Book description
In Tales from the Tent, Jess Smith Â- Scottish traveller, hawker,
gypsy, Â gan-about' and storyteller Â- continues the unforgettable
story started in Jessie's Journey of her life on the road. Unable to
adjust to settled life working in a factory after leaving school, she
finds herself drawn once again to the wild countryside of Scotland.
Having grown up on the road in an old blue bus with her parents and
seven sisters, Jessie now joins her family in caravans, stopping to
rest in campsites and lay-bys as they follow work around the country
Â- berry-picking, hay-stacking, ragging, fortune-telling and hawking.
Making the most of their freedom, Jessie and her family continue the
traditional way of life that is disappearing before their eyes,
wandering the roads and byways, sharing tales and living on the edge
of  acceptable' society. Intertwined with the story of Jessie's
loveable but infuriating family, incorrigible friends, first loves and
first losses are her  tales from the tent', a collection of folklore
from the traveller's world, tales of romance, mythical beasts, dreams,
ghostly apparitions and strange encounters.
Jess Smith was raised in a large family of Scottish travellers. She
is married with three children and six grandchildren. As a traditional
storyteller and writer, she is in great demand for live performances and
workshops throughout the UK. Tales from the Tent is her second book and
she is currently working on her first novel.
