Updated This Post On 25 May 2026!

Progressing on the Revisions of "Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening!"

I am back home from Scotland and am revising my sci-fi/fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening. I will republish it as soon as I’ve completed the revisions.

Since my last update to this post, I have completed work on another chapter. The book has 34 in total, and as of 25 May 2026, I only have 1 left ! I’ll keep updating this post until the book is ready to be republished.

I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying going through Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening again! It’s been quite a while since my last reading of it.

Once I’m done with Merlin & Arthur, I’ll begin writing my next novel—more about that later! :)

Enjoying Scotland & Progressing on "Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening” Revisions!

Some pics from my time in Scotland!

I’m thoroughly enjoying Scotland while continuing to rework my sci-fi/fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening. I will republish it as soon as I’ve completed the revisions.

It’s progressing well!  I’m more than halfway through the process! The book has 34 chapters, and I just completed work on Chapter 21!

Once I’m done with Merlin & Arthur, I’ll begin writing my next novel—more about that later! :)

Below, I’ve included a paragraph from Chapter 17 of Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening.

Merlin shrugged and walked back to pick up his staff, then returned to his spot. Tristan showed him where the ship was located on the GPS device Duncan had given him. Then he asked Duncan to keep speaking—it didn’t matter about what; he just needed to focus on his voice for a few moments. He listened carefully, then laid his free hand on Arthur’s shoulder. He told everyone to be ready to cover their eyes and did the same. Murmuring words under his breath, the large crystal at the top of his staff began to pulse with a blue-white light, then exploded in a brilliant flash that lit up the cavern. As quickly as that, he and Arthur vanished from the cave. Within seconds, they reappeared on the deck of the Churchill.

As their feet settled on the rolling deck, Merlin and Arthur opened their eyes. They were astounded by the size of the ship and the number of men and pieces of equipment aboard, but they had little time to take it all in. As soon as they appeared, security officers surrounded them and ushered them directly to mission command. When the escorting officers reached the heavy door to command, they knocked—and it opened.

Travel to Warsaw & Scotland & Progress on Reworking Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening!

Old Town Warsaw, Poland

Inverness, Scotland near the Inverness Castle

While traveling, I’ve continued to rework my sci-fi/fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, and will republish it as soon as I’ve completed the work. It’s progressing well!  I’ve finished 11 chapters so far, which means I’m about a third of the way through!

Once I’m done with Merlin & Arthur, I’ll begin writing my next novel—more about that later! :)

Below, I’ve included a paragraph from Chapter 11 of Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening.

Then, unexpectedly, the crowd’s attention was drawn to the dense fog hovering over the lake. It seemed that there were lights deep within it, flickering and dancing. As everyone looked on, the lights became even more agitated and started to rise. Ascending rapidly, they burst into the open air above the thick haze. Their shape and colour became recognizable, and the crowd now saw them for what they were—multiple green and lavender spheres soaring upwards in the direction of St. Michael’s Tower. Halting there, they glittered and swirled around its base, just as the sun’s light touched the horizon. The birth of a new winter was imminent; the crowd let out a collective gasp of wonder, and someone yelled, “Fata Morgana—the Lights of Avalon!” But the vision faded within seconds as the light from the spheres was overtaken by the sunrise. Silence reasserted itself—leaving the onlookers in awe, wondering whether they had actually seen what they thought they had.   

Traveling Back to Europe!

I’ll soon be leaving on another trip to Europe to visit friends in Poland and Scotland, travel to some sites in Scotland that are in the Alban Saga, and continue reworking and republishing my book Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening.

It’s been too long since my last trip, although I was having fun finishing my new book Vortex—the last book of the Alban Saga.

I’ll continue to check in with you along the way!

The Alban Saga Trilogy Is Published!

The Alban Saga Trilogy

  

                                                                                                          

The Alban Saga is a current-day fantasy trilogy made up of BEATRICE, BLACK GROTTO, and the latest edition entitled VORTEX. All three books take place at real locations in Scotland, with actual Scottish history woven into their plot lines. 

Below, I've included a summary of each of the books. You can purchase all of them in paperback or Kindle eBook editions on Amazon. The easiest way to locate them, and all of my books, is to search Amazon by using my author name in the “books” section on Amazon.

BEATRICE

 

The book, Beatrice, takes place in Scotland. It is unique in that it references events in Scottish history, Druid legends and important ancient sites in Scotland while telling the modern day story of a family’s pursuit of their lost memories. It has a realistic feel from the setting and characters, but evolves into a fantasy-mystery-thriller as suspense and magic begin to bubble to the surface during the Bauman family’s determined search to discover what happened to them.

The title, Beatrice, comes from the person who was the Bauman’s housekeeper. Beatrice Darrow assumed that position after their original housekeeper, Mary McClellan, was killed in an auto accident on Christmas night in 1981. Mary had been a very important part of the Bauman family and had been deeply loved. Beatrice was nothing like Mary. She did her job but never allowed herself to become close to the family as Mary had, and as the Baumans’ looked to re-discover their past, Beatrice’s name started popping up throughout their investigations. 

The time frame for the story ranges from the 1980s up to 2008, and the plot centers around Elizabeth, Ewan and Fiona Bauman and their historic estate outside Edinburgh. Ewan, who at the beginning of the book is thirty-six, becomes determined to unearth the memories that had vanished for he and his mother and sister almost twenty years earlier on the night of his eighteenth birthday. He convinces Elizabeth and Fiona to join him, as the emptiness of losing that part of their lives had consumed them for far too long.

Sifting through the past brings them closer together as a family and begins to unravel the mystery, but it also uncovers a side of their life that they never knew existed. They travel back to their estate, learn about their unknown connections to Scottish history and Druid legend and lore, and they discover the significance of the ancient oak grove that sits on their estate near their mansion. However, they also become part of a dark and evil prophesy that could not only end their lives but could change the balance of good and evil on the earth forever. It’s a collision course that accelerates towards the unforeseen conclusion of Beatrice.

BLACK GROTTO

Black Grotto takes place in Scotland and begins in the year AD 500 when a great Druid prophet named Erin travels with his scribe to a primordial and sacred cave high up in the Three Sisters. At the age of eighty, he is guided there by his dreams in order to finally reach the zenith of his prophecies.

The story then moves forward in time to AD 2022 where a young Druid named Bea Bauman is coming of age. It is a very special day and one where her mother and father finally share with her the true story of her birth.

What she learns that day completely changes her life, and she sets out alone on a long journey across the width and breadth of Scotland. Her wanderings are filled with danger, magic, and overpowering discoveries. They take her to ancient Druid places of power, places of raw and natural beauty, of history and lore, and she is introduced to Anu Grenn and Willam Brodie - her unexpected mentors.

But as all of this is happening, a Druid priestess named Brenna is secretly observing Bea. She is biding her time and preparing to connect with the earth’s darkest magic at just the right moment in order to bring the world to its knees. She pursues Bea and her own destiny without mercy as these two “black-haired beauties” edge the world ever closer to the precipice of a very dark and treacherous abyss - a place where the forces of light and darkness hang in the balance.

VORTEX

Vortex begins just as Black Grotto ends. Bea Bauman, a young Druid Priestess, is taken away by an ancient prophet named Erin. She cannot resist his call; he reaches for her from the center of the Vortex inside the Black Grotto, and she takes his hand, leaving her family and friends behind as she travels with him through time and space.

 

Just as Bea enters the Vortex, Aran Brodie, who has become a close and dear companion, cannot let Bea go alone into the void. He jumps in after her. For a time, they travel together inside the violent maelstrom, but they cannot maintain their grip, become separated, and lose consciousness. When Bea finally awakens, she finds herself at the Stones of Calanais, staring into the eyes of Erin the Prophet, on the same day and time she left the Black Grotto. In the meantime, Aran Brodie is expelled from the Vortex to the same location as Bea, but his exit casts him over 4,500 years into the past, where he ends up surrounded by primordial Druids in search of a human sacrifice.

 

As all of this is going on, another character from the previous books also finds herself at the Stones of Calanais, but she is there three years in the future. Her name is Obsidian. For years now, she has been an acolyte in the grove of an extraordinarily powerful Druid Priestess named Brenna. Brenna brought Obsidian with her to this time and place to help her join with her nemesis in order to become the Great Hermaphrodite. However, Brenna is overcome and vanishes. Saddened and distraught, Obsidian is left alone without any way to return to her own time. She wanders aimlessly for days, but then remembers something that Brenna once shared with her. Another powerful Druid lived near the Stones of Calanais, and she was called the Keeper. Obsidian sets out to find her in the hope that she can bring Brenna back and restore her to her former greatness.

 

Vortex carries forth the story of the Alban Saga, weaving the plotlines into a surprising and volatile romp through time, space, and Scottish history. This dangerous journey will either end with the past being completely reshaped, leading to a malevolent and dire future, or the current timeline will remain intact and safe for the development of humankind. Bea Bauman, along with family, close friends, Aran Brodie, her former teacher Anu Grenn, and the Great Prophet Erin, will be at the center of this struggle. She will attempt to unravel and countermand whomever or whatever is trying to alter history while also dealing with her feelings for Aran, her fear for his survival, and having to navigate the treacherous intricacies of transporting oneself in a Vortex.

If you’d like more information about any of my books, just click the Bob’s Books link at the top of my blog page!

Update for Book III Of The Alban Saga: THE VORTEX

 

"Vortex bw" by ahisgett is licensed under CC by 2.0

The Alban Saga series takes place in Scotland in the real world with fantasy elements incorporated within it. It also includes mystery, time travel, important aspects of  Scottish history, and real locales as well as famous sites within Scotland.

Beatrice was Book I and Black Grotto,  Book II. The Vortex is the third and final book of the series, and I just finished Chapter 25 titled "OMNIPOTENT."

The Vortex is going to be about 31 chapters long, with the final chapter being the "Epilogue." It's looking more and more like I'll be able to complete and publish it sometime during the fall of 2024. Maybe sooner if everything goes well!

Favorite Mystery/Crime Writer: Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin

Photo and text below from Ian's "About" page at
https://www.ianrankin.net/landing-page/ian-rankin/ian-rankin-about/

Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature.

 

After university and before his success with his Rebus novels, Ian had a number of jobs including working as a grape-picker, a swineherd, a journalist for a hi-fi magazine, and a taxman. Following his marriage in 1986, he lived briefly in London where he worked at the National Folktale Centre, followed by a short time living in France, before returning to Edinburgh.

 

Ian’s first novel Summer Rites remains in his bottom drawer, but his second novel, The Flood, was published in 1986, while his first Rebus novel, Knots & Crosses, was published in 1987. The Rebus series is now translated into twenty-two languages and the books are bestsellers on several continents. In addition to his Rebus and Malcolm Fox novels, he has also written standalone novels including Doors Open, which was televised in 2012, short stories, a graphic novel – Dark Entries – and a play (with Mark Thomson, the Royal Lyceum Theatre’s Artistic Director) Dark Road, which premiered at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, in September 2013. A second play, Long Shadows, starring John Rebus, was co-written with Rona Munro and staged in 2018. There are also a number of novels under the pseudonym ‘Jack Harvey’ and in 2005 he collaborated with singer Jackie Leven on a CD. His non-fiction book Rebus’s Scotland was published in 2005.

 

Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow, and is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award. He is the recipient of four Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards including the prestigious Diamond Dagger in 2005. In 2004, Ian won America’s celebrated Edgar Award for Resurrection Men. He has also been shortlisted for the Edgar and Anthony Awards in the USA, and won Denmark’s Palle Rosenkrantz prize, the French Grand Prix du Roman Noir and Germany’s Deutscher Krimipreis.

 

Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Hull, Abertay, St Andrews and Edinburgh as well as The Open University. In 2019, he donated his archive of over 50 boxes of manuscripts, letters and paperwork to the National Library of Scotland.

 

A regular contributor to BBC2’s Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin’s Evil Thoughts on Channel 4 in 2002 and Rankin on the Staircase for BBC Four in 2005. In 2007, Rankin appeared in Ian Rankin’s Hidden Edinburgh and Ian Rankin Investigates Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde also for BBC Four. Ian has been the subject of ITV’s South Bank Show and BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs where his choice of music included Joy Division, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison.

 

Ian has received an OBE for services to literature, opting to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

To learn more about Ian Rankin and his books, go to https://www.ianrankin.net/.

Dreamed the Ending to THE VORTEX

 

"Vortex bw" by ahisgett is licensed under CC by 2.0

The Vortex: Book III of the Alban Saga

I'm still working on the The Vortex, which is the final book of the Alban Saga trilogy, but last night I had a breakthrough! I dreamed the ending. I love it when that happens! Now, I just need to write the rest of the book. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with you!

In the meantime, check out the first two books of that series and all of my books on Amazon. Just type Bob Stegner in the search box there, or . . .  just click the Bob's Books link above in my blog.

You can also read the first chapter of The Vortex in the blog entry before this one.

2nd Edition of Black Grotto and Beatrice Released!

               

       Second Edition             Second Edition 

The 2nd edition of my young adult fantasy novels Beatrice: Book I of the Alban Saga and Black Grotto: Book II of the Alban Saga have been released. They are both new versions of the older novels that have been revised and edited and include new covers with new blurbs on the back.

The series name is new for the two books as well, and I plan on eventually adding others. The history behind the series' name is that the books all take place in modern day Scotland, and there are aspects of each that are derived from Scottish history. The word, Alba, is an ancient name for the Scottish isles, and I used Saga instead of series because it means long story, and that is exactly what this group of books will be - thus, the name, Alban Saga.

The new 2nd edition for both books is now available in either paperback or Kindle eBook on any Amazon site around the world. Just search for "Bob Stegner" to view them. On some Amazon sites you'll need to include the quotation marks around my name.

M: Beginning of Chapter 19 & Working in Scotland

I've left the Seattle area for a while and have been in Scotland since the middle of June. I love traveling and writing in the Highlands and will be revisiting several locations that I included in my two fantasy books, Beatrice and Black Grotto. I'll be here for several weeks, and it's not only been great to be here, but it's been a boon to the writing of my new book. I've finished chapter's 17 and 18 and am now at the beginning of chapter 19. I mentioned earlier that the two plot lines of "M" were coming together, and they've definitely melded into one now.

I also mentioned recently that "M" is not going to be the real title of my new scifi book. I will reveal the actual title soon as well as explain more about what the book is about. I'm looking forward to doing that. Up until now I've been keeping it a secret, but it's time to let it out.

BLACK GROTTO: Paperback Giveaway on Goodreads / Facebook Post from Scotland

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Black Grotto

by Bob Stegner

Giveaway ends August 10, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

This paperback giveaway on Goodreads for my latest fantasy novel, BLACK GROTTO, will begin July 25th. All you have to do to enter is click the "Enter Giveaway" button above and follow the directions. The giveaway is for anyone living in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

To learn more about BLACK GROTTO or any of my books, go to the BOB'S BOOKS link at the top of this blog.

Facebook Post: Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House in Edinburgh, Scotland

Below is a Facebook post from Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House in Edinburgh that I'd like to share with you. To view the post more clearly, click on it, and to see the actual post just search for Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House on Facebook. If you're ever Edinburgh, it's a wonderful place on the Royal Mile. 

BLACK GROTTO: Kindle Giveaway Has Finished / Books In Scotland

Just Published!

                                                

The Kindle e-book giveaway on Amazon for my new fantasy novel, BLACK GROTTO, has finished!

I want to thank everyone across Europe and in the U. S. and Canada that participated. I hope you enjoy your copy of Black Grotto!

Facebook Post: Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House in Edinburgh, Scotland

Below is a Facebook post from Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House in Edinburgh that I'd like to share with you. To view the post more clearly, click on it, and to see the actual post just search for Mrs MacIntyre's Coffee House on Facebook. If you're ever Edinburgh, it's a wonderful place on the Royal Mile. 

To learn more about BLACK GROTTO or any of my books, go to the BOB'S BOOKS link at the top of this blog.

Home From Scotland & A New Review Of Rooms

Writing in Edinburgh

I'm home from my trip to Scotland. I thought I'd try to finish my new fantasy book, Black Grotto, while I was there but didn't quite make it. I accomplished a lot, though, and I'm working on Chapter 24 now. I'll let you know how it goes.

I spent two weeks in Inverness and loved being there. It's right in the middle of the highlands and has a population of about 47,000. I worked every day, and also enjoyed the people, the culture, the music, the food, some good beer and a little whisky. But mostly, I loved working on the book. Being in Scotland added a lot to the writing.

The last week I was in Edinburgh, and most of my writing time was spent in the Scottish National Library. It was a very motivating and inspiring place to work. Also, every day I ate breakfast at a place called Mrs MacIntyre's Coffeehouse. It's run by a wonderful family. They had great food, and it was a cozy and warm place to start my day.

One of the owners of Mrs MacIntyre's, read my first science fiction book, Rooms, and wrote a review on their Facebook page. If you CLICK HERE, you'll be able to take a look at it.

BLACK GROTTO Excerpt: Chapter 1

Edinburgh, Scotland

In Edinburgh, Scotland Working on Black Grotto

I left Inverness yesterday on the train. It was a beautiful trip as you travel through Cairngorm National Park and then along the Scottish coast going south to Edinburgh.

Now, I have to find my places to write here. Luckily I've spent quite a bit of time in Edinburgh, so I have a good idea where those might be. I'll be working here for another week before going home.

I'm still working on chapter 23. It's taking a while, and tomorrow I have to read the first four chapters of the book again before I can finally complete that chapter. It's been an important and interesting one to write.

Also, I've begun handing out copies of Chapter 1 for people to read. I'm going to attach it here so you can take a look. Just click on this link to read Chapter 1.

Traveling in Scotland and Writing BLACK GROTTO

In Scotland Working on Black Grotto

Well, it's wonderful to be spending time in the country that is the setting for my newest fantasy, Black Grotto. I've been in Inverness for a week and have finished another chapter. I'm working on chapter 23 at the moment. As when I was at home, it's still taking me a week or a little more to write a chapter, and the closer I get to the end of the book, the more slowly the chapters seem to progress.

I wanted to mention a character in the book. His name is Andrew Jade. He's a geologist and used to be a professor at Edinburgh University. I love the name because it's actually based on my two favorite pubtenders in Inverness. They work at the Castle Tavern, which is near Inverness Castle. I don't usually do the type of thing where a character has a name that relates to who they are or what they do, but in this case it just worked out, and I thought it was fun. A geologist with the last name "Jade", who would've thought?

I'll be in Inverness for another week and then off to Edinburgh where I'll probably discover even more great ales, superb whiskies, and fun food!

TRAVELING TO SCOTLAND TO FINISH "BLACK GROTTO"

Eileen Donan Castle Near the Isle of Sky

GOING TO SCOTLAND TO FINISH MY NEW BOOK

I'm very excited. I've been working on my new fantasy novel, Black Grotto, now for several months. I'm within 6 or 7 chapters of finishing the first draft, and I've decided to travel to Scotland for three weeks to finish it in the country where the story takes place. I'm going to travel to some of the locations mentioned in the book, and I know it will be a great trip and that being in Scotland will be inspiring and important to the novel. Wish me luck!

Who knows, maybe I'll even meet Fergus Lister while I'm there!  He's the Bauman's old taxi driver that lives in Leith. I'd love to sit and talk with him and have a beer! I'll let you know how it goes when I get home!

NEW FANTASY NOVEL!

I've almost completed all of the research and preparation in order to write the sequel to Beatrice. As with Beatrice, it will also be a fantasy, but the second book will be a much darker novel and will include some new characters along with some of the original ones from the first book.

I'm also glad that I've taken time away from Beatrice before writing this book. I think the counterpoint between them will be not only challenging but very interesting to write and, I hope, compelling for the reader as well.

I'll let you know more as I get into it!

Don't Forget to Update Your Kindle Copy of Rooms

If you have Rooms on your Kindle, or on a Kindle Reader for one of your devices, you can easily get the updated version by either emailing or calling Kindle Support at 1-888-280-4364 and asking them to update your current version.

Finally Beginning Research For My Next Novel

NEW FANTASY/MYSTERY NOVEL!

I've started work on a new novel. It will be written as a stand-alone novel, but it will also take place after Beatrice and be the follow up book to it.

I don't know the title yet, and there isn't a lot than I can share at this point, but the book will center around a struggle of wills, and there will be a mystery that will need to be solved along the way. It will include many of the characters from Beatrice as well as some new ones.

The setting will be in the Scottish Highlands, as in the picture above, as well as some other locations around Scotland. Some of those will be real, some historic, and others will be fictional. It might also include one or two other countries.

I've started the outline, a list of characters, the setting, and have been doing some research for the book. I am very excited to begin writing again!

Update Your Kindle Copy of Rooms & Get a Free Copy of Beatrice for your Kindle.

       

If you have Rooms on your Kindle, or on a Kindle Reader for one of your devices, you can easily get the updated version by either emailing or calling Kindle Support at 1-888-280-4364 and asking them to update your current version.

From June 1-5, you can get the Kindle version of Beatrice for FREE on Amazon.com and download it to your Kindle.

A New Review of BEATRICE from Amazon

5 Stars

A Must Read for People Who Love an Exciting Fantasy Wrapped Within a Mystery

I've never read a fantasy/mystery quite like this before. I loved it! I really enjoyed all of the characters, and the setting in Edinburgh, Scotland was a superb choice for the content of the story. The plot was exciting, intricate, beautifully written, and the ending packed a punch and left me wanting more. I couldn't put it down! My congratulations to the author for successfully writing yet another story that not only entertains but also speaks to our capacity as humans to either hinder or advance our evolutionary growth through the choices we make. Can’t wait for the sequel!