In every glass of whisky lies a small act of rebellion…

Please join Karen Brooks for the launch of her latest novel, The Whisky Widow, being held – appropriately – at Captian Bligh’s Brewstillery. Bill Lark will launch the book at 5.30pm, followed by a book signing until 6.15pm. Stay on for merry-making, chats with the author, finger food and entertainment from Tony Mak. The Captain Bligh’s bar will close at 9pm. Please RSVP below.

1780 Scottish Highlands. When Greer MacAlister’s despised husband dies, she and her young daughter Fen find themselves in a remote whisky smuggling community in the heart of the Highlands. Here, illicit whisky making is a means of survival in a Scotland under occupation by the British, decades after the disastrous Battle of Culloden. The villagers are suspicious of the widow, but when Greer tricks excise officers away from their illegal stills with a courageous and daring act, they warm to her.

But the excise men are out for revenge, smuggling is a dangerous business, and whisky – a drink that has long ignited passions, songs, stories and danger – is at the rebellious heart of it all. Greer and Fen have no choice but to fight for the life they want.

This rollicking story of bravery, adventure, love and murder brings alive the Scottish Highlands of long ago. It is a poem to the art of whisky distilling and a world now lost to us, as well as a eulogy for those who were forced to leave it.

Karen Brooks is the author of sixteen books – historical fiction, historical fantasy, YA fantasy, and one non-fiction. She was an academic for over 20 years, a newspaper columnist and social commentator. She has a Ph.D. in English/Cultural Studies and has published internationally on all things popular culture, education and social psychology. An award-winning teacher, she’s taught throughout Australia and in The Netherlands and keynoted at many education conferences. Nowadays, she finds greatest contentment studying history and writing, and helping her husband in his Brewstillery, Captain Bligh’s.

There will also be special bottles of Whisky Widow whisky for tastings and sale on the night. Karen says: ‘It is a fab whisky, made by us and aged in an Usquebaugh cask (Usequebaugh being the Gaellic for “water of life” and what whisky used to be called). We made it according to a 300 year old recipe.’