green places Archives - Ailish Sinclair

May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

Writing a Coherent Novel Among Blue Flowers

writing a coherent novel among the bluebells

Is it possible to write a coherent novel when the primary research source, that I’ve become so deeply embroiled in, is anything but coherent? And how was that for a non-coherent sentence?

The witchcraft confessions of Isobel Gowdie are extraordinary. And strange. And mixed up in many ways, so it seems to me.

Here’s a quote from Confession 2, not translated by me, slightly translated by Robert Pitcairn in his 1833 work Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland (I will translate quotes that appear in the novel for ease of understanding):

“The aucht Spirit [is called] ‘ RoBERT The JAcks,’ ftill clothed in dune, and feimes to be aiged. He is ane glaiked gowked Spirit! The woman’s [nikname] that he waitis on, is ‘ABLE AND STOWT!'”

The letter S was written as F. Sometimes. The letter F was also written as F. All the time. What a wonderful voice Isobel had, for I definitely feel that at least some of that passage did not come from just answering ‘aye’ to closed, specific questions. Such are my incoherent, and sometimes inconsequential, thoughts…

So, I revisit Isobel’s places:

Auldearn Stone Row in the bluebells - writing a coherent novel

The stone row in Auldearn above. Bluebells! Green alkanet by Auldearn Kirkyard below.

Green alkanet by Auldearn Kirkyard - writing a coherent novel.

I also revisit the Downie Hillock, where Isobel dined with the King and Queen of Elfhame (fairyland). It’s nice there.

I was there in these places on May 3rd, the day on which, in 1662, Isobel gave her second confession.

Downie Hillock - writing a coherent novel

Back at my desk, I remember that coherence can come in editing. Later. And I let the words and the story flow on…

The Mermaid and the Bear, 2019

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair

Everyone knows about the Salem witch trials that took place in seventeenth century America, but less well known are the instances of witch hunting that occurred across Scotland.

Ailish Sinclair painstakingly researched this fascinating and terrible subject for more than a year, before blending it with a love story in her debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR. Featuring three real women who were accused as part of the Aberdeen witchcraft panic of 1597, the book is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Aberdeenshire countryside and tells the story of Isobell, and her desperation to escape London and an arranged marriage, to find a better life.

Upon landing in Scotland, Isobell’s dreams of faery castles, ancient woodlands and misty lochs seem to be coming true, as she finds herself kitchen maid to a handsome Laird, who offers not only safety but also the hope for a brighter future, filled with love and kindness. All is not how it seems, however, and enemies, both from the past and the present, conspire to test Isobell to the limits of endurance, and beyond.

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April 25, 2026April 25, 2026

Pink Flowers, Blue Skies and Magical Hares

camellia - pink flowers, blue skies — Camellia

There’s pink flowers a many in the garden, and the sun is bright. But, wow, it’s cold! Frosty mornings are standard just now. The cherry tree is in full bloom, undeterred by low temperatures.

Writing Update

After spending over a year obsessing over the extraordinary witchcraft confessions of Isobel Gowdie, and studying everything I could find about associated people and places, and events of the time, I’m finally writing the book. Well, something is burbling out of me! I’ve also started saying things like ‘a many’ (see above) and spelling time as tym.

And, when I take a break to go outside and breathe (it’s going to be a dark book), and look at the blue skies, hares are dancing around in the field behind my house. In twenty years of living here, I’ve never seen hares around before, so it feels rather magical.

I shall go into a hare,
With sorrow and sych and meickle care… Isobel Gowdie, 1662

Let’s look up at those pink flowers and blue sky!

cherry blossom and the sky - pink flowers

Darker Covers for Amalphia

TENDU: Dancing in the Castle

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

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

She’s soon dealing with her boyfriend’s beautiful and obsessive ex, the sinister research taking place at the castle school and her own ever-evolving relationship issues.

Amalphia works hard to be the best dancer she can be, but as tension builds within the old walls of the castle, she begins to wonder if she will ever escape the deep dark of the dungeon…

Dark, witty, sexy and fun, Tendu is a seductive story of love, dance and obsession. Get your copy today.

Series on Amazon UK

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“POV: You thought it was just another ballet book… then it emotionally body-slammed you in pointe shoes. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, fate, and a Scottish setting that delivered.” See this TikTok review here

A Dancer's Journey series by Ailish Sinclair

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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…

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April 25, 2026April 25, 2026

Castle Fraser in Spring

Having abandoned my fictional castle to Alexander, I felt the need to seek out a real, physical example. So, off to Castle Fraser I skipped.

First I encountered a carved castle in the woods. And a dragon!

There were small spots of colour in the walled garden:

And then, at last, a glimpse of the castle…

Through the trees…

And there it was.

Beautiful Castle Fraser. The earliest parts of the building date from 1450. See the National Trust site here

I perused the two shops in the courtyard – gift and second-hand books – then ventured back through the woods.

The wind was blasting across the field as I walked up the side to see the stone circle. I didn’t go in as that would have involved trampling the farmer’s crop, but you can just make out the stones on the horizon below. There’s a post on a previous visit to the Castle Fraser circle here.

Alexander’s Castle

Alexander: Dancing with Fire by Ailish Sinclair

When Alexander turns eighteen, he learns that he has inherited a castle, the one that houses the dance school he attends, to be exact. He’s always wanted a do-over, a chance to fix the broken parts of himself and his life. Could this be it?

Instead of allowing the school to continue on as normal, Alexander throws the students and teachers out and claims the castle as his own.

At first he’s lonely. At first he’s hesitant. Will he have any friends left after this? The events of his uncle’s televised wedding at the castle prove that, while Alexander definitely still has friends, his broken ankle is actually the least damaged part of him.

Within the ancient castle walls, a world of dark family secrets is revealed. Join Alexander as he dances on the edge of sanity and survival, navigating through the flames of his turbulent past to forge a new future.

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https://www.tiktok.com/@castle.dancers6/video/7487907191522004226

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

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April 13, 2026April 25, 2026

Unfurling Ferns, Marsh Marigolds and a Dragon

Spring moves on. The woods are full of unfurling ferns. I love the look of them at this stage. They’re like poised fairy-tale creatures waiting to strike.

The pond is full of tadpoles and marsh marigolds. No poising. No striking.

And here’s the dragon from Castle Fraser again. Just because.

Signed Paperbacks in the Shop

Historical Fiction from Ailish Sinclair. Witches, kidnapping, Romans and romance.

I don’t often mention these – mainly due to the fact that I have to take them down when I’m ill as it’s too difficult – but all my books are there in paperback. There’s discounts when you buy a whole series or all three historicals. Unfortunately, it is very expensive to post books outside of the UK, but there are signed bookmarks too.

See the shop here

And, of course, they’re all on Amazon worldwide.

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

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April 10, 2026April 25, 2026

The Red Well by Whitehills in Aberdeenshire

The Red Well

The Red Well by Whitehills is protected by an unusual building. On the autumn equinox, at sunrise, a beam of light shines through the doorway of this beehive-shaped shelter and illuminates the well within. This happens on the spring equinox too. The well, and the building, are said to date from Roman times.

A Witch’s Hoosie

When I was a small child, I lived with my grandparents in Whitehills for a while. 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.

thistles by the well — Thistles by the well

It’s in a particularly beautiful spot, the Red Well. The town of Banff can just be seen in the distance below.

A Book Set in Roman Times

I included the Red Well in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.

Sisters at the Edge of the World by Ailish Sinclair

It was seven years in the making, this book. Both the novel and I went through a lot as the story developed: severe editing, hospitalisations, deleting, pain, rewriting, crying and being monstrous.

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

Paperback and Kindle:

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It’s on Kindle Unlimited too so can be read for free (there’s a 30 day free trial).

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April 8, 2026April 25, 2026

A Tentative Tiptoe Round Duffus Castle

Duffus Castle looms, majestic and huge against the skyline as you approach. It’s imposing and impressive… dramatic too…

Duffus Castle silhouetted against the sun

Duffus Castle at Easter

On the day I visited – Easter Sunday – it was busy, really busy, and the air contained a mysterious hint of sulphur. This medieval fortress of the Moray family, one of Scotland’s most beautiful motte and bailey castles, had become a giant playground for the seasonal pastime of ‘egg rolling’.

They’re Not Daisies

You see those white bits in the grass in the photo above that look like daisies? Not daisies. Everywhere, the ground was strewn with smashed boiled eggs, as people, both old and young, hurled them with great gusto from the top of the ramparts.

I recall rolling eggs sedately down a gentle slope on Easter Sunday when I was a child. Then, once your egg was cracked, you peeled and ate it, despite the fact that the colour from your decorating efforts had soaked through the porous shell and onto the egg white.

No one was eating their eggs at Duffus Castle. The goal was definitely to throw them as far as possible. A bit like shot put. Or the Scottish sport of tossing the caber. And you know what? It wasn’t entirely unfitting. There was something medieval and combative about it. Risk was in the air and on the ground; you could be hit by, or step on, an eggy missile at any moment.

Down on the Moat Path

It was quieter on the moat-side walk, though one or two eggs had somehow found their way down there too. The path offered some of the prettiest views of the castle and the remains of its walls.

wall at Duffus Castle - Ailish Sinclair, author

I tiptoed round shells, yolks and egg whites, inside the old keep too.

The interior of the old keep - Ailish Sinclair, author

The Privy Chamber

As I look at the photo of the fallen privy chamber below, I am actually still thinking about the eggs. Who cleans them all up? There were large mounds of them, warming in the sun, at the foot of the ramparts. I imagine the circling seagulls swoop down and help themselves once the crowds have gone. But some poor person, presumably a member of Historic Scotland‘s staff, must be stuck with the task of clearing it all away properly? I hope they get given a large Easter egg to make up for it. Or perhaps a chocolate bunny would be less galling…

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SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

Set in 1st century Scotland, 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

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See the press release here

Read the article New Novel Highlights Roman History in North East from Grampian Online.

THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR

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. There’s 6 chapters of medieval Christmas too.

See the press release here

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From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland

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!

See the publisher’s Press Release here

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Review from the Historical Novel Society

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April 5, 2026April 25, 2026

Pretty in Pink

The garden is all pretty in pink just now. There are polyanthus all through the grass.

And the flowering currant is, well, flowering… as the pink bench glows in the distance.

FOUETTÉ: Dancing with the Past

FOUETTÉ goes nicely with the ‘pretty in pink’ theme of this little post, but it’s also the book where Alexander, the titular character of my latest release, first shows up. He’s still very much on mind. Is he looking after that castle properly?

Amalphia Treadwell thinks she’s living her happily ever after.

She’s achieved fame, fortune and notoriety. She’s blissfully happy in her unconventional marriage and is very excited about the plan she’s just made with her best friend Justin.

When she encounters a mysterious child, a child who desperately needs her help, she knows that life will never be the same again.

Amalphia explores the deeper, darker places of her world, encountering long-forgotten danger and uncovering truths that might have been better left unknown.

Beginning six years after the end of the previous book in the series, the third and final part of Amalphia’s journey is a steamy tale of love, dance, obsession and forgiveness.

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

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April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

It’s all getting a bit Springly out there…

Springly. Springtime. It’s happening! Which is good, because my immune system has being doing its very strange dance again. A new one this time. Hopefully it’ll settle down soon, but in the meantime I’ll look at flowers… Flowering currant in the garden above.

Daffodils and Bossier's glory-of-the-snow - springly

Daffodils and Bossier’s glory-of-the-snow in the woods.

Bergonia Beethoven or elephant’s ears by the pond.

Marsh marigolds and primroses. I’m not going to say wintery weather is finished for the season – it snowed last week – but we’re getting there 🙂

Castle Dancers (a completed series)

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 kill her…

Torn from a life where she never fitted in, Ariel quickly becomes the focus of a reality TV show. Can she rise above a lifetime of pain and embrace the possibilities of fame and love that beckon to her?

Paperback, Kindle and on Kindle Unlimited.

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See series page for full blurbs

castle dancers series by ailish sinclair

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

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March 31, 2026April 25, 2026

When You’ve Inherited a Castle…

Inherit a castle - the house at Logie Estate

No, it’s not me that’s inherited a castle. (But how great would that be?) It’s Alexander. He’s eighteen today, and the castle that appears in so many of my books is his now. What will he do with it? Well, that’s the book, that’s the story, but also… it’s the end. The end of the series, really the culmination of two series.

Alexander hasn’t just thrown his friends and family out of the castle school; he’s shown the author the door too. It feels like I’ve finally finished writing that great building.

Pictured is the great house at the Logie Estate near Forres in Moray.

It’s time for me to relinquish any responsibly I had towards the castle, and have fun running around beautiful places. I can stand still for a while and appreciate the softness of redwood bark…

And gaze at carved squirrels:

Front and back.

Browsing book shops. I can do lots of that too (also at the Logie Steading).

The castle is in safe hands. I can relax 🙂

Out Today – Alexander: Dancing With Fire

Instead of allowing the school to continue on as normal, Alexander throws the students and teachers out and claims the castle as his own.

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Excerpt from Alexander: Dancing With Fire. He's inherited a castle!

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

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March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

10 Mystical and Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire

This article of magical sites in Aberdeenshire was originally published on the official tourism site for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in 2019. Years have passed, and now the original version is here with added links to more detailed posts on the places mentioned.

Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire has a rich and colourful history, made up of fascinating people, mysterious events and magical places. Some of these places are so well tucked away in wee corners of the shire, they seem to be well-kept secrets, never busy and known only to a select few. From stunning beaches to ruinous castles and ancient standing stones, I have 10 to share!

1. Rosehearty Beach

This small bay is sheltered by harbour walls on both sides, making it calm and mellow even on stormy days, and its sands are silver. It’s not visible from most parts of the village, but you’ll find it beyond the bus stop on the main road.

I walked on this beach when I was recuperating from illness: The Silvery Sands of Rosehearty Beach

magical sites in aberdeenshire - rosehearty beach

2. Pitsligo Castle

Up on the hill behind Rosehearty, this castle was once home to the enigmatic Alexander Forbes, 4^th Lord of Pitsligo, who ran a Mystery School there for several years, based on his study of Quietism. The ruin, easily accessible from the road, still has a calm and zen-like quality to it.

I was lucky to get to hold the 18th century Letter Seals of Lord Pitsligo and meet his descendant.

Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire: Pitsligo Castle

3. Peathill Kirk and the Kilted Angels

Travel a short distance up the hill and you will come to two church buildings at Peathill, old and new.

Lord Pitsligo is buried under the old kirk in a gated crypt. To the back of the cemetery lies a most unusal grave depicting two angels wearing kilts.

Pitsligo Castle and Peathill Kirk

Kilted angels on a grave in Peathill Kirkyard.

4. The Hanging Stone

A short distance away, on Gallows Hill, in the middle of a dry stane dyke, is the 8ft tall Hanging Stone. Reputedly a place of execution, both the stone and nearby ‘Pit’ are said to have been ‘for witches’. The fact that the stone is wrapped in barbed wire only enhances its ominous presence in the landscape.

The Hanging Stone

5. Berrybrae Recumbent Stone Circle

Inland, near Lonmay, within a walled enclosure surrounded by trees, nestles one of my favourite ancient stone circles. You can just make out the larger stones there under the midwinter sun, casting their shadows across the field.

Aberdeenshire Stone Circles in Winter

6. Memsie Burial Cairn

In the middle of the village of Memsie there is a huge Iron Age burial cairn. On excavation a leaf-shaped sword was found, like something out of Lord of the Rings.

Memsie features in Winter in Scotland: let it snow

10 magical sites in Aberdeenshire: Memsie Burial Cairn

7. Fraserburgh’s Wine Tower

This mysterious tower, hidden away behind the excellent Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, has its own ghost story. The 8^th Laird’s daughter was imprisoned in the higher room there, while her lover was incarcerated below. When he drowned during a storm, she fell to her death from the window, and is said to appear before bad weather.

8. The White Horse on Mormond Hill

This white quartz structure dates from the 18^th century, and local legend has it that if you turn round three times in the horse’s eye, your wish will be granted! There is a (long) walk up to the horse starting from Hospital Road in Strichen.

More: The White Horse on Mormond Hill

9. The Witch Stone

Located two miles south of Fraserburgh, in the woods of Witch Hill, this stone is said to be where people accused of witchcraft were burned in the distant past.

The Witch Stone in Winter

Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire: The Witch Stone

10. Fraserburgh Beach

The sands of this golden beach are often left wet and glassy by the early morning tide, causing them to reflect the sky like a mystical, magical mirror.

Sunrise over Tiger Hill

I hope you enjoy visiting these lesser known places. Do follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when exploring the more remote sites.

Ailish Sinclair’s debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, set in a fictional castle in Aberdeenshire, and featuring the Aberdeen Witchcraft Panic of 1597, is out Autumn 2019.

Lost in ancient woodlands and caught up in whispers of witchcraft, Isobell must navigate danger to reclaim her life. Can she find her happily ever after?

If you like castles, Scotland, history, witches, stone circles and Christmas done medieval-style, you might like THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR. There’s also a love story.

See the press release here

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Review from Tonya Ulynn Brown: “Before I go any further, I just have to say, this is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read…“

From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland

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