Ailish Sinclair's Blog, page 13
August 8, 2024
Meanwhile, in the Scottish Garden…
Sweet peasSweet peas bloom in the morning sunshine of the Scottish garden, and the scent is, well, sweet…
Moths enjoy the thistles…
Nightly visitorsAnd when the night comes, badgers frolic!
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?
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
AilishSee the About Page here
NewsletterGo 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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August 6, 2024
The Caves of New Aberdour
The caves of New Aberdour are beautiful. I’ve written about the beach before, but I thought the caves deserved their own post.
I lay on the sand for a while, sheltered by small dunes and grasses, near to the cave with the low ceiling. Sand martins darted about, worried for their rock-face nests.
I took a little walk round to the next bay to see another cave.
There are more. You can clamber and climb and find other caves, but these first two are easily accessible if the tide is out.
The low tide reveals rock pools too.
The dark entrance:
A few more steps and I stared out to sea through the rock.
Sisters at the Edge of the World
Novel Highlights Roman History of ScotlandHaving explored 16th century witch trials in THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR and 18th century child kidnappings in FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE, author Ailish Sinclair has now travelled far back in time to the Iron Age and the Roman invasion of Scotland.
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. The novel features the beautiful hill of Bennachie, and the stone circles of Aberdeenshire along with the cliffs and caves of Cullykhan Bay.
Aspects of the bookThe main characters are fiercely bonded chosen sisters, one of them neurodivergent.The story is set in the 1st century CE and features the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes.There’s romance, but it’s rather complicated romance this time.The stone circle from Ailish’s previous books 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.Sisters at the Edge of the World Main Book Page
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See my About Page here
NewsletterGo 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, 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!
Further Insight:Review from the Historical Novel SocietyReview from Barb Taub hereSome Eighteenth Century Letter SealsHistorical Hot Chocolate which shares the opening of the book.The Cumberland Stone near Culloden MoorWitchcraft, Kidnapping, and the Cobbles Between
Fireflies and Chocolate aestheticNewsletterGo 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.
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July 30, 2024
Harvest Time in Scotland
Harvest timeOne 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…
A Harvest Time Panorama from a Previous YearClick 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
NewsletterGo 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 JarThe post Harvest Time in Scotland appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
July 17, 2024
Sea Rocket at the Beach
Purple sea rocket on an overcast day. The air was warm. And still. And the flowers smelled sweet.
Sea rocket is edible, but I have not tried it. The leaves do look a little like regular rocket,
The sea was cold, but it was so good to be out in nature, to feel the sand sinking away beneath my feet as the waves splashed my legs.
And the light was beautiful.
Writing UpdateEverything is going well with the next series. All major edits have been done on the first two books and I’m now working on the third, Alexander’s book, and he’s giving me some trouble. If you’ve read Fouetté, you will have met Alexander and may not be surprised by this. Poor boy. He does have rather a bizarre backstory and a lot to cope with.
Molly reviewed Fouetté recently: Throughout reading the book, I exclaimed aloud in disbelief, I laughed, I whooped, I shook with consternation, I held my breathe in anticipation, my pulse raced in excitement, I nearly wept! I felt ALL of the feelings.
About the new seriesEach book follows a different student at the castle school as they go through various adventures and appear on different television shows. The main characters of A Dancer’s Journey feature in the background. In many ways this is a much gentler series of stories, though the characters are all dealing with dark issues from their pasts.
When will it be out? Time and health will tell!
A little more sea rocket:
About Page
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NewsletterGo 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 7, 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 
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…
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.
About Page
See my About Page here
NewsletterGo 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 JarThe post Gentle Summer Moments appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
July 2, 2024
Crovie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Crovie HistoryCrovie 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 WalkThis post details a walk taken in 2015.
See those vans below? Beside the amazing sea? That’s as far up the street as vehicles can go in Crovie:
View from the shore:
The wee postbox:
The coastline is beautiful and dramatic. Light conditions change constantly.
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:
We walked on and on.
We followed the arrows.
And we found ourselves in a pea field.
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.
Unconventional Romance
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
These novels combine little-known dark events with love stories and a hint of magic.
SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: ancient battle, neurodiversity and forbidden romance.THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR: witchcraft, a stone circle, a castle and six chapters of medieval Christmas.FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE: kidnapping, romance, friendship and chocolate.“Ailish Sinclair spins this Scottish tale filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society
NewsletterGo 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.
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Writer’s Tip JarThe post Crovie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
July 1, 2024
The Ancient Sound of the Carnyx
A misty Midsummer morning: a perfect time to hear the carnyxIt’s Midsummer, and I’m in celebratory mode and sounding my (imaginary) carnyx, a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts.
Midsummer in the woodsSound of the CarnyxIn the video below, a musician plays a reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx. The original was discovered in this area of Scotland and dates from the time of my Iron Age novel, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.
SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
Kindle Version on sale from the 29th of June to the 5th of July in the UK and USA.
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…
Midsummer, or High Summer, is important to the people of the book. There’s dancing, singing, storytelling and other, naughtier, activities in the stone circle. There’s also feasting and fighting, and the sound of a newly constructed carnyx.
“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
About Page
See my About Page here
NewsletterGo 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 JarThe post The Ancient Sound of the Carnyx appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
June 29, 2024
Summer Sale! Historical Fiction for 99p!
Summer Sale!The kindle version of Sisters at the Edge of the World is on offer for 99p/99c this week in the UK and USA.
Aspects of the novelThe main characters are fiercely bonded chosen sisters, one of them neurodivergent.The story is set in the 1st century CE and features the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes.There’s romance, but it’s rather complicated romance this time.The stone circle from my previous books 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.
The book released in paperback and kindle on September 21st 2022.
See the Press Release here
“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society
Article: Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Fuchsia in the gardenAbout Page
See my About Page here
NewsletterGo 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 JarThe post Summer Sale! Historical Fiction for 99p! appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
June 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 Wolf’s Bane
A Pyrenean LilyThe only Iris that will grow here is the wild one:
Some more contained plants to finish:
A Perennial Sweet PeaA Dancer’s Journey: wild like the garden
Angsty romanceLots of naughtiness!A neurodivergent heroine and a Byronic heroSet in London and ScotlandUnconventional love and a secret relationshipA castle, a dungeon and a stone circleSeries on Amazon UK
Series on Amazon worldwide
About Page
See my About Page here
NewsletterGo 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 JarThe post The Garden is Wild appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
