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Ailsa Ross — Author, editor, fact-checker

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Tag: Calgary

The Aching Stillness of Summer Holidays

by Ailsa Ross on April 17, 2014April 18, 2014

In Part Three of How it Feels to Travel for Love, Ailsa writes about a summer of love in Suburbia.

Don’t Stay in Vans with Strangers

by Ailsa Ross on April 16, 2014April 18, 2014

Even a stranger you've just flown 4,000 miles for.

What to Bring to Sled Island.

by Ailsa Ross on July 28, 2012July 28, 2012

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“You are as powerful and as strong as you allow yourself to be.” — Robyn Davidson Did you feel brave as a kid? What makes you feel brave today? The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women is an ideal holiday gift for any young adventurer — including those who might like feel a little more brave in themselves. Maybe that’s why it’s been named a CBC fall pick for kids in 2019. P.S. Check Monday’s post for a free giveaway of the book and details on how to enter (it’s simple, and the giveaway’s open for another four days!). P.P.S. The image is by @amyjpeg and, of course, it’s from the book. As for Robyn Davidson? She’s an adventurer who spent nine months walking across the Australian desert to the Indian Ocean.

GIVEAWAY: We’re so excited to be giving away 5 signed copies of The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women with Pilgrim Magazine. It’s our women adventurers kids' book, and it's full of amazing @amyjpeg illustrations — like this one of... (know her name?). To enter, simply: 1) FOLLOW: @pajamapress, @pilgrimmagazine, @womenadventurers, and @amyjpeg. 2) LIKE, comment on this post, and tag at least one friend. *Additional tags count as an extra entry.* ENTER TO WIN: Open to residents of North America, the giveaway begins on December 2 at 12 p.m. EST and ends December 6 at 12 p.m EST. The winners will be randomly selected and announced by @pilgrimmagazine on December 9. The winner must have a public account and must be following all accounts in the giveaway. This is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram and all brands and participants of all responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s Terms of Use. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.

In the 19th century, women were expected to wear tight corsets and big dresses. But Elizabeth Smith Miller — whose family was one of many risking their lives to help runaways on the Underground Railroad — decided she wanted to wear ‘Turkish pantaloons’ like she’d seen in Europe. ⠀ ⠀ She became one of the first women in the States to go out in a pair, which she wore under a knee-length skirt.⠀ ⠀ Her friend, Amelia Bloomer, was also impressed by this new item of clothing. She wrote about it in her newspaper, The Lily — the first in the U.S. to be edited by and for women. The bloomer was born. ⠀

Now more than ever, the world is recognizing how strong women and girls are. How strong? In the early 1920s, Inuit expeditioner Ada Blackjack survived for two years as a castaway on an uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean before she was finally rescued. And she’s just one example.⠀ ⠀ The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women is out now around the world. 🌏 ⠀ A fun, smart children’s book about women adventurers from around the world, the reviews so far are so good (it’s already received a ⭐Kirkus star ⭐)! The art is by the brilliant @amyjpeg, and there are two new chapters in this edition. ⠀ If you have any questions about the book, please ask below!

The day after giving birth, it’s said that Grace O’Malley (c.1530-c.1603) fought off an attack from Turkish pirates. It’s also said that she proposed to her second husband only because she wanted his castle for herself. ⠀ ⠀ After a year of marriage, she gave him the ultimate divorce line: “I dismiss you.” ⠀ ⠀ Truth or hyperbole, one thing’s for sure — O’Malley was one tough pirate queen.⠀

If you're in Edmonton on Saturday October 5th (that’s tomorrow!), I'll be talking all things women adventurers and THE GIRL WHO RODE A SHARK with the children’s book author Nhung Tran-Davies. ⠀ ⠀ The event is free! It’s at @audreysbooks. There’ll be coffee (and, importantly, sweets) and the event starts at 2 pm. Hope to see you there! Ailsa from @womenadventurers ⠀ ⠀ P.S. If you’re not in Edmonton, you can still buy The Girl Who Rode a Shark online from Audreys. Or at your local indie bookstore! 🍂⠀

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