
This is the cover reveal for FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE!
Other reveals can be seen here for THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, and more recently, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.
Last time I had a cover to reveal we journeyed down a rabbit hole to find it… but I haven’t been anywhere exciting like that lately, so we’ll have to stick closer to home, starting on the snowy track into the woods.
Reaching the end of the track, we nip up this narrow path:

Here we are on the loch-side walk now, sunshine to our left.

Wait! What’s that? Something’s moving in the woods, running and leaping through the trees…

No, that’s not it. That’s the first book (out now!) and some foot prints left by a deer. We need to retrace our steps, I think…

And yes – finally we come to it – the cover reveal for FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE, out April 1st 2021!

The cup featured on the cover is an actual chocolate cup from the 1740s when the book is set.
Inspired by the 600 children and young people who were kidnapped from Aberdeen and sold into indentured servitude in the American Colonies, the story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s proper derring-dos on the high seas (as opposed to my previous metaphorical ones)! And there’s chocolate…
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Review from the Historical Novel Society
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My Other Books
Set in 1st century Scotland, my latest novel, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Taking place mainly in a fictional castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland

See my About Page here
Lovely pic. All the best with your book… Love the cover
Thank you 🙂
My pleasure✨
Interesting cover reveal! Congrats!
Thank you 🙂
It looks lovely. Congrats at getting this far
Thank you 🙂
Intriguing title and the cover looks very nice! Congrats on getting your books published.
Thank you!
Lovely photographs, Ailish. Love your new book cover and I wish you every success. <3
Thank you so much Jane 🙂
Congrats and all the best with your new book, Ailish.
Thank you 🙂
Wonderful!
🙂
Had me at ‘chocolate’, but the setting and plot sound fascinating, and cover looks great. All the best with it.
Thank you 🙂
Sounds like a great story!
I hope it is!
Very clever reveal of a great cover!
Thank you Liz 🙂
You’re welcome, Ailish.
‘looking forward to reading that to make a dreary winter bloom to wondrous spring!
I hope it does 🙂
Gorgeous cover – and what a fun way to reveal it!
I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I, for one, am very excited for this book to come out! Looking forward to how you weave the two stories together, considering how the heroine in this one also happens to bear the name Manteith. 🙂
She does indeed 🙂
Congratulations! All the best to you and your beautiful book!
Thank you so much 🙂
Good cover reveal. Sounds like a good story. Good luck with it.
Congratulations! Absolutely love the cover–beautiful in its simplicity. Gorgeous photos, as always.
Thank you 🙂
Love it!! What a beautiful cup.
I like it too 🙂
Anything with chocolate just has to be wonderful!
😀
Congratulations! I’m so excited to read this next book! What a lovely and interesting chocolate cup. I’ve never seen one of that style. I’m glad you were able to progress on your book despite your challenging year last year. I’ll be watching for the release with great anticipation!
Thank you so much 🙂
I love the cover and look forward to reading the book. The chocolate cup reminds me of the chocolate set I inherited from my Grandmother (she was born in 1898). In the meantime I’m going to settle in by the fire on this cold day with a cup of hot chocolate and read The Mermaid and the Bear. 🙂
How interesting about your Grandmother’s set! I hope you enjoy Mermaid 🙂
Beautiful photos and cover! Love the deer prints.
I love those deer prints too 🙂
Sounds awesome.
Thank you 🙂
Love the cover and the Chocolate cup is beautiful!
Thank you!
Congratulations!! Tis a marvelous cover!! And as others said, what a creative way of revealing it!!
Glad you like 🙂
oh excellent! absolutely gorgeous cover and i like the premise. love your lead.
I’m glad you like it 🙂
Gorgeous, Ailish! Love the cover and the story sounds amazing.
Thank you 🙂
Can NOT wait. Love the cover!
Thank you so much Noelle 🙂
Delicious cover! and the inviting snowy paths.
Glad you like 🙂
Love the cover!
🙂
Sounds like an exciting read! Looking forward to picking it up. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Firstly, many thanks for following my blog Ailish, greatly appreciated! As a hillwalker and a blogger I reckon paths are always a great backdrop for any story. Paths travel through so many different types of terrain and location that they are damn near stories in their own right. Every one is different and each one has a different ending.
You’re welcome 🙂 And I so agree about the paths, magical places leading to more magical places!
Another brilliant cover!!! 😀
Glad you approve!
I have to say… the scene in The Mermaid and The Bear–titled The Bear–is one of the most delightful sequences I have ever read. Beautifully done!
So glad you liked it! It was fun to write that part.
Love the new cover! It really catches the eye.
Thank you 🙂
Great cover. (And thanks for liking my Book Bore post on The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.) Best, Guy
Thank you, and you’re welcome 🙂
This is beautiful…
Thank you 🙂
Most welcome
Congrats!
Thank you 🙂
Looking forward to getting the new book, I’ll put it on my birthday list like I did your last one!
Thank you 🙂 I hope you enjoy this one .
Your pictures take me back to my childhood in Saskatchewan, Canada and your book cover (and title) — intriguing.
🙂
Such pretty photos! ❄
I’m glad you like them!