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IT’S WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY, Again

| Allyson Shaw

“My own ordeal was my link to those accused of witchcraft in the 17th century. Writing about women’s tribulations in a culture that deliberately disbelieves women’s pain gave meaning to the meaningless anguish I faced daily in my own life as well as the women’s lives I researched.”

–World Menopause Day: a witch chimes in

Last year I wrote about my struggles accessing HRT and my disabling perimenopausal symptoms I experienced while writing Ashes and Stones. I revisit this up at my Substack. We should talk about the menopause to everyone who will listen and even those who won’t–I’ve thrown the discussion wide open in a sister thread at my Substack.

Ashes and stones on Herstory on the rocks

| Allyson Shaw

Listen to me talk about Ashes and Stones with Katie and Allie of Herstory on the Rocks. I love that Ashes & Stones actually has a cocktail now! I’m a huge fan of Katie & Allie’s podcast—every week they talk about different women in history, and their take is always surprising and engaging, excited to  be in conversation with them.

[Image: black graphic image with a hot pink cocktail glass. A women’s symbol is the garnish. It says the title of the podcast HERstory On The Rocks in hot-pink and white letters]

Unboxing the North American edition of Ashes and Stones

| Allyson Shaw

The North American Edition of Ashes and Stones arrived today—published by Pegasus Books in the US on October 3rd. The stone on the cover is the Nicnevin stone in the village of Monzie. Named after the legendary woman burnt as a witch named Kate Nicnevin who also shares a name with Nicnevin, the mythic Scottish witch-goddess and the leader of the wild hunt in lore. According to Sir Walter Scott, she is the “Scottish Hecate.” The most notable fragments of her come to us from 17th century ‘flyting’ poems—word fights where she is mentioned satirically. Yet, in Monzie, magical women, holy wells, cliffs and neolithic menhirs are named after her. I write about this stone and mythic Nicnevin at length in a chapter in Ashes and Stones. It’s so exciting to see the wee stone on the spine of the book!

 [IMAGE DESCRIPTION]: Hand holding a hardback book entitled Ashes and Stones. The book has a standing stone in a moor on it and the grey sky is full of ravens. The hand holds the book over a moor of blooming heather and the horizon on the book lines up with the horizon on the photo.]

Pre-oder the North American edition here.

Ashes & Stones is Waterstone’s Scottish Book of the Month

| Allyson Shaw

Today, the day after the Blue Super Moon, Waterstones announced that Ashes and Stones is the Scottish Book of the Month for September, 2023. Is this not magic? I’m over the (blue, super) moon about this news. Grateful to have the support of Waterstones which will display the book prominently in all Scottish locations, and there will be promotions as well. It will help get the book to a whole new readership!

Ashes and stones at the Edinburgh international book festival

| Allyson Shaw
Allyson Shaw discussing Ashes and Stones at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, 2024 photo credit: Carolyn Sutton
Alice Tarbuck,, Mairi Kidd, and Allyson Shaw at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2023. photo credit: Carolyn Sutton.
Signing paperback copies of Ashes and Stones in the signing tent with Emma from Waterstones, Oban. Photo credit: Carolyn Sutton.

I was honoured to be a presenter at the 40th anniversary Edinburgh International Book Festival speaking about my debut book of creative nonfiction, Ashes and Stones. It was wonderful to be a part of an accessible, inclusive event. Pre-release paperback copies of the book were available in the signing tent–exciting to get an early peek!