Good
Morning everyone, let’s all welcome romance author Sue-Ellen Welfonder and her
Highland Warriors series with us today.
First
off please tell everyone a little about your series?
SEW: Highland
Warriors is a Scottish medieval trilogy. I wanted to explore the deep love
Highlanders have for their home glen. The glen in the series is shared by three
clans and each one believes they have sole claim to the land. The three heroines
are sisters of the warring chieftains and they are weary of the strife and
bloodshed so they join together to end the feud by each vowing to wed a man
from an enemy clan.
Here is a mini-blurb for Sins of a Highland Devil:
When a king commands three feuding clans to resolve
their dispute with a trial by combat, a proud Highland warrior soon learns that
he’s fighting for much more than his beloved glen and that his greatest triumph
will be winning the love of his enemy’s sister.
Introduce
everyone to book one Sins of a Highland Devil hero and heroine.
SEW: James ‘The Devil’ Cameron is a proud clan
chieftain who, though fierce, is known for his honor as much as the strength of
his sword arm. When the Scottish king orders him to fight or see his people
banished, he has no choice but to enter a staged battle that will determine
which clan is to possess the glen. Highlander to the bone, he believes the glen
clans should resolve their feuds without royal interference. He never expects to
find an ally in Catriona MacDonald, the fiery, high-spirited sister of his
worst foe, but he does – and when they come together, their lives are forever
changed.
What
year are the story settings?
SEW: Sins of a Highland Devil, book one, opens in
1396 with the other two books set progressively a year onward. This was the
turbulent reign of King Robert II (Robert Stewart, grandson of Scotland’s great
hero king, Robert the Bruce)
Can you
tell our readers a bit about the paranormal elements that are added in the
story?
SEW:
All my books have paranormal elements. Celtic legend and lore, Highland magic,
belief in curses, second sight, mythical creatures and such, were all an
integral part of life in medieval Scotland and so I enjoy weaving in these
elements. Readers can expect the following paranormal threads in Sins of a
Highland Devil: myth and legend, curses, magic, standing stones, ghosts,
enchanted beasties, ancients who practice the old ways, and more.
One of
my favorite magical elements is an enchanted white stag. He was created in
honor of Big Boy, a friendly red stag who enjoyed greeting visitors at a viewpoint
in Glencoe. Tame and trusting, Big Boy delighted travelers from all over the
world. I’d seen him a few times on my own visits to Scotland and was
heartbroken to learn he’d met a bad end. So I put him in this series and named
him Rannoch after the Rannoch Moor which is where ‘his’ overlook is located.
For the
readers out there who have never tried your books can you please add a few of
your favorite teasers from the book?
SEW: Sure, here are two with James and Catriona,
and one with Grizel, the magical wise woman in the series…
Excerpt I ~ Sins of a Highland Devil
A Fiery
Wench…
The MacDonald wench stood at. He stepped
closer to the wall, hoping he erred. Unfortunately, he hadn’t the edge of the
chaos. On seeing her, James felt an even hotter flare of irritation. She was
truly there, hands on her hips and looking haughty as always.
Joining him, his cousin gave a low
whistle. “She’s Catriona MacDonald, the chief’s sister. The wildest of that
heathenish lot.”
“I know who she is.” James did. “And she is wild - so prickly some say she sleeps in a bed of nettles.”
Colin laughed. “She’s bonnie all the
same.”
James scowled at the lass. “So is the deep
blue sea until you sink in its depths and drown.”
~*~
Excerpt II ~ Sins of a Highland Devil
A Laird and a Lady Clash…
“Lady
Catriona.” His smile deepened, turning devilish.
“You…”
She took several steps closer to him, then stopped when she realized she’d
moved. “You shouldn’t be here with me-” She started to tell him to leave, but
broke off when he raised a hand.
“I am
no’ with you, regrettably.” His meaning brought a flush to her face. “If I
were” – he gave her a look that made her feel naked – “rest assured you’d no’
be spluttering like an angry hen. You’d be purring in sweet, female
contentment.”
~*~
Excerpt III – Grizel & Gorm (her
partner)
A Crone Interrupted…
“What are you about, woman?”
Grizel spun around, sending the peat-bricks flying
through the air. Gorm stood just inside the threshold, his face stern. His
usually merry eyes were suspicious. And his splendid, near-to-his knees beard
riffled in an unseen wind, a sure sign that he was in a dangerous mood.
Grizel
glared at him, peering past his shoulder at the now-empty door stoop. Even the
fine bed of heather and bracken that she’d made for her four-legged friend had
vanished. Everything was gone except the rocks and whirling mist.
“Glower
all you wish, it’ll change naught.” Gorm’s beard ends fluttered wildly.
“Where
be Rannoch?” Grizel thrust out her chin, ignoring the beard-riffling.
“No’
doing the fool guarding you ordered him to do, that’s true.” Gorm shut the door
and came forward, bending to snatch up one of the peats as he crossed the
stone-flagged floor. “Thon creature heeds me more than he does you, if ne’er
you noticed.”
~*~
What
can readers expect next any upcoming releases?
SEW: Books two and three in Highland Warriors will
be out this autumn. Likewise,
Temptation
of a Highland Scoundrel, #2
Seduction
of a Highland Warrior, #3
Once
Upon a Highland Christmas, series-related holiday novella
I also
have a story in Meows and Mistletoe, a Cat’s Paw Cove holiday collection. It’s
set in a Florida beach town full of cats, magic, and romance. The Cat’s Paw
Cove series was created by Wynter Daniels and Catherine Kean.
Are you
working on any more series or books?
SEW: A
spin-off on my Ravenscraig Legacy series, Scottish contemporary paranormals.
I’m hoping to get it out this summer. After that – so many ideas and too little time.
~*~
Thank
you so much for having me. If any readers would like a closer look at Highland
Warriors, they can download Highland Interludes from my website. It’s a free
mobi download and includes two series prequels…
Highland Interludes
The Foretelling
is a series prequel that lets you meet the three heroes as lads. It sets the
stage for the events that unfold when they are grown men, proud and powerful
Highland warrior chieftains.
The Glen of Many Legends – A Tour is also a prequel but is set immediately before the
series opens. With a fierce battle on the horizon, a danger that could destroy
a sacred glen, one of the warrior chieftains makes a journey across the story
world.
~*~
Also, I’ll draw a reader from all comments for a
Mobi file of Sins of a Highland Devil.
I’ll sign off by with my contact info…
Mailing list:
Website:
Good morning, Laurie! Thank you so much for having me here today. It was so nice to chat about Sins of a Highland Devil and the trilogy (Highland Warriors). The interview looks beautiful. I'll drop by throughout the day and will announce a winner in here tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteYou're more then welcome. I am so glad to have you here today!
DeleteI'm still smiling at the lovely way you set up the interview. It's so pretty. Thank you. I ran a blog many moons ago, too, so remember how fiddly it can be to set up a nice post. Breaking for lunch now and will look in again later today to say hello to all visitors.
DeleteI love reading about Highlanders. This book sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteEmjoyed reading the comments.
jwisley(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks so much for looking in, Joye! This is a great story - a personal fave. It launches one of my favorite trilogies, too. Good luck in the drawing. xx
DeleteI have to say right off, I love Sue Ellen's books. They are all retreads a few times :). Besides those gorgeous Highlanders, there are the feisty women and all the rich history of Scotland. I've been reading her books for years and will continue. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCarol Luciano
Lucky4750 at aol dot com
Waving at you, Carol! Thank you so much for your good words. They brightened my day. I know you're a longtime reader and appreciate you so much. Good luck in the drawing. xx
DeleteI enjoyed the interview. Your books sound intriguing. Love
ReplyDeletethat you have added lore, legends and mystical creatures.
Looking forward to reading your books.
Carol Smith
penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks so much, Carol. It's lovely to hear from someone who also enjoys lore, legends, mythical creatures and what-not. All my books have magical elements, not just the Scottish medievals. But with that genre, especially, I am always surprised when such elements are ignored. Every stone or sprig of heather over there has a legend attached to it and in medieval times, such things were a huge part of everyday life. Such beliefs touched every aspect of life. Anyway, thanks for commenting. I hope you will enjoy my books. Good luck in the drawing. xx
DeleteI'm just so blasted excited about the relaunch of this series! Still riding on a high from the news! Hugs and love ☺
ReplyDeleteBless you, my Anam Cara. I know how much you love these books. I can see and feel certain souls striding back and forth in my office, eager to return to the page. Thanks so much for looking in here. Love you. xx
DeleteI've read a few of her books and I absolutely love them. I still need to read this though.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words, Mary! I appreciate them so much and am so glad you enjoy the books. This is a wonderful series. I hope you will enjoy it. xx
DeleteI definitely need this trilogy! I love Sue-Ellen's writing so much. She's a writing heroine to me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new ad upcoming releases!
Hugs,
Tambra Nicole
Tambra, you are always so sweet! You just brightened my whole world - thank you! This is a great trilogy and I think you'll love it. The next one (book 2) is my personal fave of the three. I adore its 'wild man' hero who has Viking Berserker blood. There is also a connected Xmas/Yuletide novella so it's really four books and they'll all be out this autumn. Yay! Thanks so much for looking in. xx
DeleteI LOVED the books the first time, and can't wait to reread them now. Sue-Ellen is one of my MOST favorite authors and have read everything she has written (old & new). She has the ability of "taking you away" to the Highlands & moors, and you ARE a part of the magic of the books. You get to know the characters inside and out, and I like the part that you look forward to "seeing them again". Love you Sue-Ellen. Wendy
ReplyDeleteBless you, Wendy, your good words mean so much. I love that you loved these books first time out. I've been trying to get them back for a very long time and am so happy to be able to finally make the series available again. I, too, really love this series. And I am so glad that you feel 'swept away into the story worlds' when you read my books. That has always been and remains my greatest goal: to transport readers into the story. I want/hope to take readers away for the time they spend in my books' pages, letting them be right there in the story with the story people, living everything as it happens. Also agree that it is fun to revisit beloved old characters. (I am doing that just now as I wrap up the new spin-off on my Allie Mackay Ravenscraig Legacy series .. am loving the time spent with these well-loved characters and settings) Love you, too! SE (HUGS)
DeleteEveryone .. I just sat back down at my desk and my cat Snuggles is 'biting' my ankles and knees like mad. It's been a busy day and he does this when he has decided I have been at my desk too long. (he doesn't draw blood, just makes 'attention-nips' as I think of them .. anything to ruin my focus on whatever I am doing at my computer!) So I am signing off to play some red dot with him and will respond to all hellos as soon as he settles again. (cat lovers will understand)xx
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ReplyDeleteLaurie, thank you so much for having me here today. It's been fun and I enjoyed every minute. Everyone who looked in or might yet .. thank you so much! It was so good of you to join me in here. (((HUGS))) to you all. Re the Giveaway, I'll post a winner tomorrow morning. (could be close to noon EDT, depending on how often Snuggles wakes me through the night) Anyway, thank you all! xx
ReplyDeleteAgain thank you so much for being here and for the interview, we will have to do this again as soon.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWINNERS!! Ladies, I haven't done a blog interview in a while and doing this one yesterday reminded me of the one thing I have never mastered in all my years as an author: It is sooo hard for me to draw 'just one winner' at these blog visits.
ReplyDeleteAnd so, with the exception of those readers who I know already have the book, I am making all six commenting-readers winners!
Ladies, you are...
Joye (J.Wisley) .. Carol Luciano .. Carol Smith .. Mary Kirkland .. Tambra Nicole .. Wendy (memom)
Ladies, please email me at welfonder@msn.com so I can send the book to you.
Heartfelt thanks to each of you for looking in yesterday and I hope you will enjoy Sins of a Highland Devil and the next two books in the series when they release in autumn.
Thanks as well to everyone else who dropped by. Love and hugs to you all. Till next time! xx
Oh my goodness, thank you so much.
DeleteWhat a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! This is GREAT!!, Thanks so much. Hugs
ReplyDeleteAs always, Laurie does a fantastic job with the interviews giving readers a wonderful opportunity to learn and become interested.
ReplyDelete