books Archives - Page 11 of 14

May 7, 2025May 7, 2025

Beautiful Bluebells – the Flowers of May

They’re everywhere through the woods, and all over the garden too. Beautiful bluebells. Blue, pink, and sometimes even white. Their heady aroma fills the air as they herald the arrival of summer.

My Latest Series

Meet Ariel and her classmates, Bubbles and Alexander, along with a whole cast of vibrant characters, as they experience love, life and adventure at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland.

Each book in this coming-of-age series delves into the personal struggles and heartfelt romances of a different student over the course of a school year. As the spotlight shifts its focus within the old walls of the castle, there are television shows to be made and dark truths to be faced.

Join these young dancers as they whirl through their challenges, forge unbreakable bonds, and discover the power within themselves. Are you ready to travel to Northern Scotland, step into the castle school and dance through the deep dark of the dungeon?

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon UK

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon Worldwide

Latest review: I’ve just finished Alexander, the last instalment of the whole sequence. What a ride! Great characters, plenty of good storylines and a magical setting. Highly recommended! On Instagram.

Latest review of my dance-related novels

Newsletter and Free Story

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The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…

When Ariel returns home from dance college, her mother expects her to perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in a pink, sequined tutu in front of many, many party guests. Ariel adjusts the costume and choreography to expose dark truths about her life, but, as it turns out, this is not the biggest performance of the night…

New Books and Special Offers

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March 29, 2025March 29, 2025

Spring is Springing Hard this Year

Spring. Springing hard. Flowers everywhere. Colours and brightness and blooms. It feels a bit astonishing, though these plants must spring up every year. I was in hospital last time, though, so I missed all this.

A perfect patch of purple stars:

And a perfect dusk stroll:

And then, on Monday, the latest series completes… This also feels astonishing when I think about where I was last year, and a little strange. What to do now?

Castle Dancers

Meet Ariel and her classmates, Bubbles and Alexander, along with a whole cast of vibrant characters, as they experience love, life and adventure at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland.

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon UK

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon Worldwide

@castle.dancers6
The night before Ariel, a sixteen-year-old girl with a deformed hand, starts at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland, her mother tries to k**l her. Torn from a life where she never fitted in, Ariel quickly becomes the focus of a reality TV show. In the castle school, she forms deep friendships and meets Alexander, the best looking boy she’s ever seen. Together, they unravel the mysteries of the castle’s shadows and confront the demons of Ariel’s past. Can she rise above a lifetime of pain and embrace the possibilities of fame and love that beckon to her? ‘Ariel: Dancing on TV’ is a mesmerising tale of resilience and the pursuit of a brighter future against all odds. #youngadultfiction #dance #ballet #booktokseries #youngadultbooktok
♬ Don’t Worry – Lumine

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The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…

New Books and Special Offers

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March 7, 2025March 7, 2025

A Path of Stripy Shadows

I’m running along the woodland paths these days. Literally. I did so yesterday to avoid a noisy four-wheel bike. The low spring sun creates stripy shadows which flicker light and dark over your face as you run. Or walk. Or dance. Yes. I have been.

It’s better than swoon, which is what I was doing among the flowers last year. So far, so good this year. So far, no swooning.

And there are flowers, so many lovely flowers. I could almost swoon at their beauty. But I won’t 🙂

crocuses beneath stripy shadows — crocuses in the garden

A Playlist for Ariel

The Wee Writing Lassie has made a playlist for Ariel: Dancing on TV. I am most intrigued by this and will have to have a listen!

See the playlist here on Spotify

See the book here on Amazon

Scottish Historical Fiction

THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR: witchcraft, a stone circle, a castle and a love story.
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE: seafaring adventure, friendship and chocolate!
SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: ancient battle, neurodiversity and forbidden romance.

More information here

“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society Editor’s Pick (Fireflies)

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You will receive a free short story when you sign up for my occasional, more-intimate-than-the-blog newsletter (the story can be read in a browser too).

The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…

New Books and Special Offers

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October 11, 2024October 12, 2024

Autumn, I love you!

Autumn, I love you. Really, I do.

I love your gold. I love your blue.

Your leafy lanes. And red berries.

I love your great banks of colour and darkening skies.

You’re the in-between, the relaxation from summer to winter, the slowing of the year. And, did I mention that I love you, autumn?

Contemporary Fiction

Leaving your boyfriend to pursue a career on the stage is easy, right?

Back in London, and newly single, Amalphia moves into a seven-figure apartment and walks into a job with a top ballet company. Despite these advantages, she soon encounters new pain and a dark far deeper than that of the dungeon.

As dark and witty as its predecessor, the second instalment of A Dancer’s Journey is a sensual story of love, dance and self-discovery.

Amazon UK

Amazon worldwide

From emmalolly13 on TikTok: “This series has a special place in my heart… I feel so blessed to continue reading Amalphia’s story… Her journey with love has been rough… this is such a soul-touching series.”

Historical Fiction

Fireflies and Chocolate by Ailish Sinclair

Torn out of her isolated life in a Scottish castle, Elizabeth embarks on a determined quest to return home. Exhilarating adventures unfold on the high seas, love blossoms, and the chocolate, purchased in Ben Franklin’s printing shop, is delicious!

FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 600 children and young people who were kidnapped from Aberdeen during the 1740s and sold into indentured servitude in the American Colonies.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society Editor’s Pick

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Go here to sign up for occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re a bit more intimate than the blog. If you would like to hear about new books and special offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

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July 31, 2024July 31, 2024

Straw Bales on the Horizon

This is just a short follow-up post to my last harvest one. Straw bales are appearing! They’re the less scenic variety, the ones for solid fuel heating, I think.

But, peering from the trees, I captured one being made.

Fireflies and Chocolate

FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 600 children and young people who were kidnapped from Aberdeen during the 1740s and sold into indentured servitude in the American Colonies. The story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith from the castle and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s proper derring-dos on the high seas… And there’s chocolate!

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Further Insight:

Review from the Historical Novel Society
Review from Barb Taub here
Some Eighteenth Century Letter Seals
Historical Hot Chocolate which shares the opening of the book.
The Cumberland Stone near Culloden Moor
Witchcraft, Kidnapping, and the Cobbles Between

Fireflies and Chocolate, the new historical novel from Ailish Sinclair — Fireflies and Chocolate aesthetic

Go here to sign up for my occasional emails. They’re a more intimate space than the blog and always contains some exclusive photos. If you would like to hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

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February 16, 2024February 16, 2024

Dunes and Trees and Intense Writing

Back in the dunes again. Below the big sky. Between intense writing sessions.

The Intense Writing

Near the end of Fouetté, there’s a moment when Aleks is going to speak to a troubled character who needs help and counselling. He assures Amalphia that he can do this. My editor made a comment there at the side of the manuscript: “Can you, Aleks? Really?”

The events of the book that I’m working on now (a new series, hopefully coming later this year) were in the editor’s mind at that moment. And the answer to her question was, and is: no. Aleks couldn’t fix things. The troubled character’s actions and problems are giving me, and everyone in the story, including himself, an enormous amount of difficulty.

I find myself lying awake worrying about it all, like I haven’t done since the early stages of writing Cabriole. But I love him, that dear character, and it will all be okay in the end…

Trees

There’s been a lot of rain, so I’ve been squelching through mud again as I try to get various elements of that story straight in my head.

walking in the woods between intense writing sessions

But there’s also been sunshine, and pink skies, and I know that really, all is well.

pink skies over intense writing — A storm-damaged tree against the sunset.

A Dancer’s Journey

Read the series that’s been shocking people! It’s available in paperback, kindle and on kindle unlimited.

Amazon

Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?

When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her charismatic new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…

Review snippets:

Deanne Patterson on Tendu: It broke my heart and then healed it and made it sing. Full review here.

Molly H on Cabriole: It’s truly one of the best books I’ve ever read and made me feel SO MANY FEELINGS. Full review here – some spoilers.

Tom Williams on Fouetté: I galloped through it, loving every moment. Full review here – some spoilers, especially if you haven’t read Cabriole.

About Page

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Reviewers can apply for Advance Reader Copies of future books here

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February 5, 2024February 5, 2024

Snowdrops in the Garden

The snowdrops have arrived, and with them the knowledge that spring is on the horizon.

They can be found nestling by old trees.

Small clumps of beauty abound in the garden. There are carpets of them in the woods, but I don’t have a recent picture. I will endeavour to take one before their short season is done.

I love the blue-grey of their stems and their perfect white blooms. Snowdrops rule the land at the moment, being the only flower, the only brightness, on the ground.

SO MANY FEELINGS

Cabriole received a beautiful review from Molly on Amazon and Goodreads. She does warn of spoilers at the start, so I’ll just quote a couple of her more general comments here:

I couldn’t put this book down. It was so good I didn’t even stop reading while brushing my teeth… I laughed out loud many times! I cackled twice. I cursed at characters in my head a few times. It’s truly one of the best books I’ve ever read and made me feel SO MANY FEELINGS.

Read the series that’s been shocking people! It’s available in paperback, kindle and on kindle unlimited.

Amazon

Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?

When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her charismatic new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…

On the flat stone of Aikey Brae Stone Circle

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January 6, 2024June 23, 2025

The Frozen Loch – Colour in Thawed Places

colour in the thawed places of the loch — The frozen loch

Below is a post from 2022. The books I mention working on are out now.

The Frozen Loch

I thought things might get less scenic once the ice and snow started to melt. My walk up to the loch was a little later yesterday, so the sun was just setting over the hill. And it was the melted places, the thawed places, that reflected the colour of that sunset.

Today it’s freezing again. The temperature is -8. So, fire and fingerless gloves on, off I go to write. I’m adding a new element to a scene in CABRIOLE, the sequel to TENDU, and it’s going to make everything just so much worse for everyone. The fun!

Romans and Romance

The main character in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is neurodivergent, and has been non-verbal until the first scene of the book.

Set in 1st century Scotland, this is a story of chosen sisters, fierce warriors, divided loyalties and, ultimately, love.

“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Review from Terry Tyler: “It’s a fabulous story, a real page-turner and so well written. It made me think about the passage and circle of time, of the constancy of the land on which we live and the transient nature of human life. Loved it.“

Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.

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January 5, 2024January 5, 2024

Dreich Days and Squelching Feet

It’s dreich here, as we say in Scotland.

Grey. Rainy. Dull.

The woods are still beautiful, though.

I like the witches’ brooms in the trees. And the wintry light.

my favourite forest path on a dreich day

The path through the forest is still a favourite place, and while the squelching of my feet is not entirely unpleasing, and I do like using the word dreich, I will welcome the brighter days when they arrive.

A New Review of Mermaid

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair

I was quite touched by this insightful review on The Book Keep blog recently:

Not only a tribute to Scotland and its history, Ailish Sinclair’s debut novel, The Mermaid and the Bear, further excites, warms, and grips us with a tale about the dichotomies of human nature.

First and foremost, this is achieved by an entrancing blend of evocative literary styles. With mention of witchcraft and the imagery of misty woodlands and a gray, imposing church steeple, Mermaid’s mood is reminiscent of a classic Gothic novel; and yet, here and there, soaked in the colors of bright holiday feasts, pristine snowy landscapes, and a pink stone castle, the air of a Medieval fairytale shimmers with a dreamlike quality.

Mermaid on Amazon

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Reviewers can apply for Advance Reader Copies of future books here.

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December 31, 2023December 31, 2023

2023 Moments: Dancing, Castles, Books…

I loved visiting the Pink House in Banff with its gorgeous wee book nook.

2023 moments: en pointe in a stone circle

Dancing among ancient stones in my ancient pointe shoes. That was fun.

Autumn was gentle and beautiful this year.

Visiting Bow Fiddle Rock was scenic and slippery.

Being diabolical: good, and not so good.

2023 moments: Provost Skene's House in Aberdeen

I had an interesting time exploring Provost Skene’s House in Aberdeen.

Getting A Dancer’s Journey out there into the world felt like a big moment. I enjoyed writing this Dark of the Castle post.

More recent favourite moments: Christmas at Fyvie Castle and walking round the frozen loch there.

Really, being well for large chunks of the year was the highlight for me. I got out. I got books out. It was good.

A Meme of Book Blurbs

And then, the other day, this meme really made me laugh. I don’t know who to credit with its creation; it’s doing the rounds on Facebook. It looks like it might be from a book; if you know, do tell me.

So, I’m going to blurb my books this way. Feel free to do the same with your own, or any books you love, in the comments. Links welcome. No bashing of other authors or books, though. Not here.