Dear Reader,
We’re thrilled to announce that our next series is well underway—and we’re staying in Scotland! This time, we’re moving to a charming coastal town (more on that soon) and introducing you to an American heroine who’ll be seeing Scotland through fresh eyes.
Book one will feature our grumpiest hero yet (because who doesn’t love a grumpy Scot?), matched with a sunshine-y heroine from a very big city.
And who doesn’t love a furry sidekick? You’ll also be meeting Gus, the lovable Golden Retriever who’ll be adding plenty of laughs (and more than a little chaos) to the story. 🐕
Don’t Keep Robbie Waiting…
If you haven’t already grabbed your copy of The Highland Bad Boy, what are you waiting for? Robbie MacDonald is waiting to steal your heart … and your underwear. 😉
An Adventure Awaits
Next week, we’re heading up north for a short holiday to Inchnadamph (pronounced Inch-na-dam—try saying that three times fast). This tiny hamlet in rural Sutherland is about as remote as it gets—the nearest shop is a 45-minute drive away! We’ll be packing plenty of provisions including extra kibble for our cocker spaniel, Daisy. 🐾
While we’re there, we plan to explore some stunning nearby spots, including the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, a 15th-century fortress perched on the edge of Loch Assynt. Legend has it the castle is haunted by several ghosts including that of a betrayed laird … spooky dooky. 👻
Dancing Queens
The last couple of weeks have been filled with dance shows. Our daughter took the stage in one (and yes, we’re biased, but she was incredible ✨), while our two nieces dazzled in a separate production. One show featured a Queen tribute (cue “Don’t Stop Me Now” on repeat), while the other had an epic Beetlejuice finale.
From dancing queens to chess queens… Gavin played chess with our nephew last weekend—using a Simpsons chess set, no less! That got us imagining: what if we had a Bannock chessboard? Imagine Ally and Emily as king and queen on one side, with Robbie and Cat on the other. Book 1 versus Book 5—who’d come out on top? 😂
Anyway, here’s Gavin deep in concentration over his Simpsons chess match:
Scotland in the News
A clootie well—where folk tie wish ribbons to trees —is being restored near Culloden. You may remember one featured in The Highland Bad Boy!
An Edinburgh bakery hired a bouncer because it was so busy. Their baked goods must be as good as the ones in Morag’s Bakery in Bannock.
Enjoy a collection of stunning photos of Scotland in summer.
xx,
Amy and Gavin
(the wife-and-husband team writing as Amy McGavin)