30 days of Highlanders: Day 29: Interview with Author Amanda Scott + Giveaway

-Did you get to travel to Scotland or Ireland for any research?
Frequently to Scotland, but not much recently. I love seeing the actual places, especially in the Highlands, where so little has changed. My favorite place is the village of Glenelg above Glen Sheil. A wonderful place. The Scots are wonderful about helping a writer with her research, too. And so are the English. I met a lady at Fyvie Castle, who clearly knew a great deal about the furnishings there. I overheard her wondering to her husband why “they” had not noted below it that it was not original. When he asked her how she could be sure, she replied, “Because we HAVE the original.” I was hooked. I was with my husband, who has much more interest in World War II things in such places than I do, so when I saw the other couple leaving, I followed them to the “car park” and introduced myself. I asked her straight out what she had meant about the picture, and she laughed and said she was a docent at Goodwood House in England. Never one to miss opportunity when I hear it knocking, I asked if I might add her to my list of possible sources. She agreed, and I did write soon afterward asking her about Armada chests. She sent me pictures of one a friend owned, including all sorts of information about the key…all of which is included in Highland Treasure, where an Armada chest key figured prominently.

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