Orkney Village

About the Book

Allow yourself to travel back to 2800 BC and share a year in the lives of a people, who live on a wind-swept island north of Scotland.

A long lasting, severe storm rages across the land. Frightened people huddle in their shelters and pray to their ancestors and gods for help.

Why are there so many storms this winter?

Are angry, evil spirits to blame?

When winter gives way to the promise of spring, villagers go and hear the Seer's predictions and ponder the mysterious message.

Beautiful, young Maveena from the village at round Lake, is a direct descendant of the people's venerated Great Healer. She eagerly waits for the midsummer festival and the day her Coming-of-Age ceremony at the sacred circle of standing stones. The High Priest himself will perform the ceremony, but unknown to anyone he soon plots against Maveena.

Tolaf comes to the big festival from his isolated village at Stony Stream with the hope of finding a mate. Maveena and Tolaf meet during the festivals big dances and soon fall in love.

How will a girl from such important family be allowed to come and live at Tolaf's pretty, but far away village?

What plans does the powerful and vain High Priest have for Maveena's future?

Far from all villages, young Arna weeps in despair over her lonely existence.

The harvest season is a busy time for everyone. During the harvest ceremony, the High Priest announces a decision!

The wandering storyteller recites old legends and add's new events to his tales.

Over generations, the story of Maveena's life becomes one of the people's most cherished legends.

At a quiet moment -listen - and try to hear the song about Maveena

About the Author

Ancient history and archeology have been my passion since I was a girl in East Germany. I grew up in a city rich with very old buildings. Traders and adventures already during ancient times know this area, for the paths of two old trade roads met here along the Neisse river and helped form a growing community, that is known as Goerltiz. Studying some of the history of the city, I became fascinated with the stories form the past.

After escaping from East Germany at the age of sixteen, I had no educational opportunities to study for professional work in my desired field. I lived for some time in Sweden and then immigrated to the USA.

Time permitting, I attended many different lectures, workshops and classes. During 1975, I became one of the co-founders of a chapter of the Archeological Institute of America (AIA) and for a long time was very involved with this group. The AIA chapter gave me the opportunity to combine my love for photography and writing with the past. I presented many workshop programs.

I have traveled to a number of unique, archaeological sites. When I visited Skara Brae on Mainland, Orkney for the first time, the ancient, excavated village was an abandoned looking and isolated place, situated at the very edge of the sea. The simple dwellings touched me in a very special way. I wanted to write about them and imagined the ancient village filled with people.

Skara Brae is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, that I have visited several times.