Scottish epic story and CD by Texas poet Karla K. Morton now available

Unique work mixes poetry with original Celtic/orchestral

music by Canadian composer Howard Baer

Denton, TX – Lagniappe Publishing Company announced today that Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie, a Scottish epic tale written by Karla K. Morton (http://www.kkmorton.com/), is now available. This unique book/CD combines Morton’s written and spoken poetry with an original music score created by award-winning Canadian composer Howard Baer (http://www.baertracs.ca/) and performed by some of the world’s finest Celtic musicians.

Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie is a Scottish epic story told in rhyme about a 17th century Scottish pirate named John Murray and his love, Vashti. They are separated for years, because her father denies their marriage until John can make his fortune to claim her hand. To protect her while they are apart, John gives Vashti an enchanted brooch, but when the village falls into natural disaster, the villagers turn against her, blaming their misfortune on her and the magic brooch. It's an exciting story about longing, love and the mystery of Scotland.

Comparing Morton’s style to that of Shelley and Byron, 2005 Texas Poet Laureate Alan Birkelbach said of Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie: "The epic poetry of Karla Morton…the exquisite music of Howard Baer and the haunting photography of Walter Eagleton are combined into a lush, romantic experience. This is a work you will want to listen to all in one sitting. The story, the words, the music will carry you to a place that is all too rare in this world of over-analyzed and non-accessible poetry. This is magic and sensual fog and eternal yearning in the style of Shelley and Byron.”

“Listen to this piece just once, and I'm sure that you will listen to it again and again,” says Scottish folksinger Carl Peterson.

Author Karla K. Morton has performed pieces of this work for live audiences, including attendees at the 45^th Annual Scottish Highlands Gathering in Salado, Texas. “The response has been overwhelming,” said Morton. “I feel as if I have touched a chord of something from so very long ago, perhaps an awakening of the lost art of spoken poetry.”

When Canadian composer Howard Baer first read Morton’s epic poem, he was inspired to write an original score to accompany it. "The images are very clear in Karla's writing, and from the beginning, I’ve been able to think of this musical setting as a film score,” says Baer, a JUNO-award winner who has received seven JUNO nominations and a win in 1999 for album production. Baer has also composed and conducted numerous scores for TV, film and IMAX films.

The Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie story and CD are elegantly packaged in a full-color hardbound gift-sized book and now available for sale at www.lagniappepublishing.com, bookstores, gift shops and online retailers.

To learn about upcoming events where Karla K. Morton will perform, speak or sign books, please visit http://www.kkmorton.com/events.html.

About the Author

A Texas native, poet Karla K. Morton is a founding member and officer of the Denton Poet’s Assembly. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Greater Denton Arts Council and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International (NSAI). Morton’s performance of Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie at the 45^th Annual Scottish Highlands Gathering in Salado, Texas was met with enthusiastic excitement about the reawakening of spoken poetry. Always searching for new ways to promote the craft of poetry, Morton’s work has also had several showings in the visual spectrum. For more information about Karla K. Morton and Wee Cowrin’ Timorous Beastie, visit www.kkmorton.com.