a bit religion-heavy towards the end, but it didn’t turn me off. I recommend this book to some people, but perhaps not those who aren’t into poems about religion.
Alexandra Roth — Reviewer, NetGalley –
It does have a table of contents. Poems are a variety of lengths (both long and short). There are some Christian references in some of the poems, which could put off some readers while others enjoy or are okay with it. Overall it is a really nice collection.
Jantine Kampes-Schimmel — Reviewer, NetGalley –
This is a collection of interesting poems. A connection is made between the selkie and Ruth from the bible, and life as we know now. There are poems about change, about choosing to hold on or to let go. About strong women, choosing for themselves. It is certainly worth reading!
Renee Ann Dargitz — Reviewer, NetGalley –
An interesting array of different poems from a writer who knows her craft. I enjoyed this very thoroughly and found her inspirations for her works evocative.
Julia Crombach — Reviewer, NetGalley –
It’s a book of whimsical poetry, of self discovery and becoming. It straddles the line of the mythical and the reality. There is such passion in the wording that the words at times literally leap from the page: “rises and falls from the soul, not the brain, coming from our fingers and our throats and exploding like a firecracker in our hands, but without burning.” In many ways I think it is about change and about growing old and discovering yourself in this ever changing life. It’s a conversation with different version of yourself and the love and despair they both can at the same time bring. The storytelling is beautifully done and the author weaves fantasy, history, and modern day eloquently together. It’s a fibrous string that connects everything together. Definitely recommended for every poetry lover out there with a bit of depth, rawness and innocence of fantasy.
Soudha Parsan — Reviewer, NetGalley –
This enchanting poetry collection is perfect for readers who enjoy myths and lore. Through narratives of selkies and the sea, these poems explore womanhood in its different incarnations. A beautiful collection for readers who enjoy a dash of fantasy in their poetry.
Kerrie Hoar — Reviewer, NetGalley –
Poetry is not my genre of choice. That said, I enjoyed the verses on love and loss of women and of the selkie.
Krystal Alvarez — Reviewer, NetGalley –
This book is a collection of poems about self-discovery. In beautifully chosen words, the author blends fantasy and reality together for readers to enjoy the different point of views. I have to say the writer took her time with each poem to display its meaning with the words jumping right off the page beautifully and eloquently. The poems range from growth, time, moving on, or letting, holding on strong and mentioned before self-discovery. I liked that some poems are long and some are short. Overall, I would have to say a lovely read.
Kay McLeer — Reviewer, NetGalley –
I really enjoy mermaid stories, including Selkies, we really don’t have enough stories about them. I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know these characters.