30 days of Highlanders: Day 14: Interview with Author Sue-Ellen Welfonder + Giveaway

Sue-Ellen Welfonder
USA Today bestselling author, Sue-Ellen Welfonder is most defined by her passion for Scotland. She also loves medieval history and the paranormal. She puts her pen where her heart is, writing Scottish medievals that always have a touch of Highland magic. A former flight attendant, she’s proud of her Scottish ancestry, spent fifteen years in Europe, and now just tries to live quietly. She’s devoted to her Jack Russell Terrier, is an absolute night owl, and shares her writing desk with her alter-ego, Allie Mackay.

Hi JoJo and Everyone! Thanks so much for inviting me to participate in your Highlander Month. I’m delighted to be here.

-Did you get to travel to Scotland or Ireland for any research?

SE – Yes. I’ve been visiting Scotland regularly all my life. I’ve also been to Ireland, though it’s Scotland I visit most often. Both places are incredibly magical, but my heart belongs to Scotland.

-Which of your Highlanders was hardest to write?

SE – I love them all. They come to life for me, so writing them is a pleasure. The hero I most worried about wasn’t a Highlander. He was Sir Marmaduke, aka “Sir M,” an English knight who was the hero’s best friend in my first book, Devil In A Kilt.

Sir M had a scarred face and wasn’t your typical dashingly handsome hero. I worried readers wouldn’t find him compelling as a hero in his own right. Boy, did they surprise me. Sir M’s book, Bride of the Beast, was very well received. Sir M went on to become a beloved recurring character in my MacKenzie series. I still hear from readers who love him, even after all these years.

Glamis Castle

-Do you have any secret obsessions while writing you can‘t live without?
SE – *Absolute quiet and no disruptions. My writing time is sacred and I guard it fiercely, locking myself in my turret-like office, the world closed away.

*I listen to classical or Celtic music when editing, but for creative writing, I need total silence.

-Can you share with us any highlanders your currently working on?

SE – I’m superstitious about books not yet in print. I will say I’m currently writing Seduction of a Highland Warrior, book three in my new Highland Warriors trilogy for GCP. Seduction’s hero is Alasdair MacDonald who has a strong supporting role in the first two Highland Warrior titles, Sins of a Highland Devil, Jan. 2011, and Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel, Aug. 2011. Of all Highlanders, the MacDonalds are my favorite, so I really love Alasdair.

-What got you started in writing about Highlanders?
SE – I’m of Scottish (Hebridean) descent, so I’ve been in love with Scotland since birth. My passion for the Highlands and Highlanders, especially, has always been there, a part of my life. I can’t imagine ‘not’ writing Highlanders. In fact, I wouldn’t. Nothing else interests me. The words would be just ink on the page if I attempted another genre.

-Can you describe to us your dream highlander?

SE – I love Highlanders for their incredible honor, their fierce love of land and tradition, their bravery and valor, which is unparalleled. I’m drawn to their poetic souls. There’s a storyteller inside them all, a sentimental side that turns the simplest words into a thing of beauty. I love their big, earthy and brawny outer selves and the softness of heart that makes them misty-eyed at the wonder of a Highland sunset. They also have a wonderful sense of humor. When they smile, eyes twinkling, what female wouldn’t melt? And then there’s the kilt and the oh-so-sexy burr, a skirl of pipes…

Croft house on Skye

-Who is your darkest Highlander / Who is your mildest Highlander?
SE – Darkest would probably be Duncan MacKenzie, hero of my first book, Devil In a Kilt, who went on to appear in all the titles of my MacKenzie series. He’s a classic tortured Alpha hero.

Mildest hero would have to be Sir M (see above). Not a Highlander, but he’s close enough as his heart firmly makes him one. He’s my most caring and sage hero, an all-around good man, very kind.

-Can you tell us about your Highlanders twitter style? (140 characters or less)

SE – Proud men of honor whose fierce love of the land is only matched by their devotion to their heroines.

-How do your highlanders differ from others?
SE – I don’t read in my own genre, so can’t answer this. My only exception is Scottish romance by my good friend, Karen Ranney. There are so many authors writing Highlanders these days, yet I’m sure we each write our Highlanders as we see or know them in our hearts.

-Are your highlanders paranormal or just historical, and why did you choose that path?

SE – My Highlanders are medieval. I chose Scotland of the 14th C for my books because that’s the era that most fascinates me. My main interest focuses on the Viking Age through the early 1400s. I believe writers should write what they know and what they love, so my characters hail from this time range.

My heroes are not paranormal, though there are always paranormal threads in my books. Celtic legend and lore, Highland magic, belief in curses, second sight, mythical creatures and such, were all an integral part of life in medieval Scotland and so I enjoy weaving in these elements.

-What would the colors of your Tartan be?
SE – My family’s tartan is a variation of the red MacDonald tartan. For personal taste, I prefer the blue-green tartans. But if I wished to be accurate, according to blood, it’s red.




Extras:
-Where can readers find you? twitter,facebook,etc
SE – website: http://www.welfonder.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SE_Welfonder or @SE_Welfonder


-Do you have a link to your book list?
SE – Printable Booklist: http://welfonder.com/printable-booklist/
Book Info (blurbs, excerpts, extra content): http://welfonder.com/books/


-Do you have a newsletter?
SE – Yes, I do monthly newsletters: http://welfonder.com/mailing-list/

**Would you like to stop by and chat with the commenter's in the comment section?**

SE – Yes, I’ll look in and say hello to everyone who stops by.

 *~* GIVEAWAY *~*

I’ll give away a signed copy of Sins of a Highland Devil

 http://welfonder.com/books/highland-warriors-series/sins-of-a-highland-devil/

*~* I’ll ship anywhere.
International readers welcome *~*

To Enter you MUST:
~ Answer the Question from Sue-Ellen
     ~Yes. Scotland is a land of beautiful castles and cozy cottages. I’d love readers to tell me which they’d choose: castle or cottage? And to make it more interesting, I’d love them to also guess my choice, which I’ll reveal on the night of my visit.

~Comment on Tigris Blog with Guest Spaz! - http://tigriseden.blogspot.com/

Don't miss out on the Team Tigris and Team JoJo Giveaway!

Besure that you have in fact choosen a side! (Vote on right sidebar) Giveaway will be a copy of Either The Highlander or The Pathfinder two great movies! Be sure to comment on both posts and be sure to vote! Participation is KEY!

http://jojosbookcorner.blogspot.com/2011/05/30-days-of-highlanders-day-12-road-that.html

Don't forget to join in the fun with the

Highlander Cover Design Contest!

( remember, as long as you have atleast the paint program, you can do it! )

http://jojosbookcorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/30-days-of-highlanders-day-1-cover.html

~ Don't forget to follow the linky below for ALL the giveaways, and posts! Remember, every comment counts towards the giveaways! Participation is the key!