AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
Where does the book Highland Quest take place? Did you do research into that region or do you have firsthand knowledge of the area?
Highland Quest takes place in medieval Scotland (1307) As with any book set in another time period of area of the world research it essential to set the stage for the book to take place. A lot changes in several hundred years and you want the book setting to be as accurate as possible. While I have never been to Scotland, I do hope to visit some day.
Were there special considerations you had to make to have a book in that era?
Historical settings, customs, speech, clothing etc all need to be taken into consideration when penning a book set in the past. Readers of historical romance are often well versed in the era and expect the book to depict the time period.
How did you get the idea for the book?
I know it sounds cliché, but the ideas for my books just come to me. Never know when the muse will strike so always have pen and pad ready. I have a passion for this time period, anything Celtic or Scottish. They are my favorite books to read, so coming up with a story set during this time period was a natural choice for me. Highland Quest is the sequel to Highland Legacy. While both books were written to stand alone, Highland Quest picks up where the first book left off, so it was easier to come up with the story line once the characters were established in the first book. I was careful to pick a time where there were consecutive battles, spaced strategically apart that could carry one book into the next.
Are the main characters modeled after anyone you know? Do you have tricks or tips you use to develop your characters?
Not really. I set out my story line and my characters just kind of appear and fall into place. Nothing is set in stone until the book is done so you never know who might show up and where. I have a basic idea of what the characters are like, often look for a picture that I think resembles them physically, or at least how I envision they would look. They take on a life of their own from there.
I love the cover! Can you give us some insight into how the elements on the cover fit into the plot?
While I would love to take credit for my covers, they are both the work of Rae Monet, the cover artist hired by my editor. We submit a wish list so to speak when the book is done, telling her what we would like and how we see the characters, but the final decision is made between the editor and cover artist. I didn’t even get to see it until it was finished. We are shown the completed cover and if there is something we really don’t like can ask for changes, but that seldom happens. If you look at both my covers they have a similar theme going. We have the hero in the foreground, the Scottish landscape in the back ground and the presence of the heroine, watching over the hero through bewitching eyes. The cover is done in layers which could be considered symbolic of the layers of emotion, mystique and events that unfold in each book.
No longer content in the shadows of his older brothers and on a quest to find his destiny, Bryce Fraser's chosen path is fraught with danger, passion, and decisions. Can his unspoken love for spirited, beguiling Fallon be triumphant in a time of war and uncertainty, or will they both fall prey to the devious plans of a traitorous laird from a rival clan?
AN EXCERPT
Loch Ryan Scotland, 1307
“Wa . . . water,” Bryce mumbled, but there was no one there to listen.
His throat was parched and he ran his tongue over dry, cracked lips, but his action offered no relief. An entire loch lay only a few feet away, but he couldn’t muster the strength to drag himself to the bank and quench his thirst.
“Cold . . . so cold.”
Despite the sun beating down on him, he’d swear he was encased in ice. His life’s blood seeped from his wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. He tried to raise his head, but the excruciating pain radiating across his chest stole his breath away.
Was this what it felt like to die? If so, he prayed the Almighty would be merciful and take him now.
Bryce moaned, a shift in his position bringing on another nauseating wave of agony. He sucked in a short, sharp, gulp of air and stretched his arm out as far as he could, his fingers grappling in the dirt.
If only I could reach my sword.
Beads of perspiration dampened his brow. As the strength slowly drained from his body, drawing a simple breath became more difficult. The end grew near. No time to make amends for sins of the past, and he had committed his share.
CONTACT THE AUTHOR - AND WIN A PRIZE!
The author will award gifts of swag (including a canvas tote bag, a mouse pad, a pen, book thong, bookmark, can cooler, magnet, and key chain -- US/Canada only) to randomly drawn commenters from this tour and her Virtual Book Tour, and a grand prize of one $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter from this tour and her Super Book Blast.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-book-tour-highland-quest-by-b-j.html
Soul Mate
Publishing http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/highland-quest/
