It’s een o the maist shameful episodes in Scottish History an wisna exactly short-lived. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, aboot 4000 people – maistly wimen, were hunted doon an tortured wi state-permission, and executed …for ‘witchcraft’. Maist are nameless wi nae record o faar they were killed or buried. Some are are kent aboot because they were romanticised in ballad or mibbie the subject o gory tales tae entertain. American-born author, Allyson Shaw – faa noo bides in Orkeny – is trying tae change that bi telling their stories in her book ‘Ashes and Stones’. Willie Johnston spoke tae Allyson aboot her book at the recent Wigton Book Festival.