Hello to all of my reader friends!
As promised, I will be spending a lot of time exploring the world that makes up my new book, “The Fae Chronicles: Battle for the Underworld." Well, it’s new-ish. For those of you who may be new here, I am rewriting a story that was important to me, but I had been unable to dedicate my full attention to. As I wrote it, I re-lit a fire inside me that had me designing an entire world around my book. This is something I had originally intended to do, but the task seemed overwhelming at the time.
I will be starting my first Royal Archive entry with Selkies. As some of you know I have recently released a book called, “Selkie’s Storm” over the past few months. So, I thought they would be a good place to start, as they are briefly featured in the Fae Chronicles, and promise to be more prevalent in a later novel. Clearly I love Celtic mythology!
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Five Fascinating Facts About Selkies
One of my favorite things about writing fantasy is discovering the incredible myths and legends that have been passed down for centuries. So many of the stories we know today began around campfires, in fishing villages, or were whispered from one generation to the next.
As many of you know, my novella
"Selkie's Storm" was inspired by one of my favorite Celtic legends—the mysterious selkie.
If you've never heard of them before, here are five fascinating facts about these unforgettable creatures.
1. Selkies aren't mermaids.
Although they're both connected to the sea, selkies are something entirely different.
According to Celtic folklore, selkies live as seals in the ocean. By shedding their seal skin, they can take on human form and walk among us. When they're ready to return home, they simply slip back into their skin and disappear beneath the waves.
2. Their seal skin is everything.
A selkie's skin isn't just clothing—it's their connection to the sea, their freedom, and their true identity.
Many traditional legends tell of humans hiding or stealing a selkie's skin, trapping them on land. These stories aren't simply romances; they're often heartbreaking tales about freedom, belonging, and the desire to return home.
3. Their legends stretch across the Celtic world.
Stories of selkies have been told for hundreds of years throughout Scotland, Ireland, Orkney, Shetland, and the Faroe Islands.
One of my favorite things about folklore is that every region tells the story just a little differently. There isn't always one "correct" version, which makes exploring these legends even more magical.
4. Are selkies dangerous?
Surprisingly...not usually.
Unlike many mythical creatures, selkies are rarely portrayed as monsters.
Most stories describe them as gentle, mysterious beings whose greatest wish is simply to return to the sea. It's often human choices—not the selkies themselves—that create tragedy.
5. One common myth isn't actually true.
Many people believe selkies are simply another version of mermaids.
They're not.
Their stories are unique, deeply rooted in Celtic folklore, and focus far more on love, loss, family, identity, and the pull of home than on magic alone.
Perhaps that's one of the reasons these stories have survived for centuries—they remind us that even the oldest legends are really about the human heart.
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I love weaving pieces of Celtic mythology into my writing, and you'll find echoes of these ancient legends throughout my stories—including my new fantasy series,
The Fae Chronicles.
If you've already read
Selkie's Storm, I'd love to hear what you thought of the selkie legend.
Now a question for you my readers: If you could spend one day with any creature from Celtic mythology, which would you choose? I’d love to hear your answers!
Until next Tuesday, may your lantern never fade.
-Joli G. Campbell
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