Mini Interviews and Scots/Highland Giveaway: TWO Books - THREE Winners!

Please learn a bit about these two fine authors who share some writing thoughts below.

The

Great Scots & Highland Heat

Blog Tour with

Amanda Scott

and

Margaret Mallory

Mini Q&A with Amanda Scott:

Q1.  When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

o   I’ve done both. My Isles/Templar series began with a two-book contract, for which I’d planned to write about the twin brothers who became the progenitors of Clan Maclean/MacLaine. Those books are Highland Princess and Lord of the Isles. I knew how the hero and heroine of Highland Princess had met and married, because their story is true and documented. I also knew that the twin brother of Lachlan the Wily, the hero of Highland Princess, was known as Hector the Ferocious. That gave me a clue to his personality, and I knew that he had married Christina Macleod of Glenelg. But I knew nothing more, so I gave Christina a bunch of sisters. Then I recalled that the Knights Templar had likely ended up in Scotland not long before these stories took place and realized how easily I could bring them in. Well, the series grew to six books (from Highland Princess to Lord of the Isles on my book list at www.amandascottauthor.com). I do write a general outline for trilogies now, if only to decide how I’m going to connect the 3 books. For example, with my new Scottish Knights trilogy, Highland Master [Forever, Feb 2011], Highland Hero [Oct 2011], and the forthcoming Highland Lover (Forever, April 2012), the stories take place in early fifteenth-century Scotland at a time when the third man in line for the Scottish throne was utterly ruthless and determine to rule Scotland. The heir to the throne was a reckless, womanizing profligate, and the next person in line was a seven-year-old boy. My plan for the Scottish Knights trilogy was for the heroes to be three close friends, all knights who had studied together under the Bishop of St. Andrews but who never, as students, knew each other’s real names. Those heroes do all that they can to help the rightful heir in his battle against the murderous efforts of his wicked uncle to seize Scotland’s throne. Generally, I do plan and outline what I write, but I always leave myself an opening in case a secondary character in one book simply cries out to be the hero or heroine of the next. I’ve posted the first chapter of Highland Hero [Forever, Oct 2011] on my website www.amandascottauthor.com. If readers have questions or comments, they will also find a link there to my email, which is amandascott@att.net. I have learned a great deal from readers, love to hear from them, and I answer all messages.

Q2.  What inspired you to write this genre?

o   I didn’t know that I was writing Romance when I started. I thought I’d just written a historical novel. So it came as a surprise to learn that there were categories. I’ve written 58 books in all so far, set in the English Regency and Victorian periods and in Wales, as well as the Scottish Historicals that I’m writing now. I have a Master’s Degree in British history with an emphasis on England and Scotland, and my heritage is Scottish on both sides with the addition of Welsh on my father’s side. Although I have written a number of books set in the Highlands and have ancestors who were Fergusons from Galloway or Perth and Jamisons from Clan Gunn and Orkney, most of my Scottish ancestors hail from the Borders (Scott, Douglas, Logan, and related septs). I tell people I have horse thieves (reivers) hanging from every branch of the family tree.

Q3.  If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

o   If you mean one of my own books, I can’t imagine. I’m in them – at least, my mind is – when I write them, but I would not want to live in the 14^th or 15^th century. I spend my summers in a rustic cabin in the High Sierras with no road, no sewer, no telephone, and no Internet. That’s enough historical living for me. I like libraries, iced mochas, and driving fast cars. Living in a drafty, smoky castle might be a hoot for a sennight or so, and I love good haggis, but after that…nae, moran taing! (no, thanks)

Please check out my Review of Highland Hero - a sensual richly historical read. 

Mini Q&A with Margaret Mallory:

Q1.   What are some of the best tips you’ve received on writing?

Stephen King’s recommendation in his book, On Writing, to set daily and weekly writing goals has been enormously helpful to me. When I am writing the first draft of a book, I live by my daily and weekly word count or page goals.

I keep an index card by my computer to remind me of Dwight Swain’s advice inTechniques of the Selling Writer to leave out the boring parts.

Q2.  Do you have any strange habits when you write?

I often get caught up in my work and stay in my pj’s far too long.

Q3.  Which authors have influenced you most how?

I’ve always been a big reader of all kinds of fiction. It’s hard to say which of so many authors influenced me, but I loved the old historical sagas by James Clavell and Michener  for immersion in another time and place, the Judith MacNaught and Julie Garwood historical romances for emotional connection to characters, and the old spy thrillers by Le Carré and Ken Follett for suspense and intrigue.

Please check out my review of THE SINNER - a sexy read.

Thank you to Jillian at Hachette for these two books to read and for providing THREE sets of BOTH BOOKS for giveaway!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for BOTH BOOKS: 

1. Visit BOTH Margaret's website and Amanda's website and tell me something you found interesting and each site.
You must visit both please.   This is required for entry and worth TWO entries.

2.  For extra entry, comment on one or both of the reviews - worth one entry each.

3.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Seven total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 2, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on December 3 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.