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@ailishsinclair
Writing a Coherent Novel Among Blue Flowers
Is it possible to write a coherent novel when the primary research source, that I’ve become so deeply embroiled in, is anything but coherent? And how was that for a non-coherent sentence? The witchcraft confessions of Isobel Gowdie are extraordinary. And strange. And mixed up in many ways, so it seems to me. Here’s a quote from Confession 2, not translated by me, slightly translated by Robert…
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Pink Flowers, Blue Skies and Magical Hares
Camellia There’s pink flowers a many in the garden, and the sun is bright. But, wow, it’s cold! Frosty mornings are standard just now. The cherry tree is in full bloom, undeterred by low temperatures. Writing Update After spending over a year obsessing over the extraordinary witchcraft confessions of Isobel Gowdie, and studying everything I could find about associated people and places, and…
It's all getting a bit Springly out there...
Springly. Springtime. It’s happening! Which is good, because my immune system has being doing its very strange dance again. A new one this time. Hopefully it’ll settle down soon, but in the meantime I’ll look at flowers… Flowering currant in the garden above. Daffodils and Bossier’s glory-of-the-snow in the woods. Bergonia Beethoven or elephant’s ears by the pond. Marsh marigolds and…
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10 Mystical and Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire
This article of magical sites in Aberdeenshire was originally published on the official tourism site for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in 2019. Years have passed, and now the original version is here with added links to more detailed posts on the places mentioned. Magical Sites in Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire has a rich and colourful history, made up of fascinating people, mysterious events and…
Woodpecker Folklore from Scotland
In the garden… The garden and woods are full of the sound of woodpeckers at the moment. That rapid, hollow tapping echoes through the trees. It’s lovely, and the echoey quality makes it feel somewhat mystical. And there’s a little woodpecker folklore to go with it. Woodpecker Folklore Some of the lore focuses on the prediction of rain, but let’s not go there. The sound of a woodpecker is also…
A Carpet of Snowdrops at Aden Park
A carpet of snowdrops. Snowdrops as far as the eye can see. There’s always a wonderful show in Aden Park at this time of year. Let’s dance along this snowdrop-lined path! There’s snowdrops down by the river. And underneath a log. We walk past the old doctor’s lodge and see snowdrops in the sun. Through the play park we go. There have been enormous improvements made here. I love the wooden…
The Witches of Inshoch Castle
Inshoch Castle is a ruined 16th century Z-plan tower house near Auldearn in the Highlands of Scotland. It’s situated in a private garden, so I am really grateful to the owner for allowing me access for novel-research purposes. Inshoch Castle’s connection to ‘witches’ The castle is connected to Isobel Gowdie in a few ways. In 1662, the year of Isobel’s famous witchcraft confessions, it was home…
January: snow, swans and being on the radio
The story of January January is truly the longest month of the year, isn’t it? And it’s still going on. Like the snow: it went on for a bit too. It did rather brighten the dark days of the first half of the month, though. The loch was misty after that. BBC Radio 2 Then I was on the radio! In the middle of the night! I asked OJ Borg questions about the ancient Scottish fire festival the…
On the 9th Day of Snowmas...
On the 9th day of Snowmas, my true love gave to me… an overnight frost (-12) and a small sprinkling of snow. Seriously. It has snowed on every day of the year so far. The Tale of Snowmas At first there were pink skies and a thin covering of snow. And the odd whiteout. Young oak trees held on to their leaves as the sky turned darker. There was more snow, and then a hint of gold appeared on…
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The Haunted Library of Delgatie Castle
Off we go to Delgatie Castle in Aberdeenshire to visit the haunted library. Delgatie Castle History The castle dates from 1050 and has been added to many times over the centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed there for three days after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562. The Hay family bought the castle fifty years ago to save it from ruin. The castle and estate are now run by a charitable…
Trip-trap over the Brig o' Balgownie
It was a grey day when I set out to see the Brig o’ Balgownie in Old Aberdeen. Down a narrow cobbled street I travelled to visit one of Scotland’s oldest bridges. But then, there was light! I’m not sure why some of the lights on the bridge were on; maybe it was just such a dark day that they automatically activated. Or maybe they knew I was coming 😉 Anyway, trip-trap, trip-trap, over the…
Snow at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen
I ran around in the first snow of winter at Hazlehead Park yesterday. History of Hazlehead Park The park is one of the oldest historic sites in Aberdeen, once part of the great hunting forests of Stocket, and was gifted to the city by Robert the Bruce in 1314. I only had a short time there, due to a dental appointment, but I made the most of it! There were lovely big trees with the odd autumn…
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Auldearn Stone Row in the Scottish Highlands
Holly and ivy growing around one of the stones of the row… I visited Auldearn Stone Row recently during a research trip for the next book. It’s beautiful, tucked away among trees by the side of a driveway. Stone rows are ancient, like stone circles, and we don’t really know much about them. The six stones at Auldearn leads away from – or to? – a cairn, the mound you can see below. The mound…
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The Coffin Bridge of Carrbridge
The coffin bridge is a striking sight as you walk or drive over the modern road bridge in the Highland village of Carrbridge. The old packhorse bridge was built in 1717 for the price of £100 to allow funeral processions to cross the River Dulnain. The bridge has suffered much damage from weather and high waters over the years. It used to have both sides and parapets. Image from the informational…
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A Tale of Two Toadstools
A Pristine Toadstool Above is the most pristine fly agaric toadstool that I’ve ever photographed. The perfection of it caused two people on social media to ask if it was an AI image. No. Never from me. Not in writing, editing, covers, pictures or toadstools. Why do you think my books take so long to write? 😀 A Woodland Wander Through the sky window we go… Under the horse chestnut tree and…
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Kelly's Cats and Union Terrace Gardens
Kelly’s Cats adorn Union Bridge in Aberdeen. Commissioned by architect William Kelly, and designed by artist Sidney Boyes, they were added to the bridge in 1910. They’re leopards, taken from the Aberdeen Coat of Arms. Two leopards are said to have been gifted to the city by James I to thank them for helping him when he was captured by the English. Below is the Coat of Arms displayed in Duthie…
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The Nine Castles of the Knuckle
Inverallochy Castle I walked across the stubbly field to Inverallochy Castle at the weekend. It’s one of the nine castles of the knuckle, a term coined by historian William Douglas Simpson. It refers to nine ancient castles built along the rocky (knuckle-like) coast of Buchan in NE Scotland. I’ve been to most of them, so here we go! Close-up of Inverallochy, a Comyn family castle, dating from…
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