Writerly Wednesday Welcomes Mary McCall

Welcome Mary McCall!  Better Late than Not at All!  I forgot to send Mary an email with the guidelines and questions, DOH, last night I realized I saved the draft and didn’t hit the Send Button.  

writer’s website:

buy link: Sisters by Choice Book II: Highland Promise from Champagne Books:

prequel buy link: Highland Treasure from Eternal Press:

Bio:

Mary McCall has been telling stories all her life. Now she writes Historical Romantic Comedy set mainly in the medieval Highlands and England. She is a member of Romance Writers of America; Hearts Through History Romance Writers; Celtic Hearts Romance Writers; The Golden Network; River City Romance Writer; Faith, Hope & Love, Inc. She has won or placed in over 43 historical romance contests and is a past Golden Hearts finalist. She loves history, has a particular fondness for the Greek through Medieval periods, and is glad research for her books has finally utilized her ability to speak Ecclesiastical Latin. Mary resides in Memphis, Tennessee with her Maltese, Regina Benita Catariona, who runs the apartment. Visit her website www.marymccall.net or e-mail her mary@marymccall.net.

Blurb:
A handsome meets the hag tale of love and revenge.
Ordered by King Alexander to wed an Englishwoman, Laird Brendan Sutherland heads to England to find and wed the sister of his best friend’s wife to settle a debt. He intends to beget a few heirs and forget the lass. He has no use for love, and among his clanswomen, he is known as Stoneheart.

After being falsely accused of the Sin of Eve when she was twelve, Lady Faith of Hawkhurst hides her beauty beneath a hideous disguise becoming a hag in public. Due to a despicable penance given by a zealot priest, she believes she must enter a convent and live a life of penance or suffer perpetual damnation.

Learning her brother intends to ambush an approaching Highland party, Faith intercepts Brendan and his men and asks their aid in reaching the convent at Saint Bride. Brendan quickly sees through her disguise. Realizing she’s the woman he promised to wed, he agrees to take her with him when he goes home. After a court scandal, King Henry orders them to wed. Faith fears Brendan will never trust her when he learns of her deception. As they return to the Highlands with a killer on their trail, Brendan discovers he can’t remain aloof from the woman destined to restore his faith in love.

Excerpt:

“Quick, Heather.” She sat on the side of the bed to pull on her stockings and lace up her short boots. “Hand me my plaid and tell me how to say ‘have a safe journey and hurry home, laird’ in Gaelic.”
“Why?”
Faith rolled her eyes. At eight years old, Heather was at the age where she demanded to know everything whether it was any of her business or not. She shouldn’t give in to the child, but didn’t want to miss Brendan. “I wish to give my husband a proper farewell and remind him of an important duty he neglected.”
“You think to instruct Bren on his duty?”
“I most certainly do.”
Heather flashed an impish grin and handed over the plaid. Then she spoke the phrase in Gaelic. Faith wrapped her plaid about her while repeating the difficult words three times just to be sure she had them right. Heather declared she had spoken them perfectly.
“Which way to the stables?” Faith asked, tying on her belt to hold her plaid in place.
“Out the rear of the keep and to the left.” Heather rushed past her to the door. “I will take you, but do you know your plaid is a jumbled mess?”
“Well, this is the best I can do right now.” Faith hastily combed her fingers through her hair and tugged open the door. “Besides, if I do not hurry, I shall miss Brendan.”
They rushed from the chamber with Dog on their heels and found their way blocked by Michael. Faith tried to push past him, knowing his presence meant Brendan might already be gone. The need to reach him before he left was growing into panic, though she wasn’t sure why. Lord, help her, was she angry or worried? “Let me pass, Michael.”
The warrior crossed his arms over his chest. “The laird said you were to rest.”
“But I must see him off,” she insisted. “‘Tis a wife’s duty.”
“Aye, Michael,” Heather chimed in. “She wishes to bid him farewell in Gaelic.” She tugged on Faith’s hand and pushed the big warrior’s belly.
Michael rolled his eyes and stepped to the side of the corridor, gesturing with a wave of his arm for them to pass. “This I have to hear.”
Faith rushed down the steps and outside the keep with Heather, Dog, and Michael behind her. When she arrived at the stables, Brendan was riding his black stallion toward a forest trail accompanied by Roland, Tormey, Douglas, and Cleit. Luthias walked toward her from the direction of the stable. She thought her husband’s appearance odd for some reason, then realized he wore a plaid of muted green, brown, and amber. She liked his other colors better, but didn’t have time to ponder why he had changed. He was getting away.
“Brendan, wait!” She lifted her hem and ran toward him.
He drew rein and glanced her way. A frown thundered across his brow. “Why are you not resting?”
“‘Tis my duty to see you off, and you wound my heart by not telling me you are leaving.” She halted beside him just as a sneeze burst from her. She searched her sleeve for the linen square normally tucked there, then realized she had forgotten it in her haste, so she sniffed.
“Your heart will heal.” He tipped up her chin, and she got a good view of his intimidating glare. “Your most important duty is to get well.”
“Quit acting surly or you will spoil my surprise.” She grabbed his hand and held it between both of hers. She couldn’t suppress a grin. He was going to be so proud of her.
“What surprise?” he asked suspiciously.
Faith laced her fingers through his and rested her other hand on his thigh. Then she slowly struggled over each syllable of her Gaelic farewell. A pained expression crossed his face. She assumed her burr was in need of work. “I shall improve, Brendan.”
He shook his head and appeared incredulous. She thought he must be shocked by her determination to learn his language so soon. Silence settled about them, and she noticed his warriors appeared appalled.
She returned her gaze to Brendan. “Why do you not say anything? I know I need to work on my burr, but I did practice—”
“Faith, do you know what you just said to me?”
“Have a safe journey and hurry home, laird?” she asked and heard the worry in her own tone.
Brendan shook his head. Giggles slipped from the young lass behind her. Lord, help her, Heather must have told her the wrong words as a prank.
“That is what I meant to say,” she whispered.
Heather burst into laughter. “You should have seen your face, Bren.”
“You can expect to discuss this when I return,” he warned.
Heather shrugged, obviously not worried over retribution that was days away.
Faith groaned. “What did I say?”
“You told me …

Interview

1. In three days, all power will go off, everywhere for a very long time. What will you include in your author survival kit? Plenty of journals and #5 lead refills for my favorite Dr. Grip mechanical pencil. I write all my rough drafts by hand. My father’s manual typewriter. I was buying a brother electric typewriter when others were investing in word processors. The Apollo Program ended early, and I wanted to make sure that new-fangled equipment for writing wasn’t a passing fancy too. I’d also include Nutty Bars, Tab, a good Chianti, and Wagon Trail Chicken treats for my Maltese.

2. Where did the idea for the work you are promoting arise? In the hospital after a wreck, one of my characters insisted on it. I was planning to write a series about “gifted” MacKay women. When I finished the second book, the heroine insisted she had sisters who had other gifts. Past research and other things just fell into place for a series about four “sister” who are family by choice, like blood brothers.

3. What do you like to read? Romantic Fiction, Historical Fiction, some Mystery/Suspense, old dusty scrolls, anything research oriented toward topics of interest. My comfort reads are Kathleen Woodiwiss, Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsey – though others are being added.

4. Tell us about the most exciting place you have ever visited? I was an Air Force Brat, so I’ve been so many places from air shows to Europe to the Cumberland region to North Peak. I believe in enjoying the moment. The one exciting place that in retrospect wasn’t so great was New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s exciting the first time, especially if you get to wear a cockroach head and follow Jimmy Buffet down the street. By the second time, you notice the drunks answering natures call and friends throwing up, and wonder why it was so exciting. Now I love visiting New Orleans on any other day than Mardi Gras or Hurricane season.

5. What is the most mundane, day to day, thing you can share about yourself? I’m a night person.

6. What scares you the most? Not selling the next book.

7. Tell us anything but keep it G rated. I didn’t know I could sing until I was 27 years old and always mouthed the words to the Star Spangled Banner and Happy Birthday. Now I sing out loud.

Keywords: Highland Promise, Highland Captive, Highland Treasure, Mary McCall, Historical Romance, Highlands, Scotland, Author, Eternal Press, Champagne Books

writer’s website:

buy link: Sisters by Choice Book II: Highland Promise from Champagne Books:

prequel buy link: Highland Treasure from Eternal Press:

Mary McCall is our Eternal Press Queen of Sales at the Moment!  Awesome Work.  Everyone with a book to sell should begin cyber stalking Mary’s Promotions!

Thank You Mary for Letting Me Do this to YOU!

After you are done buying one or two of Mary McCall’s Books, my second novel, Milk Carton People came out yesterday at Eternal Press.