Tag: history

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New Book: Sisters at the Edge of the World

Sisters at the Edge of the World by Ailish Sinclair
Aesthetic for the new book from Ailish Sinclair: Sisters at the Edge of the World.
Aesthetic for the book

Work on the new book is forging ahead nicely. The aim is for it to be released this summer, but that may be subject to change.

Update

The book released on the 21st of September 2022.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

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

Sisters at the Edge of the World by Ailish Sinclair

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on publishing options. My publisher, too, gave me lots of wonderful advice and information, and while they would have been willing to look at the manuscript, despite its shortness and strangeness, I am choosing to self-publish this novel.

Thanks also to everyone who has donated through Kofi. With traditional publishing there is no cost to the author (remember that, don’t be taken in by vanity presses posing as traditional pubs; there’s a lot of them about), but this time I’ll be paying for everything myself, so thank you so much!

Being ill, having chronic conditions and facing my own mortality have made me want to experience things while I can. And if those things can be accomplished sitting at my desk, all the easier. So, it’ll be an adventure! That’s how I’m thinking of it anyway…

Aspects of the book

  • The main characters are fiercely bonded chosen sisters. Can their bond survive betrayal and perhaps even death? (Already attempting to write the blurb here).
  • The story is set in the 1st century CE and features the battle of Mons Graupius between the Roman invaders and the Caledonian tribes.
  • There’s romance, but it’s rather complicated romance this time.
  • The stone circle is still there in all its glory.
  • The castle is not, obviously, but there is a great round house where it will be one day. And a wee hoosie in the woods.
sunshine and frost in the woods
Sunshine and frost in the woods

Edit in: and now it has a cover!

SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD cover

Do sign up to my occasional mailing list to be kept abreast of developments and also for exclusive photos…

The traditionally published books

Ailish's books

FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 18th century kidnapped children of Aberdeen.

Set in an Aberdeenshire castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR features the Scottish witchcraft accusations and a love story.

Paperbacks and kindle: Amazon UK or Amazon Worldwide

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

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Just Some Spring Flowers

spring flowers - crocus in the garden
In the garden

It’s good to see the spring flowers. And the sunshine. As illness recedes a little along with the winter.

SISTERS

Ethereal and spellbinding

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

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    My About Page

    castle roof

    Read my bio and see all the social links and articles here.

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    Macbeth’s Hillock and the Three Witches

    ancient battle on the Sueno's Stone
    Macbeth's Hillock

    Macbeth’s Hillock

    A couple of miles from the town of Forres in Moray is a mound known as Macbeth’s Hillock. Local folklore tells us that this is where Macbeth met with the three witches from the play.

    ‘By the pricking of my thumbs,
    Something wicked this way comes.’
    So pronounces the second witch in Macbeth, Act 4, scene 1.

    The Three Witches

    The theme of the three witches is echoed in more folklore from the surrounding area. There are two stones in Forres that are both associated with them.

    The Sueno’s Stone

    Sueno's Stone in Forres, possible site of Macbeth's Hillock
    In its glass case

    This is a 9th-10th century Picto-Scottish stone depicting an ancient battle (I like to think it’s Mons Graupius as featured in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, but this is very unlikely given how long ago that battle took place). The stone is 6.5 metres tall and also lays claim, in local legend, to be situated where Macbeth met the witches. They are said to have been captured inside the stone, and should it ever be broken, they will be released.

    Battle side of the Sueno's Stone in Forres, possible site of Macbeth's Hillock
    Battle side
    Cross side of the Sueno's Stone in Forres, possible site of Macbeth's Hillock
    Celtic Cross side

    The Witches Stone

    witches stone

    A rather more gruesome stone, and story, sits outside the police station on the main road in Forres. It has become a small shrine.

    Gruesome tale of witch execution

    There were originally meant to be have been three stones marking the final resting places of three women who were executed for witchcraft. The one remaining stone is held together with a piece of metal.

    The Witches Stone in Forres.

    More Witch Stones

    The Witch Stone near Fraserburgh

    The Hanging Stone on Gallows Hill by Rosehearty

    Three Witches in The Mermaid and the Bear

    There’s just something about ‘three witches’. I chose to write about three real women who were accused of witchcraft in 1597 in my debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR. I spent a year researching all the various aspects of the history. You can read about the general, and sometimes obsessive and bizarre, research in my article Researching Historical Fiction: Immersing Oneself in the Past on the Women Writers site. There’s some witchy research here, some stolen castle bits here and the search for a villain in this monstrous post.

    The Mermaid and the Bear is a story of triumph over evil, hope through adversity, faith in humankind and – above all – love.

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

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

    THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR by Ailish Sinclair

    Newsletter

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

    My About Page

    ballet novel, TENDU, by Ailish Sinclair

    Read my bio and see all the social links and articles here.

    Writer’s Tip Jar

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    Dark and Brooding Skies

    Dark and brooding skies over the loch

    There’s brooding skies over the loch now. You can see the wee island that the landowner is building for wildlife. But the snow has turned to sleet, so things are about to get less pretty. Will these little daily blogs continue? I don’t know. Perhaps. Other scenic things may happen.

    It’s Mermaid Time!

    The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair. Christmas image.

    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.

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    Signed copies

    The Mermaid and the Bear Christmas

    Updates

    If you want to be kept updated about when new books are available, you can sign up for the mailing list (lots of photos there too), or the little newsletter on Twitter, or follow my Amazon author page.

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    Aberdeenshire Stone Circles in Winter

    Aberdeenshire stone circles: Aikey Brae stone circle

    I love the way Aikey Brae Recumbent Stone Circle seems to materialise as you step out of the dark woodland path. It’s my favourite of the Aberdeenshire stone circles; it feels like my ‘home’ one. I did used to live nearby so have visited it more than any other. This was Boxing Day.

    Aberdeenshire stone circles: frost and sun

    It was bright and frosty and enchanted. There was chocolate.

    A few days later, on the way to see a friend, I stopped by Loanhead of Daviot:

    Aberdeenshire stone circles: Daviot

    The day was damp and dark and cold. The circle felt calm and steadfast. Timeless.

    The double recumbent:

    split stone

    And then, in the new year, many weathers happened at Berrybrae circle. First there was sun (pictured below) before a gale blew up and brought horizontal sleet.

    Aberdeenshire stone circles: Berrybrae

    Let the rest of the year hold more timeless enchantment (and chocolate) for us all, rather than horizontal precipitation!

    Winter Reading

    My novels all involve dark historical events, romance and a little magic…

    • SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD opens on a snowy winter solstice in 1st century Scotland. The main character is neurodivergent, and has been non-verbal until that first scene of the book.
    • 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.
    • FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the kidnapped children of 18th century Aberdeen, and features Christmas in Colonial Pennsylvania.

    They’re all available in paperback, kindle and on kindle unlimited.

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    Signed copies from me

    Stone circle quote from THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR
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    A Winter Wonderland, Stones and a Monster

    winter wonderland

    A beautiful winter wonderland. Sparkling. Fresh. Perfect.

    And then there’s the monster. Me. Again. Yes, I have succumbed to some of my old monstrous ways. But it’s not as bad as before. I’m not in hospital this time. I’m in a winter wonderland!

    trees fall in a winter wonderland

    Storm Arwen pulled down some of our old pines and left us with no electricity for a couple of days. But we were cosy and well fed. We played board games and stoked the fire. We listened to audio books in the dark till the iPad ran out of power.

    Before that, when I could feel the beginnings of monstrosity happening, I ran round doing things I knew I might not be able to do for long. I bought festive food in the shops. I visited Berrybrae Stone Circle.

    The trees around the circle looked dark and forbidding.

    trees at Berrybrae

    I found it hard to climb up onto the wee wall around it with my gammy leg. But I made it…

    Berrybrae Stone Circle

    It was still autumnal then. Unlike now.

    autumn at Berrybrae Recumbent Stone Circle

    The Historical Novel Society published a very nice review of FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE here which cheered me up.

    Quote:

    Like Elizabeth wrapped in a plaid, savor the pages of Fireflies and Chocolate and wait for that “bonny” feeling, “I’ve come home.”

    Dorothy, the reviewer, also put the review up on her website here with some lovely Scottish photos.

    So, for now, I’m content to read blogs and reviews and take short hobbles through the beautiful snow, feeling glad to be able to return to electricity and the cosy fire… and maybe even a bit of writing.

    pink bench in a winter wonderland

    Aberdeen’s 1597 witchcraft panic (mermaid) and 18th century kidnappings (fireflies) combine with love and hope in THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR & FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE. Christmas features in both books !

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    Waterstones

    books by Ailish Sinclair
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    I swear, I’m not a mermaid…

    I'm not a mermaid...

    Article

    I’m not a mermaid, nor do I have a pet bear as is suggested in this article: 8 Strange things I saw while I was definitely not stalking Ailish Sinclair 😀

    Calm

    SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD has been out for three days now and I think it’s going quite well. I’m staying calm and mellow anyway…

    Reviews

    Review from Lizanne Lost in a Good Book: “This is a complex mystical tale of bloody conflict between two disparate civilisations, but also about sisterhood, romantic love and dramatic choices. Morragh is not like most of us. Her actions are instinctive and passionate, but her certainty is persuasive.” See the whole review here.

    And here’s the book being read in France.

    A wee flip-through on TikTik:

    @ailishsinclair

    Out today! Paperback & kindle on Amazon. From the provocative opening scene to the later dramatic and devastating events of the story, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a book that will continually surprise, delight, and sometimes shock the reader. #historicalfiction #booktok #romance #ancientworld #neurodiversity

    ♬ original sound – suneysounds ♬
    SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD with a misty mountain view

    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!

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    “Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

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    Iron Age, Jurassic, and Back to the Future

    cave at Cullykhan: iron age fort nearby
    Cave at Cullykhan

    Iron Age

    For this small time travelling post, we start at beautiful Cullykhan Bay, once the site of an Iron Age Fort. The fort features in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, as does a slightly adjusted version of the cave above. The Iron Age is generally thought to have ended in 43 CE in Britain when the Romans arrived. That happened a little later up here. The book is set in 83 CE.

    Back to the Future

    And there’s now a release date, in the future, the 21st of September to be precise.

    Edit: the book is out now!

    Sisters at the Edge of the World by Ailish Sinclair set in the Iron Age

    The Jurassic

    I went looking for squirrels in Aden Park recently.

    I found dinosaurs.

    dinosaur
    Behind a yew tree.

    They were only there for three days.

    dinosaur in a window
    In the mansion house window.

    The dinosaur explorer event was clearly aimed at children, but I had rather a lot of fun looking for the creatures.

    Jurassic Park
    Jurassic Park

    And now, refreshed, I return to my desk and the Iron Age, where I’m very happy to be.

    Out now!

    new novel from Ailish Sinclair set in the Iron Age
    ballet novel, TENDU, by Ailish Sinclair

    See my About Page here

    Newsletter

    Go here to sign up for my (roughly monthly) newsletter. It’s a more intimate space than the blog and always includes some exclusive photos.

    Tip Jar

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    Scottish Historical Fiction from Aberdeenshire

    Scottish Historical Fiction

    Sisters at the Edge of the World, out now!

    Set in 1st century Scotland, my latest historical 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

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

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

    The Mermaid and the Bear

    The Mermaid and the Bear cover

    My debut novel was published by GWL Publishing in October 2019, and is available in paperback and on Kindle.

    Aspects of the book:

    • It’s mainly set in a fictional castle in Aberdeenshire.
    • It incorporates the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic.
    • There’s a stone circle.
    • There’s 6 chapters of medieval Christmas.
    • And there’s a love story.

    Review on Terry Tyler Book Reviews

    See The Mermaid and the Bear page for full details including blurb and quotes and links to more reviews.

    Fireflies and Chocolate

    Fireflies and Chocolate, out April 2021

    My second novel, also published by GWL Publishing, was released on April 1st 2021 and is available in paperback and on Kindle.

    Aspects of the book:

    • Set in both Aberdeenshire and Colonial Pennsylvania.
    • It includes the Aberdeen child kidnappings of the 1740s.
    • There’s derring-dos on the high seas.
    • There’s chocolate!
    • And there’s love.

    Review from the Historical Novel Society

    See the Fireflies and Chocolate page for full details including blurb and quotes and links to more reviews.

    Further insight into my writing and research:

    Newsletter

    Keep up with all my news by signing up to the newsletter. It’s a more intimate space than the blog, only occasional, and always contains some exclusive photos.

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    Rocky Shores for Release Day

    rocky shores at Broadsea

    Originally posted October 2019.

    We’ve moved North and round the corner from the golden sands of Fraserburgh beach, and arrived at the rocky shores of Broadsea and a beautiful rock pool, the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in the background.

    rocky shores and clouds

    But the book is out! Released! That’s all that’s really on my mind today… though I can be momentarily distracted by shells:

    shells

    It’s a strange feeling this, like opening a window and letting something precious and secret fly away to where it can now be seen by anyone who wants to see it!

    Broadsea house

    That’s my favourite little house at Broadsea, right beside the rugged rocky coastline.

    rocky shores

    So… deep breath…

    Set in a fictional castle in Aberdeenshire, 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.

    And it has a castle.

    And a stone circle.

    And medieval Christmas.

    Out in paperback and Kindle NOW!

    Universal links:

    Kindle

    Paperback

    Mermaid blurb