Acclaimed Edinburgh novelist set to launch Scottish gothic fairy tale ahead of Halloween 

Acclaimed Edinburgh-based novelist Angie Spoto will launch her new novel, The Bone Diver, at The Portobello Bookshop this week (tickets and information at www.theportobellobookshop.com). 

When the Chicago-born writer visited Scotland for the first time she was in awe of its dramatic landscape and magical quality.  

So began her fascination with Scottish folklore and particularly its fairy tales. Angie came to discover Scottish fairies, a dark, violent and ghastly-looking counterpart to their English siblings. 

During lockdown in 2020, Angie found solace reading Scottish folk and fairy tales and came across The Seal Killer. Struck by its imagery – a flute that draws seals, a knife that nearly slays a selkie, a figure dressed in green and two lovers dancing beneath the full moon as waves lap against their ankles – this story led to the inspiration of her second novel The Bone Diver.   

The gothic tale of an aristocratic Scottish family and the legend of seals that become people and walk the land is published on 10^th October by Edinburgh’s Black & White Publishing, part of Bonnier Books UK (£16.99 hardback) and will be launched at The Portobello Bookshop, Thursday 10^th October at 7pm.