Tag: history

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Crovie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

stones on a windowsill in Crovie
Crovie

Crovie History

Crovie is an 18th century fishing village in the North-East of Scotland. People first came to live there after having been cleared away from their inland homes to make way for sheep farming.

Today many of the houses are holiday lets, and it’s a scenic place to walk. And take photos.

Oh, yes.

A Crovie Walk

This post details a walk taken in 2015.

Crovie from above

See those vans below? Beside the amazing sea? That’s as far up the street as vehicles can go in Crovie:

Crovie and coast

View from the shore:

The shore at Crovie

The wee postbox:

red letter box at Crovie

The coastline is beautiful and dramatic. Light conditions change constantly.

rocks

Myself and a friend set off on what was meant to be a 1.5 mile walk.

We got lost.

There was torrential rain.

The approach of the rain:

clouds gather

We walked on and on.

We followed the arrows.

And we found ourselves in a pea field.

pea plants growing

The pea field led to a gorge. We retraced our many, many steps, eight miles of steps in the end… but then there was soup and pie and cake and all was very, very well.

pebbles spell out Crovie

Unconventional Romance

A Dancer's Journey Series by Ailish Sinclair

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…

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

My dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this heady mix of contemporary romance and ballet set in a castle. Readers of my historical fiction will recognise the castle and stone circle that feature in these books.

There are no cliffhanger endings in this series; each book completes a story, but then there is more. So much more. Read all the blurbs here

Historical Fiction

Books by Ailish Sinclair

These novels combine little-known dark events with love stories and a hint of magic.

“Ailish Sinclair spins this Scottish tale filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Newsletter

Go here to sign up for my occasional emails. 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

Ailish in the stones

See the About Page

Writer’s Tip Jar

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Deer Abbey and the Man Trap

A copper beech tree at Deer Abbey
Copper beech at Deer Abbey

Deer Abbey

Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire is a beautiful sprawling ruin. It’s a peaceful place to visit. Reflective. A place to peer through old doorways into the past.

Doorway at Deer Abbey
Into the kitchen…

The Man Trap

If I look back into my own past, I see myself in quite a state, just about to go into hospital and become monstrous. I am better this year. Better than that anyway. Able to go out and about to places other than my doctor’s surgery.

Which brings me to the man trap:

man trap at Deer Abbey
Man trap!

You would definitely need some medical intervention after stepping in that! It’s a hideous contraption that was designed to catch poachers, widely used in the 19th century by local Lairds. It’s not known how it came to be at Deer Abbey.

From one of the informational plaques, the man trap in use:

Caught in the man trap!
Ouch!

History of the Abbey

For 340 years, the Abbey housed a Cistercian community. The monks of Deer wore white robes and no underwear, a brave choice given Aberdeenshire’s low temperatures and the strong gales of winter.

Cloisters at Deer Abbey
Cloisters

After the reformation the building became the property of the Keith family. Mrs Keith dreamed of angry monks coming to destroy her home, Dunnottar Castle. And more recently, there have been sightings of a ghostly monk on the main road outside the Abbey. Maybe the old Cistercians do not rest easy yet.

Yew Tree at Deer Abbey
A boundary of yews.

Remaining Beauty

I love the ancient trees of the Abbey grounds. And the pink hue of the crumbling walls. The hillside beyond is satisfyingly timeless, and probably offers quite a similar view to the one that the white robed monks looked out on.

Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire

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!

Tendu by Ailish Sinclair

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:

Diabolical reading

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 offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

Bookish people can apply for Advance Reader Copies of future books here.

My About Page

Ailish Sinclair dances in a stone circle.

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

Writer’s Tip Jar

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Some Depressing Time Travel

time travel with a book

That’s what my son said of my little video attempt below. “Wow, that’s some depressing time travel.”

Romantic Time Travel

I do like those sad stories, though. Not that they’re sad, beginning to end, these books. There’s romance in them all, happy romance, sometimes a little bit naughty too. And one of them has chocolate… No actual time travel, though. None at all.

You can be depressed by them all here in the UK, or for worldwide depression, go here.

Writing with no time travel

I’ve been writing, writing, writing, living in the intense and sexy atmosphere of A Dancer’s Journey. I love it. I don’t want to leave it. It’s fun and romantic, if a little devastating and dramatic in places. But leave it, I will, later this year, when all three books finally get released.

More on the series:

Pink Things

I’ve been enjoying the pink phase of the garden…

pink bench in a time travel post
Pink bench and cherry blossom

Newsletter and Updates

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

My About Page

Ailish's feet

Read about little old me here!

Writer’s Tip Jar

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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

    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

    castle roof

    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.

    Writer’s Tip Jar

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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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    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