During a long visit to the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland I became intrigued with why Highland Clans no longer occupied the Highlands. You’ll find the surprising answer in my book Masquerade Marriage. I’m of Scottish ancestry as are so many Americans, and bagpipes music makes my heart sing. I fell in love with the awesome country and the friendly, complex people. So, being a writer, of course I had to write of what I knew. I love the clear fresh air, the handsome people, the amazing openness of the country, the castles, and the Scots violent, adventurous history. In the next few years I plan to add Cailin...
Story Behind the Story: Caprice Hokstad
I don’t usually take events from real life and make them into a plot. (If you knew my plots, you’d know this was a good thing!) But I do try to push plots in a certain direction to make a point. Like “How can a slave girl with no physical strength or weapons be brave and accomplish amazing things?” My main character, Kee, is that slavegirl. Her master’s infant son has been kidnapped to a hostile kingdom and all the brave knights got nowhere when they went looking. So she hatches a plan to go looking herself, hiding in plain sight, masquerading as a runaway slave who was caught...
Research Notes: From the horse’s mouth
Any journalist, historian or author will tell you—get your information from the most direct source possible. Get the story from the people who were there. Well, with limited resrouces and time, that isnt always possible. But in researching my next manuscript, I decided it couldn’t hurt to ask. And this is what I got: Copies of the original 1942 and 1945 American Horse Show rulebook. This relates directly to my needs, as my next manuscript will involve horse jumping competitions during the 40s. (more on my new novel coming soon!) Many, many thanks to the folks at the United States Equestrian Federation. They were quick to answer my questions and send...
Apologies
Hello faithful blog readers (yes I’m talking to all three of you!) I apologize for the disruption in the regularly scheduled programming. A cold bug has overtaken my home, my husband and my own head. So I’ve been in foggy, murky congestion land for the past few days. I dearly miss my writing, my blog, my facebook…even my day job! I hope to return soon!!! In the meantime, here are some links to other FABULOUS blogs! Couldn’t agree more with this lovely post: Write Happily by Caitlin Muir Also loved this post: How authors alienate readers on social media sites by Jody Hedlund I work for a college of pharmacy,...
Book Review: Journey to Riverbend
Description: Michael Archer is nothing if not a man of his word. Though he was unable to save Ben Carstairs, Michael is determined to carry out Ben’s dying wish: to be reconciled with his father. Unfortunately, Sam Carstairs, one of the most ruthless businessmen on the frontier, has no use for his own son, much less a man of God seeking reconciliation. Soon after arriving in Riverbend, Michael meets and falls for the stunning Rachel Stone while waiting for Sam to return from a business trip. Beautiful yet guarded, Rachel seems to be running from a past as dark as Michael’s. When word reaches town that Sam has been kidnapped...