"The Quait Cheil" By Bill Thom

We're now getting to the final stages in preparing to launch our first pamphlet, The Quait Cheil by Bill Thom. The illustrations are almost ready, the text is basically complete. All that's left is the final cover design and typesetting. We'll be previewing some parts of the process on the blog here so you can see things as they develop.

Bill's debut pamphlet is well worth a read (of course we would say that!). It consists of one long poem in the old north-eastern ballad style, written entirely in Banffshire Doric. Although Tapsalteerie are well aware that the long poem isn't exactly "in" at the moment, Bill has managed to create a piece that really grabs the attention. He's produced a cracking story, told with a rhythm born out of traditional Scottish folk music. We're very pleased to be able to help him release it.

The Quait Cheil 
[extract from beginning section]

Thi twa o them aye disagreed,

Fit een o them wid takk thi lead,

Fan aye they cum up tae thi wid,

Wi thochts o fit thi darkness hid,

For lang they kent o stories old,

O ghosts an spirits they were told,

Bit through thi wid thi pathie geed,

An intae trouble wis guaranteed.

So huddin in atween thi trees,

Thi lack o licht caased their displease,

Nae moon thi nicht, nae licht wis seen,

Nor even stars oot up abeen.

By Bill Thom

Release date: early July