Alison Belsham 's Avatar

Alison Belsham

@alisonbelsham

Crime writer under duress

2,015
Followers
2,684
Following
250
Posts
31.08.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Alison Belsham @alisonbelsham

Preview
If we book it... ...they will come

In today’s Edinburgh Shelfie I talk about how authors feel about events - we love ‘em, but they make us nervous…

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/if-we-book...

01.03.2026 18:38 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Winterbourne by Elisabeth Wolf: spine-tingling and claustrophobic intensity – book review – A remote, wind and rain-battered island off the west coast of Scotland, a vast Victorian house with a magnificent library full of priceless first editions… and a young librarian eager to take a job fa...

"Playing a devilishly clever game of gothic trickery, Wolf delves tantalisingly into the territory of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey..."

I'm thrilled by this lovely review 😊

www.lep.co.uk/arts-and-cul...

11.02.2026 17:16 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Just read... That's the message.

Have you checked out this week’s Edinburgh book events yet?

Here’s the Shelfie…

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/just-read

09.02.2026 11:19 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
It's not just about the books... ...though it is mainly

This week’s Edinburgh Shelfie just dropped, in which I talk about making friends at book events. Plus listing zillions of fabulous book events for you to make friends at!

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...

01.02.2026 10:40 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Graphic advertising the launch of Winterbourne with an author photo and picture of the book cover

Graphic advertising the launch of Winterbourne with an author photo and picture of the book cover

Get a free ticket for the launch of Winterbourne at Edinburgh Bookshop, Thursday.

'Haunting, ominous and astonishingly dark. A mesmerising triumph.'

'Unnerving and windswept with a wild Gothic heart.'

'Compelling contemporary gothic, skin-creepingly good.'

www.tickettailor.com/events/theed...

19.01.2026 18:11 👍 6 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 2
A graphic advertising the Winterbourne book launch with a picture of the author and the book cover.

A graphic advertising the Winterbourne book launch with a picture of the author and the book cover.

Just to let you know, the Edinburgh Bookshop website is offline today for maintenance, but if you want to book for Thursday’s book launch of Winterbourne, I have link for you.

www.tickettailor.com/events/theed...

18.01.2026 15:10 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Video thumbnail

It’s hardly any time at all until Winterbourne is published on the 22nd January.

Pre-order before the 22nd - and if you message me with a copy or picture of your receipt, plus your UK address, I’ll send you a pack of exclusive Winterbourne swag. (UK only.)

08.01.2026 20:01 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 2 📌 0
Preview
Betwixt and between What day is it anyway?

The latest edition of the Edinburgh Shelfie has just landed.

Booking some great book events to look forward to might be the only way to survive January!

open.substack.com/pub/edinburg...

29.12.2025 10:53 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

I'm writing gothic novels under a new pen name, Elisabeth Wolf, and I have my first book launch in my new genre next month.

If you're in Edinburgh, please come along!

11.12.2025 18:45 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Winter's here Time to curl up inside with a good book

Edinburgh's the best place for book events.

Here's what's coming up over the next few weeks...

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/winters-here

23.11.2025 12:52 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Me too 😁

18.11.2025 18:59 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thank you so much for pre-ordering, Chris - it makes a huge difference!

18.11.2025 14:00 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

My alter ego has been busy and there's news...

18.11.2025 12:15 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
A close up picture of the face of a wolf, with the words Winterbourne is coming... across it.

A close up picture of the face of a wolf, with the words Winterbourne is coming... across it.

Winter is coming and so is Winterbourne...

#gothic #gothicliterature

17.11.2025 20:01 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
What your local bookshop does for you Let's give them a shout out

This week’s Edinburgh Shelfie says thanks to our dedicated booksellers - where would we be without them?

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/what-your-...

16.11.2025 11:09 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

Visit your local library, pick up the book you’ve been meaning to start. Put your phone down and read more books. Thick ones. Difficult ones. Short stories. Not because it’s trendy, not because someone told you to, but because your mind deserves it.

#booksky #libraries

14.11.2025 03:00 👍 20 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0

I loved Six Strikes - hope it does well for you!

12.11.2025 15:51 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Dusk with a diagonal pink cloud across it

Dusk with a diagonal pink cloud across it

Edinburgh sky just now 💖

09.11.2025 16:26 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Books make the best gifts For yourself or someone else!

My latest update on Edinburgh book events has just dropped - and there are definitely some events you won't want to miss...

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/books-make...

09.11.2025 10:23 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A book with a pink and purple cover on a bookshelf in a bookshop.

A book with a pink and purple cover on a bookshelf in a bookshop.

@samhollandbooks.bsky.social - spotted in a bookshop in Prague this week!

01.11.2025 16:56 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
This week's a two-for! (That's two weeks for the price of one)

This week's Edinburgh Shelfie has details of an upcoming event with George Saunders!

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/this-weeks...

26.10.2025 14:59 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
How will you choose... ...from nearly 30 book events this week?

Have you checked out this week's Edinburgh Shelfie yet?

There are nearly 30 book events in Edinburgh over the coming week.

Which one will you choose?

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/how-will-y...

19.10.2025 15:48 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Photo of a pink book cover - title: Six Strikes - with a picture of a row of burnt matches on the front.

Photo of a pink book cover - title: Six Strikes - with a picture of a row of burnt matches on the front.

Came home from my travels to find fabulous book post.

Many thanks to @antoniagrave.bsky.social and Avon Books UK - I can't wait to get stuck into it.

18.10.2025 13:16 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it Alt: a woman in a library pulls books from the shelves

Authors, I'm putting together this week's Edinburgh Shelfie, so please let me know of any upcoming events you have in Edinburgh.

18.10.2025 07:58 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Lee and Andrew Child for 'Exit Strategy' at St Cuthbert's Church

Edinburgh Shelfie readers - new event alert!

Toppings will be hosting Lee Child and Andrew Child on 22 November.

This one is going to sell out fast, so get your tickets now.

www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...

15.10.2025 08:35 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Super Thursday? Apparently it's rolling this year...

The latest Edinburgh Shelfie is out now, and there's a huge line up of fabulous book events to choose from.

open.substack.com/pub/edinburg...

12.10.2025 10:55 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Edinburgh Shelfie | Alison Belsham | Substack Weekly listings of book events taking place in and around Edinburgh. Click to read Edinburgh Shelfie, by Alison Belsham, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Authors - remember to let me know about any book events you have scheduled in Edinburgh, so I can add them to the Edinburgh Shelfie.

edinburghshelfie.substack.com

10.10.2025 11:08 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Everyone loves a cookbook And a cookbook event

This week’s Edinburgh Shelfie focuses on events tied to cookbooks - as the weather gets cold, we all need warming, delicious comfort food.

Plus, there’s a new specialist cookbook shop coming to Edinburgh (or should that be cook bookshop?) this autumn.

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/everyone-l...

05.10.2025 13:07 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
The maths is easy... Edinburgh + books = heaven

The latest edition of the Edinburgh Shelfie is out now.

Find your perfect book event in the coming week.

edinburghshelfie.substack.com/p/the-maths-...

28.09.2025 12:44 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0