Hi everyone,

This is Marie-Claude. Well, the voting is over for this round and the remaining contestants will be announced on Dec 15th. So you’ll have to be patient…But while waiting, we still have three weeks of interviews left. So you can drop by to learn more about the rest of the contestants before the next round begins.

Before we start today, we have a winner!!!! Minx Malone. Congratulations!!!

And now let’s meet Barbara Longley who finaled with her time-travel historical TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER.

M-C: Barbara, what is the first thing you did when you found out that you were an American Title V finalist.

Barbara: I never knew I’d finaled. The e-mail from Dorchester went straight into spam! My critique partner, also a finalist, called me while I was teaching a group of third graders and filled me in. Then of course I squealed like a little girl and hopped around the room. My third graders were greatly amused by my undignified behavior.

M-C: Well, you had all the rights do overreact! So far has the final changed things for you with your writing?

Barbara: Participating in the American Title V contest is a thrill; however, my writing has slowed down considerably as a result. Between printing off little promo cards, campaigning, blogging and keeping up on everyone else’s blogs . . . well, it’s kept me pretty busy. I work full time as well, and I have a puppy. She’s kind of an empty nester compensation thing. My youngest is off to college and living large on campus.

M-C: Yes, it is a lot of work isn’t it. You have the word “highlander” in your title. I am very curious to find out what your story is all about?

Barbara: My story is about a young violinist who is sent back in time to save a life. Whose life she is to save is a mystery until the end of the story. She assumes it’s her self-appointed, overbearing protector; he thinks so too. She keeps trying to get the job done, while he keeps trying to keep her out of trouble. There are quite a few subplots, twists and turns. I wish I could put the whole synopsis here . . . it’s so hard to boil it down into a few words, isn’t it?

M-C: Well, you do a good job at making this an intriguing must-read story! Where did you get the ideas for TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER?

Barbara: I got the idea from a book I read about haunted castles in the UK. I thought to myself, “What if someone had gone back in time to rescue the poor woman who haunts this castle . . . “ Well, my heroine does save her life, but she’s not the one my heroine was sent to save, just another fray she jumps into.

M-C: Haunted castles….Now I am very curious! How would best characterize your writing style or tone?

Barbara: Witty, lyrical in places, angsty (is this a word?) complex, layered.

There is a lot of humor in the story, dry humor, sometimes sarcastic. Man, M-C, you’re making me think here. I like my characters to experience the whole gamut of emotions on the human spectrum, and I hope the readers will be there with them.

M-C: Do you have any idea about what prompts you to write in those certain tones?

Barbara: I haven’t really asked myself why I write what I write. A story comes to me, and I just go with it. I know why I love romance though. Life is tough, and we all need a little relief. I started reading romance when I was going through a very painful divorce. I needed the “happily-ever-after” fix romance never fails to deliver. Now I’m hooked. I refer to the romance section of the bookstore as the Happily-Ever-After section.

M-C: Yes, the happily-ever-after is always important for me too. With an historical, the setting must also be important?

Barbara: The setting is absolutely essential to the story. Other than the opening, which takes place at a Renaissance festival in New York, the story is set in 1423AD, in the Highlands of Scotland. The historical atmosphere of the time is very important. James I, Scotland’s heir to the throne, has been held captive by the English for 18 years and the hero’s father is part of the contingency of Scottish nobles who negotiated his release. England’s king Henry has died, and his heir is only a year old. The Scottish Highland clans are at each other’s throats, and the historical and treacherous reconciliation feast between the MacKintosh and Comyn clans, enemies since the days of Robert the Bruce, actually did occur. Alethia has an impact on a lot of lives, none of who turn out to be her ticket home as she had hoped.

M-C: I just love Scottish history. Would you say TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER is more character-driven or plot-driven?

Barbara: My stories are all character driven with a strong plot. So I guess you’d have to say both? Your characters can’t grow or have any kind of an arc if your plot is weak, can they? And a great plot goes nowhere if your characters are one-dimensional cardboard cutouts.

M-C Can you describe the pace of the story?

Barbara: My story is pretty fast paced. Alethia (heroine) lands herself in “situations” one right after another, beginning with her visit with the fortuneteller who sends her back in time, and almost ending when she’s captured by Black Hugh, who wishes to exact his revenge against our hero through her.

M-C What do you think readers will get out of reading TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER?

Barbara: The theme I hope comes through is that anyone can be a hero given the right circumstances. Alethia is an introvert, a violin playing music geek with no aspirations of heroism, and yet she truly is the best kind of hero. Her compassion, selflessness and wit come forth as she grows into her own inner strength.

M-C She seems like a lovely heroine and I love her name. Do you have any more projects in the work beside your American Title V entry?

Barbara: I’m currently working on THE LEGEND OF THE DRUID LAIRD, a second chance romance involving reincarnation, a curse, and an impossible task.

M-C: What a great title and them! Sounds like a great read. If readers want to know more about you and your writing, where on the web can the find you?

Barbara: If readers are interested in checking out excerpts from either book, they can visit my website:

www.barbaralongley.com

M-C: I invite people to do that. I read the excerpt and it is really well written. I just wished I had more to read!

Thanks everyone for dropping by. And thanks to all of you who voted in the American Title in the last two weeks, we all appreciate the time people take to go over and support us. And thank you Sylvia for letting us come over here today!

On Thursday, Barbara will come back and interview a fascinating character called Madame Giselle. I am very curious, aren’t you?

Don’t forget to leave your comments for Barbara for a chance to win!

Best to all,

Marie-Claude Bourque

www.mcbourque.com

Tags: american title, contest, dorchester, romantic times

(439 views)