Author Interview With Laurin Wittig, I so love this Author
Me: Tell
us about yourself
Laurin: I grew up in the
deep, deep, South (Mississippi) but have spent most of my life in the
mid-Atlantic, mostly in and around Washington, DC, and Virginia. I’ve lived in
six states and DC, and have lived briefly in Paris, London, and Rabat, Morocco.
Thanks to my mom, who ran a travel agency when I was a child, I’ve also
traveled through most countries in central and southern Europe as well as taken
an incredible trip to Israel when I was eleven. I’ve been to Scotland twice –
not nearly enough, even though I spend five days a week there in my
imagination. I used to be able to speak French pretty well, but it’s gotten very
rusty. I love technology, history, walking in the woods, teaching, and of
course I adore writing. I used to teach computer classes, and Jamestown history
to school groups, but now, when I can find the time, I teach writing workshops.
Traveling more internationally is at the top of my bucket list.
I’ve been married for thirty
years to the love of my life, have two great children, and a small dog who runs
the house. And I get to spend my days writing my stories for my fabulous
readers. Ah, it’s a great life!
Me: Tell us about your new
book?
Laurin: Highlander Redeemed is the third and final book in my Guardians of the Targe series. I had so much fun writing Scotia and Duncan’s story. There’s nothing quite like watching a difficult, self-absorbed girl turn into a strong, loving, warrior woman. Duncan, bless his heart, was the only one who had the patience and strength of will to help her make that transformation. On top of their story, the couples and many of the other characters from the previous books in the series, Highlander Betrayed and Highlander Avenged, are integral to bringing a conclusion to the series so readers get to see how Rowan and Nicholas, and Jeanette and Malcolm, are faring.
Here’s the backcover blurb for Highlander Redeemed: Scotia MacAlpin may be only eighteen years old, but she’s no stranger to trouble. Her latest incident—which resulted in a death and forced her clan into battle—has made her an outcast among her exiled people. Scotia is tired of being ignored and trapped in the shadow of her sister, a gifted Guardian of the Targe; and she’s become hell-bent on destroying the army out to capture the ancient Highland relic for their English king.
Duncan of Dunlairig has looked out for Scotia since she started to walk. She was as restless and reckless then as she is now—only the stakes have become higher and more perilous. While the rest of Clan MacAlpin ostracizes her, he secretly helps Scotia become the warrior she yearns to be. But the real test of her skills may come when Duncan needs her help—and her long-forgotten heart—in this thrilling and romantic Guardians of the Targe tale.
Me: Do you think about a book of yours, being made into a movie, or not when writing?
Me: When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?
Me: What made you want to write and also what made you want to write the genre you are writing?
Me: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Me: Do you have any tips for our readers that might dream of writing?
Me: Tell us anything you want?
Me: When you write, does
your real life spill over into your book at any time?
Laurin: I think in subtle
ways it does. I have to draw on my own emotional reactions, or those of my
family and friends, in order to find a way to express that authentically for my
characters. I spend time every summer in northern Maine, which is very, very
similar to the Scottish Highlands in climate, geology, animals, and even in
some ways, culture. I use my experience up there to help me create the settings
in my stories, especially calling on sense memories – smells, the feel of the
air, the sounds in the forest, etc.—and the way people help each other out,
entertain themselves, and utilize the outdoors.
Me: Do you think about a book of yours, being made into a movie, or not when writing?
Laurin: I don’t think about
this when I’m actually writing the book, but I sure do afterwards! I’d love to
see one of my books made into a movie, or even better, one of my series (like Guardians of the Targe!) be made into an
HBO TV series. How cool would that be?!
Me: When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?
Laurin: I do! I have several
things I look for when naming a character. I always start with the clan name
first, choosing one that actually lived, as best I can determine, in the area
where the story takes place during the story time period. Then I start looking
for period names, but unfortunately it’s hard to find medieval Highlander
women’s names, and many that can be found don’t work as a heroine’s name for a
21st century reader (or me!). Gormlaith anyone? When I do find an
interesting name I’ll often go with an English variation of the Gaelic name or
I’ll spell it in a more phonetic way to make it easier for the reader to “hear.”
And as I’m trying on names, I do look at the meaning, and sometimes I’ll choose
a name, when it meets my other criteria, on the meaning. In Charming
the Shrew, Catriona’s eldest brother and the bane of her existence, is
named Broc…badger. It seemed fitting. In Highlander Redeemed, Scotia’s name comes
from the name the Roman’s called Ireland, which in the middle ages came to mean
Scotland. But, I also discovered that Scotia is a Celtic name of a warrior
goddess and that seemed to fit Scotia MacAlpin perfectly.
Me: What made you want to write and also what made you want to write the genre you are writing?
Laurin: I journaled all
through high school and college and took as many literature courses as I could
in school because getting to read novels for credit was a gift I couldn’t
resist. It never occurred to me that I could write books myself until later,
after I’d been married a couple of years. I was reading a book and must have
been grumbling about how bad it was because my husband asked me why I didn’t just
write one of my own? It was one of those off-hand questions that changed my
life in a moment.
It took me awhile…years…to
figure out what I wanted to write and then how to accomplish that. I figured
out what to write when I started reading romances and, like so many, fell in
love with the genre. I started by writing a short contemporary romance because
the research of an historical was too much to deal with when I was still trying
to figure out how to write an entire book. My second book was The
Devil of Kilmartin, my first Scottish historical – the subgenre of
romance I absolutely devoured as a reader -- and my first published book. It
won two contests for unpublished writers then went on to win the National
Readers’ Choice Award once it was published.
Me: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Laurin: There have been an awful
lot of writers who have mentored me at one time or another, often via a
workshop, or a quiet conversation after an event. Mary Jo Putney has had a hand
in my career a couple of times though I doubt she realizes that. Suzanne
Brockman showed me how to be more disciplined with my work habits when I was
struggling with getting my butt in the chair to write everyday. However, my
best friend, author Pamela Palmer, has been my long time mentor. She has a way
of sending me just the right book at the right time, or finding a great
workshop or conference we should go to. Her critiques have guided my education
in plotting, and her advice and ready ear have helped me shape my career. I
hope I’ve been as much a mentor to her over the years.
Me: Do you have any tips for our readers that might dream of writing?
Laurin: The most important
tip is to just sit down and write. It doesn’t even matter if what you write is
any good—that’s what revision is for! A good critique group can help you with
that stage, but only if you have something for them to critique. I would also
suggest you gather other writers around you, but be choosy. This is a hard
business to be in with lots of rejection (even indie authors get rejected via
bad reviews or low sales!) so you want positive writers around you, people who
are driven by the same dream you have and who work to attain it. And lastly, if
your dream includes publishing your work, educate yourself in the business of
writing. The business side is changing rapidly and constantly these days so you
need to keep up to date. Joining Romance Writers of America is a great place to
start your education, especially if there is a local chapter near you.
Me: Tell us anything you want?
Laurin: I love to
interact with readers! You can find me in lots of places on-line – Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, and my website. I send out a newsletter about once a month
and my subscribers get the first peek at new book covers, pre-release excerpts,
and have a monthly subscriber only giveaway. I have all my social networks
linked from my website: http://laurinwittig.com
and you can subscribe to my newsletter there, too.
And, if you ever want to do
something nice for your favorite author, leave a review wherever you bought or
borrowed a book, and/or on Goodreads. A review is the best gift you can give
us. Reviews don’t have to be long – a sentence is sufficient – and they help
other readers find our books and decide if they want to read them.
Last, and most important, thanks to
all of you for being readers! Readers rock! Thanks, too, to Kimi for hosting me
here today!
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE – Highlander Redeemed
SERIES – Guardians of the Targe
AUTHOR – Laurin Wittig
GENRE – Historical Romance (medieval)
PUBLICATION DATE – May 12, 2015
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 272/86,500
PUBLISHER – Montlake Romance
COVER ARTIST – Regina Wamba
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Scotia MacAlpin may be only eighteen years old, but she’s no stranger to trouble. Her latest incident—which resulted in a death and forced her clan into battle—has made her an outcast among her exiled people. Scotia is tired of being ignored and trapped in the shadow of her sister, a gifted Guardian of the Targe; and she’s become hell-bent on destroying the army out to capture the ancient Highland relic for their English king.
Duncan of Dunlairig has looked out for Scotia since she started to walk. She was as restless and reckless then as she is now—only the stakes have become higher and more perilous. While the rest of Clan MacAlpin ostracizes her, he secretly helps Scotia become the warrior she yearns to be. But the real test of her skills may come when Duncan needs her help—and her long-forgotten heart—in this thrilling and romantic Guardians of the Targe tale.
Book Review
Scotia, Recovering from humiliation, and blame for a
clansman death.
Duncan, required to follow her and keep her from getting the
clan in more trouble.
I am a huge fan of Laurin Wittig’s so this was a treat for
me to read.
There is action, mystery, love, stubbornness. It is a ride
of thrills, and you only are able to hold on for dear life as she takes you
through the ride. It is an awesome book and really draws you in. keeps you up
at night wanting to read more. You love how Scotia grows over time and how she
has to learn humility to get there. Duncan could not be a better person for
her. Love understanding and in need of her.
This book was well written, great plot, and in my opinion a
fun bit of banter. A must read.
BUY & TBR LINKS
AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK – AMAZON PAPERBACK US – AMAZON PAPERBACK CA – AMAZON PAPERBACK UK – BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK – GOODREADS
EXCERPT
Duncan braced himself for the verbal battle to come, but before he could make himself known, Scotia began to move, hesitantly and without her usual grace, but so focused on her task he could almost taste her determination. She watched her feet, letting her weapons go slack in her hands. Even so, he quickly recognized the exercise Malcolm had been teaching the lads a few days ago. She shook her head, then started the series of moves again, talking to herself just under her breath. She repeated the process over and over until, all of a sudden, she flew through the short exercise as if it were a dance she had known her entire life, thrusting, parrying, spinning, attacking the dirt clad roots of a toppled tree. The sharp sound of wood on wood reverberated through the forest like a woodpecker hammering on a hollow log.
His breath caught in his chest. She was magnificent. Beautiful. Strong.
She fought as if demons threatened her life.
And Duncan could not take his eyes off her. She was everything he would expect her to be if he did not know her so well.
AUTHOR BIO
Laurin Wittig was indoctrinated into her Scottish heritage at birth when her parents chose her oddly spelled name from a plethora of Scottish family names. At ten, Laurin attended her first MacGregor clan gathering with her grandparents, and her first ceilidh (kay-lee), a Scottish party, where she danced to the bagpipes with the hereditary chieftain of the clan. At eleven, she visited Scotland for the first time and it has inhabited her imagination ever since. She writes bestselling and award-winning Scottish medieval romances and lives in southeastern Virginia. For more information about all of Laurin’s books, visit LaurinWittig.com
AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS
GIVEAWAY PRIZES
2 Copies of Highlander Betrayed
3 Guardians of the Targe tote bag at each blog
Tour has been Organized and Hosted by
