3 parts Complete 1824 Scotland: Lain, a violin-playing apothecary grieving his father, opens his heart to Adaira... only to lose her sirens. Old flames and town secrets aside, Lain won't relent until he brings her home or she pulls him under.
A Song for a Siren is a YA historical fantasy and is a blend of folklore, romantic themes, and atmosphere. It's 104,700 words and takes place in a version of Rona in Scotland that has mythical yet plausible, plants and creatures.
After losing his father, Lain's love Adaira gets pulled into the sea by sirens. Monty, A shipwrecked fisherman, tells of a melody in the water; the same one Adaira sang to Lain the night she was taken. Gavin, the lighthouse keeper who found Lain that dreadful night, knows more than he's letting on. While working the apothecary shop, Lain struggles with grief and filling his da's shoes. It doesn't help that Finlay, Lain's unrequited love, is back in town, wondering what went wrong in their friendship, or that every time he plays his violin something goes wrong. Thankfully, Monty sticks around, though Lain is uncertain as to why. With his da's journal, mythical plants, and violin, Lain and Monty endeavor to enchant his siren to come home, and not drown in the process, whether it be by sirens, kelpies, or the caoineag.
Everyone in this story has lost someone or something. Grief and healing are the heart of it all.
After years of writing, editing, querying and editing some more, I'll be releasing the first chapter and potentially subsequent pages up until Chapter 3.