This page is a list of resources for writers of books set in pre-Roman and early-Roman Britain.
- 50 Druid Names With Meanings: this is where I got Ganna and Dubhtach’s names.
- A database of the Celtic personal names of Roman Britain (CPNRB), including a list of Celtic name elements, which is how I made up some of the characters’ names.
- A Summary Of Famous Bards: this is where I got the name Amergin, for my hero’s mentor.
- Archaeological Atlas of Antiquity: shows all the ancient sites – click on an icon to see pop-ups on the right of the screen with details about the places.
- Gallo-Roman Relations under the Early Empire: an M.A. thesis by Ryan Walsh. The part on druids starts on page 82.
- The Annals – Tacitus’s History of Rome.
Advice for Writers
There are lots of ways to get published, but this is what worked for me. Join a writing group, such as the Hong Kong Writer’s Circle, because it’s great for making contacts, discussing your stories, getting critiques and advice, and publishing short stories to build your track record. Then find a publisher who is looking for authors. Ask what they are looking for. Come up with an idea that fits their needs and will be interesting for you to write. They will probably ask for a plan and a sample of your writing. Proof-read your sample: GenAI is good for this – ask it to correct any spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. Come up with some interesting characters, follow the three-act plot structure, and add plenty of conflict. Don’t info-dump. I run a blog with lots of videos about writing Science Fiction, and another about writing Fantasy, that authors might find useful. There is also lots of writing advice on social media, such as the Writing Excuses podcast. Finally, be prepared to help out with marketing your work, it’s not something you can just leave to your publisher. Good luck with your writing!