AN AYRSHIRE author has launched a book of regional tales that has become a number one bestseller on Amazon across multiple categories.

'Ayrshire Stories: Tales from the West Coast', released by Monkton resident Aaron Mullins, features Scottish fiction stories from across North, South, and East Ayrshire.

To reach number one bestseller status, the book overtook several literary heavyweights, outselling Stephen King in the horror charts, and Jeffrey Deaver in the crime charts.

The anthology also showcases stories from other Ayrshire authors, with writers from Prestwick, Troon, Muirkirk, and Dalry all featured in the bestselling book.

Aaron said: “From Monkton woods, Prestwick cafes and Ayr Harbour, to hidden parts of Stevenston, Tibbie’s Brig and Maidens Beach, these stories travel the length and breadth of Ayrshire.

(Image: Aaron Mullins)

"I think it’s the perfect mix of genres – crime, mystery, suspense, science fiction, and mild horror – offering a reading experience that is as diverse and engaging as the Ayrshire communities in which they are set.”

As Dr Aaron Mullins, he is an award-winning, internationally published psychologist. As a fiction author, he is known for creating engaging psychological suspense in his stories and has gathered together talented Ayrshire authors with similar skills to captivate the reader.

This can be seen in the stories of suspense – a boy missing from Monkton Woods in The Dark Side of the Moon, and a Muirkirk residents passing away in mysterious circumstances in Foul Play.

In another tale, The Last Seagull, a man experiences a surreal encounter on Burns Night, where the lines between reality and illusion blur as he races from Ayr to Dalrymple to uncover who is stalking his ex-girlfriend – a gripping tale from Prestwick author K.D. McCulloch.

The Foreword for the book was written by Ayrshire poet and writer for Ayrshire Magazine, Robert Neil, who reflects on the current growth and success of the creative talent within Ayrshire, for both writers and musicians.

Robert said: “Things are truly on the up in the Ayrshire creative scene. We may not be setting the world on fire yet, but there is certainly a warm glow over this Shire.”

Aaron’s latest bestseller caps a successful few years for the Ayrshire author, which has seen him give an author talk at Troon library alongside crime write Lin Anderson, be a featured flash fiction writer for Tidelines Book Festival, and write his fourth bestselling book in a row.

Aaron added: “I’m originally from Wick, in the Highlands, and my first book reflected that.

"But I have lived in Ayrshire for nearly five years now, and while I included Ayrshire legends in my previous books, I thought it was about time Ayrshire had some new stories to celebrate.

“So the tales are a mix of familiar places we know and love, but seen in a new light, as well as a journey through the thrilling aspects of Ayrshire that few dare to explore.”

Ayrshire Stories: Tales from the West Coast is available from Amazon as both a paperback and ebook at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayrshire-Stories-Tales-West-Coast/dp/B0DFJ48RL1.