Aloha to Mary Wine and THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS

On this day in 1430, James II was born in Holyrood Castle.   During his reign of Scotland from 1437 - 1460, he promoted a modern artillery.   His grandson, King James IV, came to the throne in 1488 - the year in which Mary Wine's THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS begins.  Since we all love Highlanders, no matter how troublesome they can be, I invited her hero, Norris Sutherland, to be my guest today.

Dunrobin Castle - home of the Sutherland Clan (Wikipedia)

Kim:  Tell us about your clan, especially your castle! 

Norris:  Sutherland is the very northern reaches of the Highlands. This is the seat of an earldom but with that comes a great deal of responsibility. Sure, it’s common to lust after a title but when you’re born to one, everyone is looking at you and ready to critique your actions. Other lads can have a lazy morning but not the heir. From the time I was born, I was expected to think of the clan first. Now Dunrobin is a fine castle. It’s home to a lot of people and always being improved so that it can protect the clan in the event of an attack. I’ll be expected to wed a woman who has been educated in the running of a large household or suffer a poorly run castle. There is more to a bride than her dowry. A noble woman should have an education worth negotiating for. It’s not just her blood line, although in the Highlands, having a link between clans can help keep the peace but there is also her knowledge on how a castle runs. Winter is long and hard and stocking the kitchens for hundreds of people is no small task. If it’s done poorly, there will be suffering. 

Highlands (Wikipedia)

Kim:  What are the challenges and rewards of being a Highlander? 

Norris:  A Highlander is a man of honor. Now there are men who use that word but never really live it. I do nae consider them Highlanders. They might have been born on the same ground but that is the limit of the similarity. A Highlander steps in front of his clan and does nae back down. It is nae easy because you have yer clan but also a king. As a titled man, this is a battle I’ll have to face often. 

Robert Gibb's THE THIN RED LINE of the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders)
Regiment in the Crimean War.  The painting hangs in the Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum at Stirling Castle.

Kim:  What drew you to Daphne MacLeod, the heroine in THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS?

Norris:  Daphne should have been born a man, but I’m right glad she was nae. Such a fetching lass. There are plenty who see her as a disrespectful daughter, what with her refusing to wed the man her father negotiated with. But the lass has a good heart. That match was causing two friends to fight like dogs. It would have led to trouble, the sort that starts feuds. She took the blame in order to refuse the match and for that action, I respect her. It is no ease for a woman to earn that. But Daphne is a Highlander and before any of you think only a man can be one of those, remember that it’s the lasses who have the babes and teach us our first lessons. Daphne put her clan above her own needs and that is a Highlander. But the lass walked away from me and that is nae sitting well. In fact, I’m going to go and discover why she left. I am nae such a bad fellow. 

School children at Linlithgow Palace during
our visit to Scotland in 2007.

Kim:  What does "happily ever after" mean to you? 

Norris:  Now there is something a lad only hears about but the fire side during the long winter. It is nae something a grown man expects. Life is hard. It’s best to remember that you need to do the things which will bring the most protection and gain to your clan. That’s what creates happiness. No some insanity which has ye forgetting everything and running after some lass who is nae the right match for ye.

But me friend Broen seems to be happy in his union with Clarrisa. There is a curious thing but it also supports me opinion. The man nearly got himself killed over his desire for her and no other. The king was nae pleased and it took Daphne disgracing herself to prevent their wedding. Love is an insanity, I hear the English even have a treatment for it. 

Mary (left) with historical fans at the RT/2012 Scottish Fling.

Kim:  What's next for your creator, Mary Wine? 

Mary (as Norris charged off for a broadsword fight):  Right now I’m writing the third book in this saga. It’s about Gahan, Norris’s half-brother. In December, my first book will be released again, Dream Shadow. In May, you’ll get a chance to see my second Steam Punk book…A Captain Can Never be too Bold. A writer is always looking at new ideas, so please drop by my Facebook page to see what I’m up to (at this link).

Cheers! 

Mahalo, Norris and Mary, for joining us at SOS Aloha!   Mary is celebrating the release of THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS:

She Has Hardly Any Choices Left…

With her clan on the wrong side of the struggle for the Scottish throne, heiress Daphne Macleod, once the toad of the court, is out of options…

And They’re All Dangerous…

Norris Sutherland once helped Daphne, but she walked away from him without a backward glance. Now she’s in deep trouble and needs him more than ever. But he may be lost forever…unless she can somehow convince him to forgive her.

I am giving away a print copy of THE TROUBLE WITH HIGHLANDERS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Make up a name for your imaginary castle!  Above is my picture of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness ... which I rename 'Ikawai - Hawaiian for "in the water".  We know Nessie is somewhere in the water.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 20, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 21.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

To learn more about Mary and her books, check out her website at marywine.com.