Apology
Yesterday, on International Women’s Day, the Scottish Government issued a formal apology for Scotland’s witchcraft trials. You can read more about it and watch the First Minister’s address to parliament here.
Anniversary
On this day in 1597, Bessie Thom and Christen Michell were executed in Aberdeen, having been found guilty of witchcraft. I wrote about both women in THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, and remembered them today as I chased the sunrise round Strichen Lake.
Maria Robertson reviewed the performance ‘Witch Hunt’ here, which took place in St Nicolas Kirk in Aberdeen. “It made me think of Ailish Sinclair’s first novel The Mermaid And The Bear as there are a couple of chapters in that based around the treatment of witches in the Mither Kirk back in the days of yore.”
And Nelliphant wrote about some Scottish books here, saying this of FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE: “The main character, a many-times-great-granddaughter of the Mermaid and the Bear, is an extremely feisty Doric-speaking young woman whom I liked very much…”
In other news (less dramatic and much less historic than an apology for Scotland’s Witchcraft Trials) the new book is now with the editor. So, progress towards publication is being made. And, apparently, I can now chase sunrises round lakes so health progress is happening too.
There were some lovely spring flowers planted along the path through the woods. They seemed like wreaths to me, today. Purple and white. Beautiful and sombre.
Set in an Aberdeenshire castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR features the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic and a love story.
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 18th century kidnapped children of Aberdeen.
Paperbacks and kindle: Amazon UK or Amazon Worldwide
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society Editor’s Pick
I have been listening to the Witches of Scotland podcast recently, I am so pleased that the campaign for an apology was successful.
Yes, it’s wonderful 🙂
Love the news, the pictures and the clever way you re-introduced us to your lovely novels. Good news on the health front also.
Thank you 🙂
More beautiful pictures of Scotland. I look forward to the new book, sure to be a treasure trove of well crafted words to give image to a time long gone in a place faraway.
Thank you, that’s the plan 🙂
These are all beautiful I love “The Witch Hunt.”
That’s an image from the production itself.
Looking forward to the new book, and with regard to the apology, it’s about time. We need to do that in Massachusetts.
It’s certainly taken a long time here!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you for linking to my blog. I love reading yours and am very glad to hear you are on the mend.
Thank you for the lovely reviews 🙂
I am glad to hear that your health is improving!
Thank you 🙂
Wow, historic indeed. Interesting that they would take that stand all these years later. I love that you remembered those pained and literally tortured souls with the flowers on your walk. How wonderful to have the health to walk again at sunrise. May it continue to improve for you!
Thank you!
How nice to get a couple of reviews.
Yes 🙂
W lovingly crafted post, Ailish. Good news about the apology, your health improving, the reviews and your new book being with the editor. The spring flowers are beautiful. <3
Thank you Jane 🙂
Good for you, and good for Scotland then. The last book I read, which is a little more than tangentially related, was a book by Margaret Alice Murray called “The Witch Cult in Western Europe.” If you can suss out Middle English, there are plenty of Scottish accounts cited inasmuch as trials having been apologised for. I’ll echo another commenter and say it would be interesting to see New England do likewise: both Massachusetts and Maine where I live had their own activities. Although the trials were conducted in Massachusetts where the Superior Courts were, Maine had murmurings and self-executed acts against “witches.” One of my ancestresses survived an almost comically retarded witch hunt, which killed her husband, nearly her son, and led to the death of an admittedly evil neighbour.
How fascinating about your ancestress!
Yup. They chopped another one back in Old England for missing the bill of sale regarding “No Popery.” Guess my veins are chock full of religious discrimination. 🙂
Shameless self-promotion:
https://spergbox.wordpress.com/2022/04/06/witch-cult-in-western-europe-in-review/
You or visitors to your comment field might get something out of it, or go on to read the book. No pressure, of course. 🙂