Ailish Sinclair's Blog, page 23
September 14, 2023
The Wine Tower of Fraserburgh
I mentioned the Wine Tower, Fraserburgh’s oldest building, in a previous post here along with the associated ghost story. It was also one of the 10 Mystical and Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire that I wrote about for the official tourism site of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Inside the Wine Tower
Through the door we go…During one Doors Open Day, the tower was, indeed, open, and I finally got to have a look at the interior.
There was no humming and hawing from our guide as there sometimes is in official written histories of the place. The topmost room of the wine tower was a 16th century (post Reformation) Catholic Chapel owned by the Frasers of the nearby castle (now a lighthouse musuem). The carving you can see above depicts Christ’s hands and feet. The one below is the Fraser crest, held by an ostrich.
There seems to have been little exploration of the two lower rooms. There was no information available on them anyway. The middle one can only be reached via this hatch in the floor:
Castle KitchensThe old castle kitchens were also open for dark and creepy viewing.
SunsetLet’s end on an autumnal painted sky over the loch.
My 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, friendship and chocolate.“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
And don’t miss the new naughtier books!
Newsletter and UpdatesSign 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 JarThe post The Wine Tower of Fraserburgh appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
September 12, 2023
Butterflies, ARCs and Lots of Words
Every morning. Every evening. Lots of words. Checking, checking, checking. Not just me. Others too. Lots of eyes.
There are hundreds of these peacock butterflies in the garden just now. Their wings look like paintings. I love the colours.
And ARCs. Advance reader copies. I’m doing those this time. Bookish people can apply here if they like.
Historical FictionI’ve been forgetting to mention these books, and all their many words, lately, so here they are.
They 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, friendship and chocolate.“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
Newsletter and UpdatesSign 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 JarThe post Butterflies, ARCs and Lots of Words appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
September 7, 2023
A Golden and Blue Writing Schedule
It’s all golden and blue and warm and lovely here just now. There are different feelings in the air; sometimes it seems to be autumn with blustering winds and grey skies, but then it’s hot, hot summer again. The fields are cut, and ploughing has begun.
Another wee shot from the stone circle (see previous post here):
Golden and Blue Writing My writing schedule is quite extreme; all will be ready for October 20th. It feels golden, as I love working on all and any aspects of these books, and a little blue as I realise I’m almost at the end.
So, I run up and down the castle stairs with my characters. I dance with them in the deep dungeon studio, the stone circle and the great hall. I eat cake in Covent Garden and enjoy an unexpected kiss on the tube. Then there’s the bad things, the dark places and the relationship woes. I cry my way through those; you know I do. But I have my chocolate buttons and my tissues, and I’ll be okay…
Tendu: Dancing in the CastleExplore the dark and sensual world of TENDU, where love, dance and obsession intertwine.
Newsletter and UpdatesSign 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 JarThe post A Golden and Blue Writing Schedule appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 25, 2023
A Celebratory Dance in a Stone Circle
Did I take a pair of old pointe shoes and perform a celebratory dance in a stone circle? Yes. Yes, I did.
The reason for the celebration? Well, there’s more than one. Firstly, I’m well enough to dance around a bit. I am enduring one or two monstrous autoimmunity symptoms, but they don’t stop me dancing! And secondly, all three books of A Dancer’s Journey are now on pre-order.
Look at the pretty covers! And the less bashed pointe shoes…Release dates (2023)Tendu: October 20thCabriole: November 24thFouetté: December 22nd
Dancing on the stones worsened the frayed situation somewhat.There’s a page with full blurbs and some quotes, but here’s part of Tendu’s description:
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.
Dark, witty, sexy and fun, Tendu is a compelling and seductive story of love, dance and obsession.
The books do include a little dancing in a stone circle. It’s fun, and I highly recommend it. I hope you can all enjoy a celebratory dance too.
Featured circle: Aikey Brae.
Newsletter and UpdatesSign 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 JarThe post A Celebratory Dance in a Stone Circle appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
Romantic Suspense and Historical Fiction
I write romantic suspense and historical fiction, often set in the area of Scotland where I live, Aberdeenshire. My historical novels combine little-known dark events with love stories. There are witches, bears, kidnappers and Romans to be found in them, detailed here. My contemporary work is much naughtier, though still dark, and available to pre-order now.
I take a LOT of photos as is evidenced throughout the site.
Here on the blog, I write about castles, history, stone circles, dance, living with chronic illness, and writing. See my about page here.
Romantic Suspense – A Dancer’s Journey – 3 book series
These books are so naughty that I’m worried nobody will be able to look me in the face again after reading them. But not that worried. A Dancer’s Journey is now available for pre-order, titles releasing in October, November and December 2023.
See the series page here for blurbs and quotes.
Series on Amazon UK
Series on Amazon worldwide
Posts about the background, inspiration and writing of these stories:Working Girl: a WordPress Prompt Goes DarkPointe Work and a Red LeotardChosen Sisters: Friendship and DanceA Snaggled, Barbourous PlaceDiabolical and Deranged: Writing and BloodThere’s also this strange little post about what the characters of A Dancer’s Journey get up to when I’m away from the keyboard.
Historical Fiction My historical 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, friendship and chocolate.Further Insight into my life and workThe article Researching Historical Fiction: Immersing Oneself in the Past on the Women Writers, Women‘s Books site.10 Mystical and Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire on the official tourism site for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.Doctors and Deadlines: Writing with Chronic IllnessWalking the Witchy Ways of AberdeenA Book Seven Years in the MakingUpdatesSign up to the mailing list for news about my life and writing, and exclusive photos. If you would like to hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.
The post Romantic Suspense and Historical Fiction appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 17, 2023
Holiday in a Day: Coast, Garden, Well, Forest
Window by Portsoy HarbourOriginally posted August 2022. I went out for the day. I ended up visiting so many places that it felt like having a whole holiday in a day. It’s been a really long time since I did this. There’s been wee local trips here and there since this latest bout of illness. But it’s been years, literally, since I’ve been out in this way. Other ill times and lockdowns all stopped play for me in this regard.
I didn’t know how far I’d get, so just took one small step of the journey at a time, sharing on Twitter and Instagram as I went.
Holiday in a Day: the Red Well
First was the Red Well by Whitehills. I won’t write about it now as it features in SISTERS and deserves its own post (see that post here). It was beautiful, though, and provided a gentle start to the outing.
Portsoy HarbourA little further up the coast, I came to the wonderfully scenic Portsoy Harbour, its window and dolphin sculpture also pictured above.
Speymouth ForestThe trip was going well, so on I went, and soon reached deep and dark Speymouth Forest.
I didn’t walk far, but there was so much beauty to be seen everywhere in the old woodland.
Lots of little pathways.
Biblical GardenOn and on I travelled, still feeling good. I took a walk in the Biblical Garden at Elgin. This garden contains 110 plants that are mentioned in the bible. It’s an interesting and peaceful place to visit, maintained by the horticultural students of Moray College.
Samson:
A rainbow:
Then the fear kicked in. Two competing fears actually. One that I might exhaust myself back into being ill, and the other that I might become ill again so should do as much as possible in one day.
I compromised by sitting quietly by the sea at Sandend for a while before heading home.
Note the jumping and boating people in the background!TikTokI made a short TikTok video of the day. I am new on there and really don’t know what I’m doing yet. Any advice welcome!
Sisters at the Edge of the WorldSet 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
See the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
More Books
Set in an Aberdeenshire castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR features the Scottish witchcraft accusations, a handsome Laird, an ancient stone circle and a love story.
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 18th century kidnapped children of Aberdeen and is set in both Scotland and Colonial Pennsylvania.
Paperbacks and kindle: Amazon UK or Amazon Worldwide
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society
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 rather just hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.
Tip JarThe post Holiday in a Day: Coast, Garden, Well, Forest appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 12, 2023
A Stroll Round Broadsea
Broadsea is the older part of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire. It was once the site of a Pictish settlement and later a fishing community. It still feels distinctly different from the surrounding town, more like a small village, and is a great place for a walk.
Our Broadsea StrollFrom Fraserburgh, we’re heading down Broadsea Road, past all the wee hoosies, right to the end.
From there we’re going left to see the craggy rocks and some paintings. There’s a Lion Rampant on the other side of that outcrop but it’s taken a bit of a bashing from the sea and is rather faded.
Let’s retrace our steps and continue on round the corner. We’re heading towards the cove of Broadsea, the lighthouse at Kinnaird Head just coming into view.
Tiptoeing between houses and walking the curving path, we pass many old cottages. The new housing development we come to next holds on to hints of the past in the form of various buoys placed along the verge.
On we go. Up to lighthouses, old and new. There’s a great museum and tearoom here if you need a break. Older post with more on the museum and lighthouse here.
A little further along from the lighthouse is The Wine Tower, said to be Fraserburgh’s oldest building. Post on it here.
We can finish there if you like, but I prefer to walk all the way back so as to see Broadsea from the other direction.
So, one last look at The Wine Tower… perhaps a quick run up and down the steps and a peer in the window…
And we return to the wee hoosies.
And Broadsea Road.
For a fascinating read on the 19th century history of Broadsea, I highly recommend The Christian Watt Papers.
Historical FictionThese 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, friendship and chocolate.About Page
My feet…NewsletterGo here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re 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.
Writer’s Tip JarThe post A Stroll Round Broadsea appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 7, 2023
Blue Mind and Bare Feet on Pink Rocks
The term ‘blue mind’ describes the mild meditative state that we enter when in or close to natural bodies of water. It was coined by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. He wrote a book on the subject and did a Ted Talk too:
So ‘blue mind’ in mind, and encouraged by my wee trip to Rosehearty Harbour, I ventured out again. Travelling slightly further this time, I arrived at New Aberdour beach where everything was blue, blue, blue…
Blue Mind to Pink RocksFeet bare, I sat on the pink rocks and stared out to sea.
I saw stones and pools and pink, lots of pink everywhere.
I used the transition from blue to pink in this post to symbolise levels of pain.
But in this context, the blue of ‘blue mind’ was not pain. It was perfect.
So I stared out over the rock pools.
And breathed in the blue of the sea.
And, hopefully, now, healing comes…
A coastal quote from SISTERSI am just looking at the soft shapes of land, and the hard shapes of rock, as they drop away into the sea. No in-between places up on top here. No beach, no marsh. Here the space between life and death is painted clear. You could be walking on grass one moment and dead on the rocks the next. This is a place of instant transition from one state to another.
There’s more ‘blue mind’ photos in the older post Going Coastal.
Set in 1st century Northern Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a story of chosen sisters, fierce warriors, divided loyalties and, ultimately, love. It features a neurodivergent main character, the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes, and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
About Page
Read about little old me here
NewsletterGo here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re 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.
Writer’s Tip JarThe post Blue Mind and Bare Feet on Pink Rocks appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 5, 2023
Dunnideer Vitrified Hillfort and Leith Hall Garden
This beautiful tree sits at the foot of Dunnideer Vitrified Hillfort near Insch in Aberdeenshire. It’s a short but steep climb to the top of the hill. When you see the remains of the medieval castle and prehistoric fort, you know you’re nearly there.
Dunnideer HillfortThe vitrified forts of Northern Scotland are a bit of a mystery. About 2000 years ago the stones of many of these defensive buildings reached a high enough temperature to melt. Theories as to how this happened are varied. Battles? Ancient building techniques? Aliens? I’ve written a dramatic stone-melting event into SISTERS (no aliens involved) but don’t pretend to have the answer to this piece of prehistory.
The views from the hill make all exertion of the climb worthwhile. Click the pano for a larger version:
View from the other side:
Dunnideer Stone CircleNestled, and almost completely hidden, under a tree at the bottom of the hill are the remains of Dunnideer Recumbent Stone Circle.
Leith HallA few miles further west is Leith Hall with its wonderful walled garden.
Stone guardian at the gate:
I love the Moon Gate and, in retrospect, wish I had gone through it and taken a photo from the other side too. Passing through moon gates is meant to bring good luck. Oh well, next time…
My Latest Novel
Set in 1st century Northern Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a story of chosen sisters, fierce warriors, divided loyalties and, ultimately, love. It features a neurodivergent main character, the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes, and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
NewsletterGo here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re 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.
About Page
Read all about little old me here
Writer’s Tip JarThe post Dunnideer Vitrified Hillfort and Leith Hall Garden appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
August 1, 2023
Autumn in Scotland
Autumn in Scotland is brief. One day you’re in the midst of the wild and overgrown end of summer, and then – it always feels sudden and surprising – the trees are full of brilliant and bright colours.
There’s also berries. And misty mornings. And apples.
It’s all so beautiful.
I love it.
And this year I’m not missing it due to illness (see the article Doctors and Deadlines: writing with chronic illness).
I’m walking through that hot afternoon sunshine, between the trees and the toadstools. There’s so many of those this year.
The end of autumn in ScotlandIt all feels rather magical. But it could be over at any moment. When the first frost comes, which could happen any time in the next month, the leaves will turn brown and fall off. The dragonflies and butterflies will disappear. And it will be winter. Like the onset of autumn, this always feels sudden, but at the same time sneaky. Like, when did this cold, cold change occur?
So, I treasure sweet autumnal moments for as long as I can. Look at the sunshine shining through those red leaves. Glorious, isn’t it?
A Dancer’s Journey is almost hereTENDU is making me think of Covent Garden. And cake. It releases October 20th and is on pre-order now.
Series on Amazon UK
Series on Amazon worldwide
More on the series:A Ballet Novel and a Tale of Publishing WoesPointe Work and a Red LeotardWorking Girl: a WordPress Prompt Goes DarkA Snaggled, Barbourous PlaceDiabolical and Deranged: Writing and BloodChosen Sisters: Friendship and DanceSisters ReviewThis is from the long and thoughtful review of SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD from Olga Núñez Miret:
“Those who are looking for a strong female protagonist, love lyrical and expressive writing styles, and favour stories with a touch of magic and ancient mythology, particularly set in Scotland, should put it on their list. They are bound to discover a new author to follow, and a protagonist they’ll never forget.”
Share Your BooksDon’t forget you can share your own books and writing on this post. I always love to see it.
My Historical Fiction
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
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Taking place mainly in a fictional castle, 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.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the kidnapped children and young people of Aberdeen. The story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith from the castle and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s derring-dos on the high seas… And there’s chocolate!
See the publisher’s Press Release here
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society
See my About Page here
NewsletterGo here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re 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.
Writer’s Tip JarThe post Autumn in Scotland appeared first on Ailish Sinclair.
