Recent Publications

Land of Many Shores: Perspectives from a Diverse Newfoundland and Labrador

Upcoming Events

Calling all emerging writers! Apply now to work with a pro in one of six genres: drama, short fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, or the novel. Click here to learn more.

Botanical Garden Story Walk

Discover tales of enchantment amid the beautiful forests, ponds, and trails of the Botanical Garden. This event is part of the St. John's Storytelling Festival and will be fun for the whole family!

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026

Location:

Memorial University Botanical Garden, St. John's, NL

Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories

Christmas, not Hallowe'en, was once considered the spookiest time of year. Join four spectral storytellers as they revive the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas, hosted by St. John's Storytelling.

Date: Late December 2026, date TBD

Location: St. John's, NL

Christmas Markets along the Rhine

Sail down the Rhine River to some of oldest Christmas markets in Europe while you learn about the region and the season from experts Ainsley Hawthorn and Barbara Whitehead. A Smithsonian Journeys tour.

Date: December 3-10, 2028

Location: The Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland

About the Author

Ainsley Hawthorn, PhD, is a cultural historian and sensory scholar who writes about forgotten events, curious folklore, and the surprising connections between past and present. She has contributed to National Geographic, The Washington Post, CBC, and Psychology Today and has been quoted by media outlets around the world, including Newsweek, El Mundo, Bored Panda, Us Weekly, and Breakfast Television. Dr. Hawthorn is available for interviews, speaking engagements, writing assignments, and workshops.

Book Me

Photo of Ainsley Hawthorn. She is a white woman with short brown hair and brown eyes. She wears a dress with a print in autumn colours and sits in front of a bookcase.

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