One true fact about RWA conferences: you never, ever know who you'll meet in the elevator or the bathroom. A year ago in Atlanta, while enduring a really long elevator ride (50 floors; it took a while to go up and down), I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. When I mentioned I was from Boston, she smiled and said she loved Boston: "…my husband used to play for the Boston Red Sox." (World Series Champions again: YES!!!) Naturally I was very keen to chat with her some more, and she turned out to be a wickedly funny chick who happens to write fabulous Scottish historical romances based on true historical events and people…some of whom look suspiciously like Gerard Butler. As a result, her second and third books have just made the New York Times bestseller list. Welcome, Monica McCarty!
Caroline: Your first book starts with a feud between two clans. I knew the second I read "The War of the One-Eyed Woman" it had to be real; no one could make that up. How did you stumble across that event?
Monica: You are so right. The story of The War of the One-Eyed Woman is definitely a case of truth being stranger than fiction. As for how I stumbled across it, when I started writing I knew I wanted to write a Scottish set historical, but that was about it. So I went to the Stanford Library and checked out a bunch of research books. One of the books was on the MacLeods and that's where I found it. Believe it or not, there are tons of stories like this in Scottish history books. In Highlander Unchained you'll read about two more of them: Lady's Rock and MacLean's Nuptials.
Caroline: Your hero and heroine really existed—at least, people with those names really existed and got married. How much of your story is based on the historic record and how much is fiction?
Monica: Most of the story is spun from the headlines, so to speak—particularly the romance—although I did incorporate actual historical events where possible. The handfast was purely my imagination. As I mentioned above, The War of the One-Eyed Woman did happen and it started a two year long feud between the MacDonalds and MacLeods. Around the same time, the MacDonald of Sleat was making overtures to Queen Elizabeth to revive the Lordship of the Isles (the damning letter I mention was real). I decided to make Sleat Isabel's uncle to tie the two stories together.
Caroline: I think that is so cool, that they were once real. Do you know how the real Rory and Isabel's story turned out?
Monica: Rory MacLeod did marry Isabel MacDonald of Glengarry, but history books are silent on their feeling for one another or the happiness of their marriage. But they had 11 children so I hope they at least like one another. As for how they turned out…I assume Isabel was pretty tired (& cranky) after having all those kids. LOL
Caroline: That's why you marry the laird, chica; lairds must be able to get nannies. Now, Isabel is torn throughout the book between her duty to her family and her feelings for her new family (Rory's). I suppose that clan identity was quite strong in the early 1600s, and yet she—a very warm-hearted woman—is charged by her family with a despicable task. How did you approach writing a woman who's willing to seduce a man in order to betray his entire clan?
Monica: I guess I love morally questionable situations—it makes for some pretty interesting conflict. Though I would point out that Isabel isn't comfortable with the plan from the outset. I tried to approach it from a historical—not modern—sensibility. Not that women were less moral then, but playing with the idea of the clan being more important than the individual and that duty to family came first. The problem that Isabel has to deal with is the question of what family matters more—the new one that has welcomed her or the old one who she thinks never loved her.
Caroline: Rory is a such a decent, honorable man (and OMG sexy as well), even though he insists for the longest time that he's going to send Isabel back, in part because he doesn't quite trust her (or rather, her family). Was that a challenge, writing a hero who doesn't trust the heroine even as he falls in love with her?
Monica: Yes, very much so. To me you really can't be "in love" if you don't trust the person. With Rory I really tried to push that idea to the extreme—every time he thinks he can trust her, something comes up to rouse is suspicions again. Trust for a man like Rory is difficult anyway and Isabel really forces him to examine his own beliefs. Of course, when he does decide to trust her it backfires…or at least he thinks it does.
Caroline: This is the first in a trilogy about the MacLeod family. Highlander Unmasked is the story of Alex, Rory's brother. What's he got himself up to? What's the real history behind his tale?
Monica: A few years have passed by the opening of Highlander Unmasked, and during that time Alex has been living the life of an outlaw with the MacGregors, honing his battle skills for the "ultimate showdown" if you will. On his way to court to begin his mission, he comes to the rescue of Meg Mackinnon—never dreaming that she will appear at court and put his plans in jeopardy. There is tons of real history in Highlander Unmasked; it is probably the most historically intensive of the three. The historical plot mostly centers on the "Fife Adventurers" (lowlanders sent by King James to colonize the Isle of Lewis) and Alex's attempts to thwart their efforts.
Caroline: OK, now I have to get that book. What about the conclusion of the trilogy?
Monica: Highlander Unchained is the story of Flora MacLeod, half-sister to Rory and Alex as well as to another powerful Highland Chief, Hector MacLean. His real name was Lachlan, but I changed it to Hector to avoid confusion with the hero. Her story developed basically as a function of the family tree. As sister to two powerful chiefs and cousin to the Earl of Argyll, Flora would have been a considerable marriage prize. Also, her mother Janet was a very wealthy woman in her own right (including land) and had been married at least 4 times. From there it was easy to see how Flora might want nothing to do with being bartered around in marriage. The real Flora did marry Lachlan MacLean of Coll, an enemy of her brother Hector. Much of the plot involving the conflict between Hector and Lachlan was based on real history.
Caroline: What are you working on now and when will be it out?
Monica: Right now I'm working on another back-to-back trilogy, this one about Clan Campbell. Jamie and Elizabeth Campbell from Highlander Unmasked are the first two books and their bastard brother is the third. As for when they'll be out… I don't have dates yet, but will post them on my website when I do!
Caroline: Tell, tell: any particular guy who might give us a mental image of your hero?
Monica: I didn't actually have a particular guy in mind when I wrote Rory, but for my third book Highlander Unchained I did. And since it's always fun to look at Gerry…
Caroline: Why, yes it is. Oh, yes, fun indeed.
Thanks so much, Monica! Can't wait to read about Gerry—I mean, Lachlan!
Higlander Untamed, Higlander Unmasked, and Highlander Unchained are all on sale now!
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