$50 Amazon gift card,
Scottish shortbread cookies,
can cooler and mouse pad (US/CANADA ONLY)
to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour!
Leave a comment for a chance to win!
Highland Homecoming
by B.J. Scott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The last thing Alasdair Fraser expects to find on an
isolated beach in Northern Scotland
is a beautiful, unconscious lass. Unable to
turn his back on someone in need,
he delays his journey and tends to her
injuries–an act that has him questioning
his destiny and his plans to rejoin
the fight for
Scotland’s independence.
Will he drop the shield that guards his heart or will the
secrets she fails to reveal
and his own stubbornness keep them apart forever?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Northern Coast of Scotland. Summer 1308
Hooves pounded against rocks, surf, and sand as Alasdair
Fraser pushed his mount beyond reasonable limits. Few things rivaled the thrill
and exhilarating rush of mastering the powerful destrier between his thighs,
controlling the magnificent beast with reins and will. The wind whipped through
unbound hair and the tangy scent of the salty sea air filled Alasdair’s nostrils.
He’d ridden hard all afternoon, hoping to reach the
stronghold of his longtime friend, Jayden Sinclair. But the sun had slipped
below the horizon, the twilight sky ablaze with orange, red, and purple hues.
Darkness would soon be upon him and he’d be forced to make camp for the night.
He licked his parched lips and his stomach rumbled. Many hours had passed since
he’d last eaten, but a hot meal and a tankard of ale would have to wait. Water,
oatcakes, and a bit of dried venison would suffice until he reached his
destination.
He dug in his heels, and the steed surged forward. The more
distance they covered before nightfall, the shorter the journey would be on the
morrow. But as they rounded a bend in the shoreline, Odin faltered, reared up
on his hind legs, then began to dance nervously from side-to-side. The
battle-hardened warhorse didn’t spook easily so Alasdair took heed of the
animal’s uneasiness.
With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the other
fisting the reins, he carefully surveyed the immediate area. Nothing appeared
out of the ordinary, yet the niggling of trepidation gnawing at his gut led him
to believe there was something amiss. He nudged the horse’s flank and the pair
advanced with caution.
They’d only traveled a short distance up the beach when the
sight of something a few yards ahead at the water’s edge brought them to an
abrupt halt. With his heart hammering in his chest, Alasdair cupped his hand
over his brow and narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look. The image
came into focus and he could make out the unmistakable outline of a person
sprawled out on the shore.
“What is it, Odin? Or, should I say, who is it?”
While this could be someone in need, it might also be a
trap, an enemy or bandit lying in wait. Without hesitation, Alasdair slid from
the saddle, pulled a claymore from the baldric slung on his back, and raced
down the beach on foot. Stopping a few feet away, he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Mo chreach!”
B.J. will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card, Scottish shortbread cookies, can cooler and mouse pad (US/CANADA ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! **Follow the tour and comment; the more comments, the better chance of winning. See Goddess Fish for full details! The tour dates can be found here:
Welcome, B J: Here's a little segment I like to call 'Romancing the Novelist' where I ask an author the questions that interest me from a reader's point of view.
Thank you, Christine, for having me on your blog today.
 |
| BJ Scott |
What draws you as a reader to the romance
genre?
I am a romantic at heart, enjoy seeing love
triumph over adversity, and am sucker for a HEA ending. I am also an avid
history buff so writing historical romance seemed the logical choice. I love
doing the research, finding out something new that I can share while hopefully
writing a story that will not only tug at the reader’s heartstrings, but teach
them something new about a bygone era.
What's the most difficult part of writing a
love story?
There is a fine line between what is
considered a historical romance and what is considered a historical fiction.
Staying on the proper side of that line is not easy when you have done your
research and have so much to share. In historical romance the relationship
drives the story. Historical facts and events are there to set the scenes
between the hero and heroine, but should not become the primary focus of the
book. But readers of historical romances want the book to be as authentic as
possible and will point it out if you fail to deliver. Before women’s status
changed in the early 1900s, they were often treated like property, were subservient,
uneducated, and had no say in who they married. Readers sometimes forget that
women were not always treated kindly and the hero does not always act in a way
they would like them too. Customs and traditions, the fact that many historical
romances take place during a time of war or hardships, plays a big role in
relationships and why characters might act on impulse rather than logic. Since the
reader wants a strong, independent heroine, the author must create an admirable
character with spirit, but be careful to maintain the authenticity of the time
period. The hero must be honorable, brave and swoon worthy. Finding the perfect blend, one that will
catch the reader’s attention and capture their hearts, having the pulling for
the relationship is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks. After the book is
published, I often see things I would have changed.
Is creating a book title easy for you? Tell
us about the process.
Titles seem to come easily for me. My first
book, Highland Legacy was a working title, but the editor loved it so it stuck.
Since I was writing a series, I selected titles that stayed with a similar
theme and represented something significant in the book. Highland Legacy is
about a turbulent time in Scottish history, when men and women had to fight for
everything, including love. The key being that this history needed to be remembered
and passed on to the next generation. Highland Quest shows the struggle of the
youngest brother and his quest to find his destiny and happiness. Highland
Homecoming is the final book in the series, it pulls the three books together
and the hero must decide between duty and following his heart. Of returning to
the place he was born, or starting a new life in a place he felt drawn to from
the time he was a lad.
One thing I also do is check to see if
anyone else has used the same title in the past. I try to be unique if I can
and select a title that has not been used before.
Do your characters love the direction you
take or do they have other ideas?
I have a basic idea of who my characters
are and what makes them tick, but as the book is written things often change.
Nothing is carved in stone, be it the plot or the characters until I write the
end. Even then there is a chance the characters will change or take a different
direction than originally planned. Watching you characters evolve and take on their
own personality is very rewarding.
Share an interesting but little known fact
about yourself.
Wow, that is a hard one. I guess the fact
that when faced with writer block, I fill my claw foot tub with hot water and
lavender bath oil, climb in, and while soaking I write. It amazes me how things
come into focus and problem areas disappear along with the tension of the day.
I have been known to spend several hours in the tub, working through a
difficult chapter. In the end, besides looking like a prune ;) I usually have a finished idea.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With a passion for historical romance, history in general,
and anything Celtic, B.J. always has an exciting work in progress. Each story
offers a blend of romance, adventure, suspense, and, where appropriate, a dab
of comic relief. Carefully researched historical facts are woven into each
manuscript, providing a backdrop from which steamy romance, gripping plots, and
vivid characters—dashing alpha heroes and resourceful, beguiling heroines you
can’t help but admire—spring to life. A member of RWA, World Romance Writers,
Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and Savvy Authors, B.J. also writes
contemporary, paranormal, time travel, and romantic suspense.
C.S. Lewis first captivated B. J.’s imagination in the
fourth grade, and her desire to write sprang from there. Following a career in
nursing and child and youth work, B.J. married her knight-in-shining-armor, and
he whisked her away to his castle by the sea. In reality, they share their
century-old home in a small Canadian town on the shore of Lake Erie with three
dogs and a cat. When she is not working at her childcare job, on her small
business, or writing, you will find her reading, camping, or antique hunting.
http://www.authorbjscott.com/home
http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/highland-homecoming/
Buy links
Highland Homecoming( book 3 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Homecoming-Brothers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00F9U3SBO
Highland Quest (book 2 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Fraser-Brothers-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00AQKYPU0
Highland Legacy: (book 1 of Fraser Brother Trilogy)
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email: bjscott@authorbjscott.com
web www.authorbjscott.com
blog:
http://authorbjscott.wordpress.com
facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-BJ-Scott/308663055834706
