The Red Well
The Red Well by Whitehills in Aberdeenshire is protected by an unusual building. On the autumn equinox, at sunrise, a beam of light shines through the doorway and illuminates the well within. This happens on the spring equinox too. The well, and the building, are said to date from Roman times.
Book Release!
So, of course, I took it for SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. The book releases today, at the time of autumn equinox, and that just seems right. It’s been seven years in the making, this one. Both the novel and I have been through a lot as the story developed: severe editing, hospitalisations, deleting, pain, rewriting, crying and being monstrous. I’m very glad that we’re finally here at a place of relative wellness and publication.
See the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Paperback and Kindle:
It’s on Kindle Unlimited too so can be read for free (there’s a 30 day free trial).
The well is described in the book:
This wee spring is very near the sea, situated on a gentle incline that heads down to the beach. There the land is flat and looks to be walkable for miles. The sand is golden with some stony places. I see grey rocks and pink pebbles. I feel the desire to walk down to the beach, to spend many a day on those sands. It is strange.
Excerpt from SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD by Ailish Sinclair
A Witch’s Hoosie
I have a bit of personal history with the well. When I was a small child, I lived with my grandparents in Whitehills for a few months. One day, playing with my cousins, I was locked in that building to see if the witch would get me. The place was referred to as the ‘witch’s hoosie’ back then, by children at least. There were scary stories of an old lady witch ghost. I was quite interested to see if she would show up. She didn’t, and I was eventually freed, my lack of fear having disappointed my companions somewhat.
The door is kept locked now.
Since then, I’ve always viewed the well as rather a magical place, and keenly look out for the quick glimpse of it in the landscape that you get when driving along the main Banff to Portsoy road.
It’s in a particularly beautiful spot, the Red Well. The town of Banff can just be seen in the distance below.
Out today: SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.
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Congratulations on the new release. Well done!
Thank you!
We found the red well earlier this year while walking the coast path and staying at Portsoy! Lovely bit of coast and I can sèe from your tale why it’s locked now!
So much fun at the time 🙂
Beautiful pictures – and blue skies. I think I’ll have a look at your book too. I hope its a success 🙂
Thank you Brenda 🙂
Congratulations on your latest launch!
Thank you, Liz 🙂
You’re welcome, Ailish. 🙂
Congratulations on your new book! I have it now, I ordered it from Amazon in the US a few days ago, and it arrived immediately. The first pages, that I have already read are so beautifully written, I savor them. I think I will be done reading it in far less than seven years. Then I will have to wait for the next. Please stay strong, stay well. Thank you for sharing your artist’s eye on the deep beauty of all these ancient places.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying it, Julie. Hopefully it won’t be such a long wait next time 🙂
Hi,
Congratulations on your new release. I’m glad you stuck with it and didn’t give up despite the hard times.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem
Thank you 🙂
Congrats! It’s out! Should be downloading to my Kindle now!
I hope it’s a good read for you Noelle 🙂
Congratulations on the new book. It must feel so rewarding to complete such a long journey!
It is quite a relief!
Congratulations, Ailish! On my list. 🙂
Thank you Tim 🙂
Witching you (sorry, I mean ‘wishing’ you) the best of luck with this new book. Funnily enough I finished the second and, I hope, last, draft of my fourth title in the ‘Omens & Havens’ series today! It’s a sequel to the trilogy which I might have mentioned before. This story, set up here in the Highlands, is called ‘Picts and Wildcats’.
Sounds interesting!
Congratulations on your book ! Ill definitely try to read.
Thank you 🙂
*I’ll
YAY! Congratulations! Looking forward to reading it <3
Congrats on your new release day! I wish you every success!
I already got the Kindle and will put in a review after reading. I’m looking forward to it. Happy Autumn Equinox! I hope the new season is a better one for you, too.
Thank you so much Sheri. I hope it’s a good read for you 🙂
Your posts are always so interesting. Checking out your book now.
Thank you Darlene 🙂
What a cool story about the well. Too bad nobody can drink from it now, if it’s kept locked up.
There’s a sign up saying it’s unfit for human consumption.
What an interesting landmark and so cool you wrote it into your story. Congrats on getting it done and published despite the hurdles and obstacles. Well done. Bernie
Thank you so much, Bernie 🙂
Congratulations! What a suitable date to publish a new book, especially this one.
Seven years seem like a long time, but, as we say in German “gut Ding braucht Weile”, which means that really good things take a long time to mature.
I wish you success with this book and still improving health for you. (I have to get hold of a kindle version.)
Thank you, Stella. What a wonderful saying; I love it 🙂
That book of yours sounds interesting! And the landscape is just gorgeous! One day I will make it to Scotland — it has been a plan of my sister and me for years now. 🙂
I hope you get the chance to visit soon!