A renowned local author will discuss his latest work of historical fiction at an event in Dornoch next Saturday, October 11.<\/p>\n
Philip Paris, who lives near Tain, will give a one-hour talk on his new book A Fire in their Hearts at Dornoch Social Club.<\/p>\n
Author Philip Paris. Picture: Federica Stefani.
Philip Paris’s new novel tells the story of witch Janet Horne and her daughter.<\/p>\n
Mr Paris is well known for his previous bestsellers, including the Last Witch of Scotland and The Italian Chapel.<\/p>\n
The Last Witch of Scotland, which is about Dornoch woman Janet Horne – the last person executed for witchcraft in Britain in 1727 – was named Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year in 2024 and Blackwell\u2019s Edinburgh Book of the Year in 2023.<\/p>\n
A powerful tale of love, faith and survival, A Fire in their Hearts is also inspired by true events: the 17th century \u2018Killing Times\u2019, a period of state-sponsored persecution against the Scottish Covenanters.<\/p>\n
During this time government troops hunted down and executed Covenanters without trial for refusing to swear an oath renouncing their Presbyterian beliefs.<\/p>\n
The book focuses on childhood sweethearts Violet and Samuel who, in 1662, are shipwrecked off the coast of Orkney after being sentenced to a life of indentured servitude on the brutal sugar plantations of Barbados for their Presbyterian faith and allegiance to the Covenanters.<\/p>\n
Reviewers have described the book as \u2018heartfelt and devastating\u2019 and an \u2018utterly heart-wrenching novel\u2019.<\/p>\n
The talk next Saturday will begin at 10am. The Dornoch Bookshop will be on site with copies of A Fire in the Hearts and The Last Witch of Scotland.<\/p>\n