Today I am speaking with Deborah MacGillivray.

Good Morning Deborah and thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to speak with Fallen Angel Reviews.

Deborah, I love the blue tint in your website, not to mention your recipe spot – you have some great recipes. Why not tell us what a day is like for Deborah MacGillivray?

Thank you. I love colors, their impact, the way they set the mood for websites. I have a high traffic site, often getting 5000 visitors per week reading my wee bit of Scotland. You will notice my individual splash pages are varied, such as my essays on lore or the book showcases. I don’t like to be the same all over! I am in the process of updating, but it’s slow since I do the work myself now. I do websites for Brown Literary Agency, Sunny, Da Chen, Leanne Burroughs, Highland Press and Kristi Ahlers. My website comes after the paying customers!

My “day” is generally night. I am a night owl. I function during the day, but my best writing is when the moonrises. Currently, my time is writing. Little else. I have a deadline for my second historical for Kensington of December 1 and my second paranormal for March 1. So it’s write, write, write.

Lately, I have been taking time to enjoy the beautiful autumn. Fall is my favorite time of year, so I really recharge my batteries just sitting outside for an hour and doing nothing. In summer, I take a break in the evenings and paddle around in the river. Water therapy is good to refresh the mind.

Would you like to tell the readers about your releases and upcoming books for the future?

Currently out for Kensington Zebra Historical Romances, A Restless Knight. It’s a Scottish Medieval Historical that’s very loosely based upon my family’s history in Scotland during the rising of William Wallace. It’s the first in the Dragon of Challon series. The second will come out in August 2007, Ravenhawke, A Knight to Remember.

I have a second series for another publisher, Dorchester Publishing’s Love Spell line. It’s the Seven Sisters of Colford Hall series. They are contemporary romances with paranormal themes running through them. The first comes out in late November, The Invasion of Falgannon Isle. It’s a quirky, lighter romance, though it still packs a strong emotional punch. The second in the series, Riding the Thunder, comes out October 2007.

I also have short stories in three anthologies out with Highland Press in No Law Against Love, Blue Moon Magic and Blue Moon Enchantment. Coming at the end of October is Christmas Wishes and Holiday in the Heart. These are tradesize anthologies. I have upcoming anthologies in 2007 – No Law Against Love 2, Dance en L’air and a one-woman anthology of my cat romances called Cat O’ Nine Tales.

Could you describe yourself in 3 sentences for our readers?

I am an intensely loyal woman, with old-fashioned values. I love the beauty and power of writing. I love history, roots, family, and subscribe to the belief you can do anything―if you work hard enough.

Outside of your family and writing, what keeps your interest? Do you have any hobbies that occupy your time and help with the creative process?

Less these days! I collect medieval swords. I do web designs. I love my cat. Foutchie―a play on Foot Sidhe, ie Foot Faery―is my partner in writing. I love music, dancing and movies.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes, though I never put it into words. I went around collecting “what” I needed to be a writer, envying people who knew they were going to be a doctor or actress from childhood. At thirteen, I wrote a 300-page novel, a sexy murder mystery (which my mother promptly burnt when she found it!!!). Yet, I never put it into words I wanted to be a writer until I was seventeen. I think basically there was no “romance” market, which kept me from seeing what I wanted to do. Romance is really the new kid on the block. Then I found Gothics, next historical romance, and suddenly I knew. By that time, life intruded. I got into historical research and record restoration, which I adored. I was pursuing a non-fiction outlet for my work. It was coming across the story of my great-grandparents (26 generations back, I think) that brought out the need to write romance. I was writing their story for records and it was so lacking. I wanted to bring alive the loves, the passion of these people.

How did it feel to have your first sale?

Numb. Everyone kept saying they bet I was celebrating or dancing on the lawn nekked. I went from sale of the contract for Kensington, to quick due date, then sale to Dorchester and another quick due date, yet never really stopped to relish things.

There’s just so much work that is not writing. It’s flooring. I never seem to get ahead of things. Also, I became very sick during this time and spent months getting back to my normal self. I keep telling myself one of these days I will celebrate.

Has your family supported you in your career choice?

Yes and no. They are fine I’m doing what makes me happy. They are concerned about all the stress it puts on me. This is not an easy profession. Everyone thinks making that sale is IT. That is the beginning. A fellow author said today, “This is a damn rough profession.” She’s right. Only the strong survive. So my family is concerned about it, the stress it puts upon me.

A Restless Knight is doing amazing sales, racking up super reviews. It came out in July. Now, my second, The Invasion of Falgannon Isle, comes out in a little over a month, so I start the process of PR, of worrying if it will be received favorably all over again―while facing the double deadline.

I’m worried about my books. My family is worried about me.

Do you have a favorite genre?

Not really. Why I wanted to launch both series at the same time. I need change. Maybe that comes from me living half of the year in Britain, the other have in Kentucky. I am used to nothing staying the same, so I tend to bore easily when doing the same old, same old. I feared locking myself into one genre. I love doing Scottish Historicals; it grows from my heritage, my love of history. Only, I wouldn’t want to write just them. I adore doing the contemporary romances, but wouldn’t wish to be confined to them either. Some writers cannot do the “switch” of medieval mind to contemporary mind. I shift easily. The change keeps me from going stale.

Of all your stories, which one is your favorite? Which of your characters is your favorite?

Totally torn here. I love A Restless Knight. It was a book of my heart. I love Julian Challon and Tamlyn―I am a part of them. It’s a special book to me on so many levels. My grandfather, a retired historian opposed me writing romance, felt I could do more in the non-fiction historical field. I asked him to read it before he totally opposed my desire to have it published. I gave it to him late one night. He read all night. The next morning, I went in and found him sitting there, the manuscript on his lap. There was a tear in his eye and he said, “You did good, lass.” Something I will never forget.

But then The Invasion of Falgannon did something I didn’t think possible-it wasn’t the book of my heart, but it stole my heart. It was born of the post Braveheart mania. I think so many Scots get a little grumpy that you don’t see our country as anything but men in kilts and castles. I wanted to share a piece of the quirky, off-the-beaten path Scotland tourists miss. Scottish humor is a little weird at times, but I so love it. The teasing, to the point of absurdity, yet behind it is respect and love. As I worked to bring that to life in the story, Des and B.A. became vital, alive to me. So the minxes have claimed my heart and refused to give it back.

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, do you find this a motivation to your writing? Do you believe this has improved your writing technique and skills?

Group? NO! You never get people to agree on anything in a group, so there is “too many cooks”. I’ve seen writers water down their voice by trying to please too many. I would never work in a group. I do, however, work with a critique partner, Leanne Burroughs, since 2004. A good critique partner is worth their weight in gold. When you find that person who can really give and take criticism, you push each other to be better. You get there faster than you could ever make it on your own. I am blessed to work with her.

How much research and preparation go into your stories?

Oddly, despite the historical background of A Restless Knight, I don’t have to do much research. I come from a heavy historical background and tend to bore people stiff with nattering about Medieval Scotland. I finally have an outlet for all the work I did with my grandfather. I just sit down and write about the things that I love.

Do you have any e-books?

I am not into e-publishing. I am co-publisher for Highland Press. We do tradesize paperback anthologies and single title romance. We may offer e-books down the road, but currently we do high quality romance in very lovely tradesize paperbacks.

Do you think e—publishing will grow with the future?

Again, I don’t do e-pubs (not that I am putting them down). Just we have a different focus. I went into business with Leanne Burroughs, owner of Highland Press, because I felt there were stories I had to write that were not material NYC was taking currently. I wanted to do high quality fiction that is often turned away in favor of commercial fiction. NYC is focused on making money, what will sell to the masses. Highland Press is focused on quality stories that come from the heart.

Other than deborahmacgillivray.co.uk do you have any other websites that you would like to share?

http://LeanneBurroughs.com
http://HighlandPress.org

What sound do you love?

Rain…there is something so tranquil about rain.

What sound do you hate?

Bulldozers!! I put up with nearly six months of listening to them 13-hours a day 6-days a week while I wrote The Invasion of Falgannon Isle and finished up A Restless Knight.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us today?

Dream. All writers must have one, must follow it. But learn. Not just the craft of writing, learn the business side of it. Knowledge is power. The more you learn, the better you are prepared to survive this very competitive business.

Deborah, thank you for spending time with us today, and I wish you success in your writing. We look forward to more of your remarkable works.

Thank you for listening to my natterings! And thank you to all the readers who write me to say they love Challon and Tamlyn.

Interviewed by: Linda L