Captured by a Laird
Captured by a Laird is the type of book that I love to read. It has adventure, misunderstandings, passion and love. Lena is a proud woman who strives only to protect her people. When she comes face to face with Stref Harris, she begins to be awakened to feelings she has denied herself. Stref sets out to humiliate Rwenor and capture their fierce protector. He gets more than he bargained for. He strives to gain Rwenor but fears he will lose his heart in the process.
This is your fifth book, so can you tell us a little bit about the others?
I was fortunate enough to have my first book, The Passers, published by SteameReads. They approached me about making it part of a trilogy so I, of course agreed. I went on to write a Christmas short story for them and a racier read under another pen name. I love my Passers series and felt like a mother who is afraid she will not love her second child with as much love as she feels for her first. Then when I had finished Captured by a Laird, I knew I had room in my heart for many more stories.
Please tell us about the character of Lena.
Lena is the only child of Rwenor. She is brought up to know how to fight and shoot an arrow with uncanny accuracy. Left alone to defend her kin, she disguises herself as the warrior Green Bow and rides around the lands protecting her clan. Her neighbors greedily covert the fertile lands of Rwenor and try to overrun the small hamlet. Lena is captured by Stref Harris who, believing her to be the male champion of Rwenor, plans to hang her from the tower. His discovery of her true identity sets the scene for passion, betrayal and love. Lena is a fiercely independent woman who battles to do her duty. It takes a strong man to finally convince her to share her life and her responsibilities.
Why did you decide to set the book in the Scottish Highlands?
Captured by a Laird started off as a fantasy novel, but I just kept imagining strapping Highlanders and independent women. It became a Highland romance with a female lead who is feisty and prone to getting herself into trouble at every turn.
Why did you want to write a love story set in such a dangerous and violent time?
I think that love is timeless and a love that is born of struggle is a love that can endure. I think a male lead who needs to fight for his love makes the reader's skin tingle, and takes them to a world of passion that we lose ourselves in.
When did you first start writing stories?
I began writing a non-fiction book when I became the mother of a teenager. I just wanted to warn others of what was to come! After that, I decided I would try a fiction book. I love fantasy so I started there. It seemed that the market craved passion so I added it in and submitted my final work. I was lucky and had an offer within a few months. From there, I have had offers for all the book that I have submitted. I hope, one day, to write full time and spend my days lost in worlds of romance and desire.
Who are your favourite authors and which ones have influenced your own work?
My favourite author has got to be J.R. Tolkien. Julie Garwood tells a ripping historical love story and Christopher Paolini is a talented writer of fantasy. I tend to read the synopsis of a book and choose it that way so I don’t always take account of the author. Since becoming a writer, I try to support my fellow authors and have discovered some great new talent.
What is next for you?
I have a SiFi book called Deep Space Dreaming that is being published with Rogue Phoenix Press next year. I also have a duo of short stories due out in December. After that my dream would be living in a log cabin, surrounded by snow with a roaring fire. A large bed covered by a giant duvet and plenty of cake in the pantry! There I would write and write and write.