Porty Pride Story Time with Ashley Douglas
The Lass and The Quine
Attendance options:
We're delighted to be welcoming author Ashley Douglas to the bookshop for a story time session in partnership with Porty Pride. She will be reading from her book The Lass and the Quine, which is the first original LGBT+ inclusive children’s book published in the Scots language.
You can sign up to attend and collect a copy of The Lass and the Quine when you attend the event, and there's a free option available below as well. Ashley will be signing and dedicating copies of the book on the day.
Please note that this Story Time event is suitable for children of all ages and they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian throughout the event.
About the book:
An illustrated storybook for children of primary school age based on the poem The Lass and The Quine by Ashley Douglas. It is a new Scots fairy tale that challenges those you know in a clever and enjoyable way.
The story concerns ‘a lass and a quine whae are awfie different in ivery wey, but whae faw heid ower heels in luve – meetin a wheen animals o the forest alang the wey!’ It has a timeless feel, but what makes it so special is that the love story is one between a girl and a princess, not a girl and a prince.
Please note: Tickets for our events are non-refundable. Professional photography and videography may take place during this event (attendees' faces would not be shown). Thank you for your understanding.
Participants:
Ashley Douglas Author
Ashley Douglas is a Scottish historian and translator. Ashley has two master's degrees - one in Scottish Historical Studies from the University of St Andrews and another in Archaeology from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Since graduating in 2016, Ashley has developed a national profile and successful freelance career as a translator, historian, speaker and consultant, specialising in LGBT history and the Scots language. She has worked with and written for a range of national heritage, literary and educational organisations, including the National Library of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Time for Inclusive Education, and Scottish National Galleries. In 2023, Ashley was named as one of the '15 most influential women in culture' in Scotland in a list created to mark International Women's Day. In 2024, she consulted on Katherine: James V, the latest instalment in Rona Munro's acclaimed The James Plays series; she is currently consulting on James VI, which will be staged in 2027.
Ashley is the author of the essay My Sapphic City, which was published as part of the anthology who will be remembered here (Historic Environment Scotland, 2025). She is also the author of The Lass and The Quine (2025), the first ever original LGBT inclusive children's book in the Scots language.
The venue
The Portobello Bookshop
46 Portobello High Street
Edinburgh
EH15 1DA
Telephone: 0131 629 6756
Website: www.theportobellobookshop.com
Wheelchair Access
We have a ramp at the front of the shop which has a ratio of 1:10 and loading capacity of 300kg, and so should be able to be used by most wheelchair users or those with mobility vehicles. The front doors are fully automated. Our shop interior is designed to allow access throughout for wheelchair users and prams, though please note there is only 700mm wide clearance to access the staff toilet.
Sound
We use a PA system to enhance the audio at our live events. We also have a hearing loop system installed, if you’d like to use our loop system during an event please let us know and we’ll make sure we have it set up and connected to the live audio feed during the event. If you wish to attend an event and require BSL interpretation, please give us a few weeks notice and we’ll do our best to arrange an interpreter.