Wellies on the School Run

The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn Cover Image

Autumn and Early Winter Reading – The Wild Silence, Feral, The Way Home and The Giver of Stars

By: Gail Anthea Brown December 8, 2021December 8, 2021

Books, Reading, Reading Lately, UncategorizedBook Reviews, Books Change Lives, Books set in Caithness, Books to Read, Curl up with a Book, Scottish Author, Scottish Book Blogs1 Comment

It’s been several months since I shared a reading post on here – mainly due to being occupied with my own book. I’ve written less on my blog this year than any other – a shifting of my attention away from the blogosphere and onto the other writing I want to send into the world.…

Cover of Pieces of Sky and Stone by Gail Anthea Brown

Pieces of Sky and Stone eBook Launch

I’m delighted to announce that after a year of writing, editing, design-approving and proof reading my second novel, Pieces of Sky and Stone launches officially today as an eBook. The book is the sequel to my first novel Castles of Steel and Thunder, and concludes the story of Sysa Steel, who left Caithness for a…

Coming Soon…

By: Gail Anthea Brown November 12, 2021November 29, 2021

Books, Caithness, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Uncategorized, WritingAuthor, Books set in Caithness, Books set in Scotland, Books to Read, Folkore, Scottish Author, Scottish Folklore, Scottish Writers, Self-Publishing, Young Adult Fiction4 Comments

In 2020, I published my first novel, Castles of Steel and Thunder, a tale of faeries and folklore inspired by the legends of Caithness. The book went on to become a bestseller across several Amazon categories, and following a successful paperback release, proved popular with readers from Caithness and further afield. But the story didn’t…

Stories and Solastalgia – The Aftermath of Writing About The North Coast 500, Park-Ups, Potholes and Poo

By: Gail Anthea Brown October 17, 2021November 29, 2021

Caithness, North Coast 500, Opinion, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Social Media, UncategorizedHome, NC500, NC500 Problems, Scottish Blogs, Vanlife, Wild Camping20 Comments

This summer, I wrote a piece about living on the popular ‘North Coast 500’ route through the lens of my own experience as a resident of Caithness. Entitled ‘Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route,’ the article was probably more even-handed than the alliterated headline might suggest.…

Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders Are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route

By: Gail Anthea Brown August 12, 2021November 7, 2021

Caithness, North Coast 500, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Travel, UncategorizedHome, NC500, NC500 Problems, Rural Life, Scottish Travel, Vanlife, Wild Camping, Wild Camping Scotland108 Comments

Last year, I wrote an article on the ‘summer of discontent’ on Scotland’s ‘North Coast 500’ road trip. As a resident on the route here in Caithness, I spent a lot of time writing about responsible travel and repeating the phrase ‘let’s hope things improve.’ A summer of littering, outdoor toileting and inconsiderate ‘wild camping’…

Spring and Early Summer Reading – I Am An Island, Where The Crawdads Sing, Wintering & True North

By: Gail Anthea Brown July 13, 2021July 13, 2021

Books, Reading, Reading Lately, UncategorizedBook Reviews, Books Change Lives, Books set in Scotland, Books to Read, Caithness, Classic Books, Scottish Book Blogs, Social Media8 Comments

It’s been some time since I shared a reading post on the blog, the result of a slowing-down of my motivation for putting finger to keyboard and sending words out into the blogosphere. In the background, I’ve been absorbing the words of other authors, and it’s rare for a day to pass without me picking…

On Mental Health Awareness Week, Caithness and Caring

By: Gail Anthea Brown May 13, 2021May 13, 2021

Caithness, Health & Lifestyle, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, UncategorizedAnxiety, Covid-19, Depression, Home, Mental Health, Nature4 Comments

Here in the UK, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, an initiative hosted by the Mental Health Foundation to focus attention on mental health issues across the nation. This year the theme for the event is nature, with a focus on the supportive role the natural world can play in boosting mental health. The theme appears…

Picture of sign on beach saying ‘leave nothing but footprints.’

Tread Lightly, Travel Politely

By: Gail Anthea Brown April 22, 2021April 22, 2021

Caithness, North Coast 500, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Travel, UncategorizedCampervan Travel, Home, NC500, Responsible Tourism, Scottish Travel, Slow Travel, Sustainable Tourism, Wild Camping, Wild Camping Scotland4 Comments

As travel restrictions ease across Scotland, many people in the North Highlands are feeling nervous about the resumption of tourism. 2020 was a challenging year here in the far north, and memories of irresponsible camping, inconsiderate motorhome parking, and the litter and human waste left by a minority of visitors will be difficult to erase.…

Castles of Steel and Thunder Book on table with tea

Castles of Steel and Thunder Author Q&A

By: Gail Anthea Brown March 25, 2021November 18, 2021

Books, Caithness, Reading, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing and BloggingCastles of Steel and Thunder, Scottish Author, Scottish Folklore, Scottish Writers, Self-Publishing, Writing, Writing TipsLeave a Comment

I was recently asked to answer some questions on my experience of novel-writing by a creative writing student from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Of course, I was happy to oblige – and thought I would share the interview here for anyone who would like to find out more. Read on for tips…

No Wilderness: Reshaping The Way We Talk About Far North Places

By: Gail Anthea Brown March 21, 2021March 21, 2021

Caithness, North Coast 500, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, Social Media, Travel, UncategorizedCampervan Travel, Home, NC500, Responsible Tourism, Scottish Travel, Scottish Writer, Slow Travel, Sustainable Tourism14 Comments

Exactly a year ago, on the Sunday before the UK entered lockdown, I was out walking with my son here in Caithness when a man pulled over in his car and rolled down the driver’s side window. He asked us where he could find a place to eat and have a cup of coffee. The…

Wellies on the School Run

Lighting Candles and Other Notes on Happiness

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The North Coast 500, Also Known As Home

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What Autoimmune Illness Really Feels Like

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A Sunday Well Spent

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Ten Things to do on a Family Holiday to the Outer Hebrides

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Saying No to Perfect

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12 Reasons to Plan a Scottish Road Trip

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Autumn and Early Winter Reading – The Wild Silence, Feral, The Way Home and The Giver of Stars

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Pieces of Sky and Stone eBook Launch

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Coming Soon…

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Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders Are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route

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On Mental Health Awareness Week, Caithness and Caring

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Tread Lightly, Travel Politely

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Castles of Steel and Thunder Author Q&A

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