Scotland Archives - Page 18 of 24

December 21, 2024November 24, 2025

Shortest Day, Longest Shadows

Berrybrae Stone Circle on the shortest day of the year

It’s the shortest day of the year today (post written December 2024), the Winter Solstice. It always feels reflective to me, this marker on the turn of the wheel, the earth, the sun. The photo above was taken at Berrybrae Stone Circle here in Aberdeenshire on another, sunnier, shortest day.

Northern standstill moon as seen from Aberdeenshire, close to the winter solstice 2024, the shortest day

And that’s the Northern Major Lunar Standstill, taken a few days ago. This is when the moon reaches its most northerly rising position on the horizon. It happens every 18.5 years. The southern one occurred in June, and it’s thought that our recumbent stone circles up here are aligned to that southern moon rising. So, it feels special to me.

There have been some great skies recently.

winter skies near the shortest day of the year.

I like that some things are coming to fruition now in this dark time of the year, things that generally take me a long time to complete. And, as ever, it has been years in the making. A new book series. It’s finally ready. Just about.

This is the quiet time of the stories, the time when it’s only me and publishing professionals that have seen the manuscripts.

My heart is safe and hidden on this shortest day as I look up at the sky.

But soon…

Castle Dancers Series by Ailish Sinclair

Meet Ariel and her classmates, Bubbles and Alexander, along with a whole cast of vibrant characters, as they experience love, life and adventure at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland.

Each book in this coming-of-age series delves into the personal struggles and heartfelt romances of a different student over the course of a school year. As the spotlight shifts its focus within the old walls of the castle, there are television shows to be made and dark truths to be faced.

Join these young dancers as they whirl through their challenges, forge unbreakable bonds, and discover the power within themselves. Are you ready to travel to Northern Scotland, step into the castle school and dance through the deep dark of the dungeon?

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon UK

Castle Dancers Series on Amazon Worldwide

About Page

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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.

There will be a free short story going out in the next mailing (probably between Christmas and New Year). The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…

Writer’s Tip Jar

October 11, 2024October 12, 2024

Autumn, I love you!

Autumn, I love you. Really, I do.

I love your gold. I love your blue.

Your leafy lanes. And red berries.

I love your great banks of colour and darkening skies.

You’re the in-between, the relaxation from summer to winter, the slowing of the year. And, did I mention that I love you, autumn?

Contemporary Fiction

Leaving your boyfriend to pursue a career on the stage is easy, right?

Back in London, and newly single, Amalphia moves into a seven-figure apartment and walks into a job with a top ballet company. Despite these advantages, she soon encounters new pain and a dark far deeper than that of the dungeon.

As dark and witty as its predecessor, the second instalment of A Dancer’s Journey is a sensual story of love, dance and self-discovery.

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.”

Historical Fiction

Fireflies and Chocolate by Ailish Sinclair

Torn out of her isolated life in a Scottish castle, Elizabeth embarks on a determined quest to return home. Exhilarating adventures unfold on the high seas, love blossoms, and the chocolate, purchased in Ben Franklin’s printing shop, is delicious!

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.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

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

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Writer’s Tip Jar

September 30, 2024September 30, 2024

Gentle Autumn Days

I love these warm and gentle autumn days. The sun is hot, the trees are turning colourful and the sky is bright blue.

Mushrooms and toadstools appear.

Paths are crunchy as the trees shed their leaves.

The rodgersia is red, red, red…

And the beach feels especially golden. More beach to come in the next newsletter…

From the misty hills of ancient Scotland…

SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD with a misty mountain view

From the misty hills of ancient Scotland emerges a tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for freedom. Join Morragh in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD for an unforgettable journey.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

“The setting is ethereal and spellbinding as our main characters walk a fine line between what has been and what is to come. A beautiful tale of ancient wonders and kindred souls.” Historical Novel Society

About Page

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.

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

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

Writer’s Tip Jar

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

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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.

A Dancer's Journey Series by Ailish Sinclair - dark and romantic books

About Page

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Writer’s Tip Jar

June 22, 2024June 22, 2024

The Garden is Wild

The garden is wild. It’s overgrown. But beautiful. I’m not sure why I take so many photos on overcast days. But I do. And here they are 🙂

bee on delphinium - the garden is wild — Bee on Wolf’s Bane

the garden is wild - Pyrenean lily — A Pyrenean Lily

The only Iris that will grow here is the wild one:

Some more contained plants to finish:

Perennial sweet pea — A Perennial Sweet Pea

A Dancer’s Journey: wild like the garden

A Dancer's Journey Series by Ailish Sinclair

Angsty romance
Lots of naughtiness!
A neurodivergent heroine and a Byronic hero
Set in London and Scotland
Unconventional love and a secret relationship
A castle, a dungeon and a stone circle

Series on Amazon UK

Series on Amazon worldwide

About Page

See my About Page 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.