Scotland Archives - Page 17 of 23

September 23, 2024November 26, 2024

Blue Loch at the End of Autumn

We’ve reached the cusp between autumn and winter. The blue loch reflects dark skies. There’s pumpkins and wind and rain and piles of leaves everywhere. Autumn is almost over.

And yet, we still have brighter days and blue skies. Sometimes.

Sisters at the Edge of the World

The main characters are fiercely bonded chosen sisters, one of them neurodivergent.
The story is set in 1st century Scotland 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.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Sally Cronin featured SISTERS as a new book on her shelves here.

“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

Read the article New novel highlights Roman history in North East from Grampian Online.

Excerpt

Quote from SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

Newsletter, Updates and ARCs

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Writer’s Tip Jar

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024

Bow Fiddle Rock and Swan Lake

Bow Fiddle Rock

I had hoped it might be sunny on my recent visit to Bow Fiddle Rock, a natural sea arch near Portknockie. It was. Very briefly. Between the car and the benches, the sun shone brightly for a few seconds.

Then the clouds closed over, but the place was still beautiful.

Swan Lake

I was reminded of the stunning Swan Lake photos of husband and wife Gillian Murphy and Ethan Stiefel, taken by photographer Fabrizio Ferri below. Overcast, wet weather did not stop beauty there either.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fabrizio Ferri (@fabrizioferriofficial)

Back at Bow Fiddle Rock, I slipped and slid over recently rained-on pebbles to take my photos.

I stopped to admire red clover on my way back up the cliff. And that was beautiful too.

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

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

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

About Page

See my About Page here

Go here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include some exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. If you would rather just hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

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September 21, 2024November 26, 2024

Wandering Barefoot Along St Combs Beach

Wandering barefoot. Along the sand. At St Combs beach.

Tiptoeing between the sandworm castings.

Feeling the smoothness and solidity of the rocks.

Bending down to look at some wee sea snails.

Leaping over seaweed.

A sand storm blows up on the way back.

But the skies stay dramatic at St Combs.

Reviews for TENDU

“This book has so much representation in its characters with autism, dyslexia, medical issues and LGBTQ+ characters…” Emma-Louise on Goodreads and TikTok
“Knowing there are two more books in the series made it easier to accept that the tale was coming to an end. It can be so hard to finish a book when you are loving the story so much.” Molly on Amazon.com

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…

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Reviews for The Mermaid and the Bear

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair

There’s a great review of The Mermaid and the Bear over on The Inquisitive Inkpot: “This is where I connected with Isobell: I connected with her when the fragility of her world suddenly mirrored the fragility of mine. So to speak, I met her in the details.”

And another here on Instagram: “The author has written such a triumphant tale of love, bravery, and true magic for these women and all women.”

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.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

Keep up to date with all my news 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 special offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

About Page

A celebratory dance in a stone circle. Ballet foot en pointe.

My About 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.

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Read all about little old me here!

Writer’s Tip Jar

September 18, 2024October 2, 2024

A Book Nook in a Pink House

Yesterday, on Doors Open Day, I visited the Pink House in Banff and its very beautiful book nook.

Date of House

More officially known as the Merchant’s House, this lovely building’s date of origin is a little uncertain. The other houses in the row were all built in 1575, but the Pink House has this declaration on its wall:

A mistake may have been made.

But, oh: a turret!

The Interior

I passed through bedrooms with beautiful wallpaper and entered the courtyard garden.

The owner of the house told me about the historically authentic paint, made with ox blood, and she also pointed out the books in that higher window to the right.

The Book Nook

Much as I wanted to just stay there in the nook – or perhaps even live in it – there were other places to explore.

Door to the loft and turret room:

In the turret:

Loft:

Robert Burns is said to have slept in the loft while working as an excise man in Banff. It was the only place in the house that felt a little creepy.

I did miss a few rooms. Though the owner assured me I could explore everywhere, I was aware that her family were having breakfast in the kitchen, and it just felt too intrusive to go through there.

The house as seen through the gate of the medieval graveyard across the street:

medieval graveyard, pink house with book nook

Sisters at the Edge of the World

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

When Morragh speaks to another person for the very first time, she has no idea that he is an invader in her land…

forbidden romance
chosen sisters
fierce warriors
neurodivergent main character
1st century Scotland

And don’t miss the new naughtier books!

Read about them here.

Newsletter and Updates

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

My About Page

Read all about little old me here!

Writer’s Tip Jar

August 8, 2024August 8, 2024

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Garden…

sweet peas in a Scottish garden — Sweet peas

Sweet peas bloom in the morning sunshine of the Scottish garden, and the scent is, well, sweet…

Moths enjoy the thistles…

badgers in a Scottish garden — Nightly visitors

And when the night comes, badgers frolic!

Earlier badger post

More Scottish gardens

TENDU: Dancing in the City

He’s a damaged diva, used to getting his own way. She’s an autistic ballet girl who speaks her truth without tact. What could possibly go wrong?

Amazon UK

Amazon worldwide

⭐️ Romantic Suspense
⭐️ Age-gap Romance
⭐️ Secret Relationship
⭐️ Set in Scotland and London
⭐️ Completed series

“I could feel what the characters were feeling, feel their pain; it broke my heart and then healed it and made it sing.” Amazon review

About Page

Scottish author Ailish Sinclair — Ailish

See the About Page here

Go here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include some exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. If you would like to hear about new books and 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.

About Page

See the About Page

Writer’s Tip Jar

July 30, 2024July 31, 2024

Harvest Time in Scotland

One day the barley is there, swaying gently in the breeze. The next day it’s cut, and harvest time is here.

I love the smell of the ripe crop at this time of year, the scent, briefly intensified by cutting. I will try to get photos of the bales when they appear, but the farmer is super quick in removing them these days. They are beautiful in the landscape, though, so my ears are pricked, waiting for the sound of the baling machines…

Next day edit: bale picture!

A Harvest Time Panorama from a Previous Year

Click the image for a larger view.

A Dancer’s Journey

He’s a damaged diva, used to getting his own way. She’s an autistic ballet girl who speaks her truth without tact. What could possibly go wrong?

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

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…

My About Page

See the About Page here

Writer’s Tip Jar

July 7, 2024July 11, 2024

Gentle Summer Moments

Gentle summer moments among the daisies…

Expansive skies over Aikey Brae stone circle.

Roses and buddleia growing together.

An old carving on display in Chalmers Hospital in Banff, spied during a short and gentle medical appointment.

Finding a wych elm, and new writing inspiration, in the woods. Two gentle summer moments at once 🙂

Complete Series: A Dancer’s Journey

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

See the series page here on the site for full blurbs and quotes

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

New novel from Aberdeenshire author combines passions from Grampian Online.