life Archives - Page 11 of 15

February 20, 2025February 20, 2025

The Snowdrops and the Mole

Snowdrops and the mole. Sounds like the title of a book I might write. But no, it’s just the state of the garden.

The snowdrops are fully out, and the moles have been busy. Their little earthy hills are everywhere in the grass.

And coming soon in the garden – I missed them last year due to illness and hospital – there will be crocuses! And coming soon book-wise? Bubbles: Dancing Through History. It’s put me through the emotional wringer, this one. More than usual. I feel like a wrung-out little rag.

Bubbles: Dancing Through History by Ailish Sinclair

But back to the moles…

Fireflies and Chocolate and a Mole

Fireflies and Chocolate by Ailish Sinclair

A wee excerpt from Fireflies and Chocolate

My Mermaid Grandmother’s pin! An Elfin Blade that was cast in silver for her to be worn as a brooch. Now, truth be told, according to what she wrote, it maybe didna bring her the best of luck, but it’s always been good to me. She buried it in the stone circle, so say her writings, and I found it there when I was just a wee lassie. It came up in a molehill while I was dancing aboot in the circle. I saw movement in the mound of earth and there it sat, glinting in the sun. I didn’t know what it was then, of course. Eppy said it was a gift from the fairies, just for me. My father said it was a carved arrowhead from long ago.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Newsletter and Free Story

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). It’s listed on Goodreads to help with those reading goals!

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

If you would like to hear about new books and special offers, you can follow my Amazon author page

About Page

ballet feet of Ailish Sinclair - My Characters When I'm Not There

Read all about little old me here

Writer’s Tip Jar

February 19, 2025June 24, 2025

The Great Tapestry of Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is a beautiful trail through history and, at 143 metres long, the longest tapestry in the world.

My Visit to the Tapestry in 2014

Its soft sewn artworks filled three large rooms of Aberdeen Art Gallery, and photography was allowed. Yes. I was happy. May you be too.

Despite the earliness of my visit, the gallery was crowded; I was not quite so happy about the angle of this next pic. Lovely, lovely stone circle, though:

stone circles panel of The Great Tapestry of Scotland

Witches

Some early inspiration for THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, perhaps?

Glencoe

War

Kilts

Literature

Robert Louis Stevenson — ‘Fiction is to grown men what play is to the child.’ RLS

Cloning

Calm

There was something calm and nourishing about walking round this exhibition. Whether it was the gentle and warm art of needlework that hung everywhere in the rooms – there was also a lady demonstrating sewing techniques – or the many different styles from the 1000+ stitchers marking the constant change of the world, I don’t know. The overall feeling was reflective yet hopeful: happy.

Learn more about the Great Tapestry of Scotland

See the official website here

An Autistic Dancer, a Byronic Hero and an Obsessive Scientist

Read my series A Dancer’s Journey. There’s ballet. There’s lots of naughtiness. And there’s peril!

Enjoy a kiss on the London tube in the first book, TENDU. Romp up and down the castle stairs. Dance in a stone circle. Attend a Ceilidh in the great hall. Have your brain studied in the dungeon. All fun, I assure you. Well, not quite all…

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

Page with blurbs and quotes

There’s more about these stories in the posts below:

The Publishing Journey of a Ballet Novel
Pointe Work and a Red Leotard
Working Girl: a WordPress Prompt Goes Dark
A Snaggled, Barbourous Place
Chosen Sisters: Friendship and Dance
And there’s also this slightly strange little post about what the characters of A Dancer’s Journey get up to when I take a rare day off from writing.

Chosen Sisters, Romans and Romance

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.

See the press release here

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

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

See my About Page

Sign up to the mailing list for news about my life and writing, and exclusive photos. If you would like to hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

Writer’s Tip Jar

September 18, 2024November 19, 2024

Running into the Forest…

I walk into the forest along the gnarly loch-side path.

Most of the leaves have fallen now – we’ve had that first frost – but I spy something golden and bright at the end of the tunnel.

I run towards it.

And I go right in.

Back against the trunk…

Look up:

And breathe…

Tendu: Dancing in the Castle

Dance, danger and desire collide in TENDU, a seductive tale set in the mystical landscape of Scotland. Will love conquer all?

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.”

Keep up to date with all my news, leafy and otherwise, by signing up to the mailing list. It’s 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.

About Page

Read all about little old me here!

Writer’s Tip Jar

June 5, 2024June 5, 2024

Down by the field…

pink flowers by the field — Cranesbill growing by the field

Writing is flowing and fierce. Walks are gentle. By the field. In the woods. I haven’t ventured far from home yet.

Trees are gnarly, and blog posts are short 🙂

The Manteith Collection

The Manteith Collection comprises THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR and FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE. The books do not have to be read in order.

Book 1 (mermaid, 16th century) is set mainly in a castle belonging to the Manteith family and involves witchcraft accusations and romance.

In Fireflies (18th century) Elizabeth Manteith is kidnapped and transported to the American colonies as an indentured servant.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

About Page

Bio, socials, articles and interviews.

Sign up to the mailing list for news about my life and writing, and some exclusive photos. It’s a more intimate space than the blog. If you would like to hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

Writer’s Tip Jar

May 28, 2024May 29, 2024

Small Flowers and Writing Affirmations

Stripy Petunias — Daring little petunias – no writing affirmations needed for them!

I am writing again. Finally.

I didn’t need any encouragement – I’ve been champing at the bit waiting to be well enough – but I did feel a little nervous. What if my brain was rusty? What if this resulted in me writing bilge? Utter bilge. Bilge that my rusty brain thought was good?

So when YouTube suggested these writing affirmations to me, I listened. They were rather nice – empowering, even – so I’m sharing them.

Writing Affirmations

The affirmations start at 2.37 minutes in, if, like me, you want to skip the meditation/relaxation part. I listened while doing my morning mix of yoga and Pilates.

Small Flowers

a strawberry flower - writing affirmations — Red strawberry flower

purple flower - writing affirmations — A purple flower – I think it’s an Aster

A Writing-Related TikTok

@a.dancers.journey
#CapCut #meme #writersoftiktok #authortok Oh, that balance of light and dark…
♬ original sound – A Dancer’s Journey

A Dancer’s Journey Series – complete, shocking, unique

A Dancer's Journey series by Ailish Sinclair

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…

My dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this wild mix of unconventional romance and ballet set between a Scottish castle and London. There are no cliffhanger endings here; each book completes a story, but then there is more. So much more…

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

About Page

Bio, socials, articles and interviews.

Writer’s Tip Jar

April 10, 2024April 11, 2024

Home

Just that. Nothing else. All that’s needed 🙂

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.

About Page

See my About Page

Newsletter, Updates and ARCs

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.

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

Writer’s Tip Jar

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

My About Page

See my About Page

Newsletter, Updates and ARCs

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

Writer’s Tip Jar

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.

SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: haunting.
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE: heart-warming.
THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR: richly detailed (I did go to town with the research).

TENDU: disturbing.
CABRIOLE: perceptive.
FOUETTÉ: this one is a bit difficult; I’ll go with classic.

Wishing you all a great 2024 with many marvellous moments!

My About Page

See my About Page

Newsletter, Updates and ARCs

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

Writer’s Tip Jar

October 1, 2023November 23, 2023

An Illuminated Path to Winter

An illuminated path in the woods.

It’s autumn, but with a hint of what’s to come in the air. There’s a chill, a dampness and darkness to mornings and evenings.

Here in Scotland, our clocks just went back an hour. A seasonal change. A portent of winter.

But for just now, there’s still lots of blue and gold beauty to behold in the woods.

I’ll crunch through those leaves for as long as I can!

Sisters at the Edge of the World

Romans + Celts = some rather complicated romance!

Set in 1st century Scotland, the novel features a neurodivergent main character, chosen sisters, fierce warriors and the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

From recent reviews: