THE HIGHLAND SERIES: ON A HIGHLAND SHORE and RIVALS FOR THE CROWN
_ 
Foreign Cover of ON A HIGHLAND SHORE
(German)
|
The KILGANNON series, set in the 18th century, introduced the MacGannon clan. ON A HIGHLAND SHORE goes back to the 13th century to tell the story of how the clan was founded. It is set in Scotland, in 1263, when Alexander III of Scotland and King Haakon of Norway were haggling over the ownership of the Hebrides, the islands off Scotland’s western shore. Their disagreement eventually led to war, but in the months before the conflict became official, there were a handful of Viking raids on the western shore.
Margaret MacDonald is the daughter of the laird of Somerstrath, and about to marry a cousin of King Alexander’s, to whom she has been betrothed since birth. But a Viking raid on her home changes her fate. When half-Irish, half-Norse Gannon MacMagnus arrives just after her village is attacked, Margaret does not at first want to trust him, but as her world continues to crumble, she finds that Gannon might be worth a second look.
This is a love story, but not a light-hearted book - it wasn’t a light-hearted period. I wanted to explore how those who went before us dealt with astounding tragedies and survived to triumph. People like Margaret and her siblings Nell and Davey did live in the past, and somehow managed to find the strength to endure. We owe them a tremendous debt. This is Margaret’s story, and I had originally intended to write her sister Nell and brother Davey’s stories immediately after finishing ON A HIGHLAND SHORE. I was persuaded to move the timeline along to the next generation, and have regretted it ever since. I will tell their story one day – stay tuned!
Foreign Cover of RIVALS FOR THE CROWN
(German)
|
RIVALS FOR THE CROWN continues the saga of the MacGannons by moving to the next generation. Rory MacGannon is caught up in the turmoil that Scotland is plunged into after the death of King Alexander’s only heir, the young child Margaret, the Maid of Norway, who died on the journey to claim her throne. Far to the south in London, Rachel de Anjou and her family have been exiled from England by King Edward, and her dearest friend Isabel de Burke has become a lady-in-waiting to Edward’s queen. The two friends fear that they will never meet again, but fate has other plans. When Isabel attracts the notice of Rory MacGannon and one of King Edward’s knights, her life takes turns she would never have imagined.
This was such interesting research to do. I learned a great deal about the Vikings, read many of the sagas, and visited Scotland and Denmark to be able to portray the cultures correctly. I have long been fascinated by the blend of peoples in the British Isles, learned just how intermixed they are. And I loved writing about women’s friendships. Rachel and Isabel are very different, and come from disparate backgrounds, but their devotion to each other reflects some of my own experience with dear friends – the sisters I have chosen myself.
Mass Market Cover of RIVALS FOR THE CROWN
|
The publisher changed the cover art between versions of RIVALS FOR THE CROWN. The trade paperback has a lovely picture of a woman kneeling before a pillow on which a crown rests. The mass market (regular-sized) paperback has a landscape with a castle in the background. The story inside is exactly the same. Sorry for any confusion!
ON A HIGHLAND SHORE and RIVALS FOR THE CROWN are currently published in English, German and Spanish.
Here are excerpts:
