A Highland Pearl by Brenda Taylor Excerpt & Interview

Title: A Highland Pearl
Author: Brenda Taylor
Publisher: Bethabara Press
Pages: 350
Genre: Scottish Historical Romance
Format: Kindle

Purchase at AMAZON

A sweet romance blossoms amidst feuding and war. With her reputation at stake after being accused of practicing witchcraft and hated as a member of a rival clan, Maidie considers leaving Clan Munro and returning to the home of her birth in Clan Cameron. Fierce battles, a tragic encounter, and a handsome clan chief compel her to make crucial decisions in this haunting romance set in the16th century Highlands of Scotland.

Maidie is summoned to Fàrdach Castle of Easter Ross-shire to assist in caring for the wounded of Clan Munro after a battle with Clans MacKenzie and Cameron. She dreads the task since her husband, Kenneth Munro, was killed in an earlier battle. Maidie is a healer, taught by her mother, with the skills and knowledge needed to tend the wounds of Chief Andrew Dubh Munro who is seriously wounded.

People in the castle and those in the village of Drumainn turn against Maidie. Angus, the castle physician, resents her for taking his job in caring for the chief. She is hated by some, because she is a member of the enemy Clan Cameron and came to live in Ferindonald, the Munro lands, with her husband.

Maidie considers returning to the land of her birth in Clan Cameron with her young son, Sven, but falls in love with Andrew while caring for his wounds. Although her neighbors now call her a witch, she wishes to stay in Drumainn because of her love for the chief.

Against an effort to guard his hardened heart from another hurtful encounter with a woman, Andrew falls in love with the tender, caring healer, Maidie. He wants her to stay in Drumainn, but his enemies, the Camerons and MacKenzies, have other plans.

Book Excerpt:

Maidie rode behind the young warrior on a horse galloping toward the castle. She removed one hand from around his trim waist to pull her wrap closer against the biting wind then secured the kertch trying to fly from her head. The old Cameron scarf was the only one she could find before rushing out of the cottage when Tavish pounded on her door. She replaced her hand, trying not to mind his grimy clothes and gamey smell, and held her bag of precious herbs with the other. Tavish guided the horse between several tenant crofters coming and going from the castle.

The wind whistled through large birch and oak trees lining the road. Leaves of gold, red, yellow, and brown rustled in the wind then floated to the ground. Maidie enjoyed the walk to the castle this time of year, when a lass needed a midwife, but today she could not think about the beauty. She looked back at Sven, who rode behind Maighstir Tam, and held to a small leather bag filled with various implements she used in her work. A chill ran through her, not only from the wind, but also from the dread of seeing the terrible wounds of the injured.

They pulled to one side of a wide wooden bridge leading to the outer bailey of Fàrdach Castle to let a wagon pass. Tavish waved to the guard in the barbican as their party entered through the large, steel-studded oak gates, under the portcullis, and into the outer bailey. The bailey teemed with the life of humans and animals. Their various buildings, dwellings, and shelters lined the curtain wall.

Tavish steered his horse dodging roughly dressed people, went through a second gate in the curtain wall, then across a bridged moat to the quieter inner yard. He waved to a guard on the rampart, and guided his horse to the door of the castle’s keep. Stable boys rushed to take the reins of both horses. Tavish quickly dismounted, then helped Maidie to the ground. She held her bag with a firm grip. He then assisted Sven and Tam from their horse. Large green eyes in the ashen face of her wee son searched hers. She patted his small hand and rubbed his mass of red hair. He tried to smile, giving her a small gift of comfort.

“All will be well, Sven,” she said to reassure him. Not since watching his father die from wounds he received in a battle with Clans MacKenzie and Cameron had she seen such fear in her son’s eyes.

“I dinna wish to go inside, Mam.” The boy drew back from her touch.

“You may stay out here then. Just dinna leave the bailey.” Maidie took Sven’s bag then handed both to Tavish. She cupped the small boy’s chin in her fingers and kissed the lined forehead. “Stay close. Mayhap there are other children close by.”

“Yes, Mam. I will.” His half-smile gave her a sense of relief.

“Just stay close.” Maidie turned and walked toward Tavish who held the heavy wooden door open. Tam followed as they entered the great hall of the keep.

Tavish closed the door with a thud. Maidie stood for a moment so her eyes could adjust to the dimness. Light rays from the small upper windows glinted off the weapons, armor, and heraldry displayed on the stone walls. Lifeless eyes in the heads of boar with long tusks and red stags with huge racks of antlers stared at her from above the weapons.

Although a large fireplace with a glowing fire stood on each of the four walls, the air felt cold and damp. The smell of dirt, blood, human waste, and unwashed bodies blended together into a noxious odor causing a revolt in her stomach. She swallowed a rush of nausea with a gulp. Wounded warriors lying atop rush pallets lined the floor. A servant rushed to the maighstir, pulling him toward a blood-soaked pallet where an unconscious man lay.

About the Author

The desire to write historical fiction has long been a passion with Brenda B. Taylor. Since elementary school, she has written stories in her spare time. Brenda earned three degrees: a BSE from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas; a MEd from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; and an EdD from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; then worked as a teacher and administrator in the Texas Public School system. Only after retirement could she fulfill the dream of publication.

Brenda and her husband make their home in beautiful East Texas where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working in Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. She crafts stories about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in her favorite place overlooking bird feeders, bird houses, and a variety of blooming trees and flowers. She sincerely thanks all who purchase and read her books. Her desire is that the message in each book will touch the heart of the reader as it did hers in the writing.

Her latest book is the historical romance, A Highland Pearl.

For More Information

• Visit Brenda Taylor’s website.
• Connect with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Brenda at Goodreads.
• Contact Brenda.

Interview:

Where are you from?

I was born in Louisiana, but now make my home in beautiful East Texas.

Tell us your latest news?

The first novel in a Scottish historical romance series A Highland Pearl, was released the first of December. I am in the process of writing a second novel in the series entitled, A Highland Ruby. The heroines are gems to be treasured by the hero in each story.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing in the third grade with a story about a horse similar to Black Beauty. My desire to write historical fiction followed me for many years through a career as a public school teacher and administrator. After retirement, I started learning the process of fiction writing and published my first novel.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’m not sure I consider myself a writer, now. Although I have written and published four novels, I am still striving to attain recognition as an author in my own mind.

What inspired you to write your first book?

A long-held desire to put my thoughts and ideas on paper and present them to the world inspired me to write that first novella, Heaven Must Wait.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My writing style and voice are my own. Although I read a variety of authors and genres, I only write as myself, in my own style.

How did you come up with the title?

The heroine in each story is a gem to be treasured, so each of the novels in the series carries the name of a valuable stone and is explained within the story.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Each novel carries the message of enduring love and overcoming faith.

How much of the book is realistic?

The entire story is a tale of fiction that could have happened in 16^th century Scotland.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

My ancestors are Munros from Clan Munro located in the Highlands of Scotland. I took the setting from the clan lands of Ferindonald, the Scottish name for the Munro land, and the name of the characters from Clan Munro.

What books have most influenced your life most?

The historical fiction books influenced my life, because they inspired me to write historical romances.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I really don’t have a mentor in the writing field, but admire many authors.

What book are you reading now?

I am reading a sweet historical romance novel by Linda Ford entitled, Lasso My Heart. The story’s setting is in the American west. I enjoy reading historical fiction, especially the sweet romances of all genres.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

The new authors I’ve read and follow are Jessie Clever, Vonda Sinclair, and Sherrie Hansen. Jessie writes regency romances. Vonda writes Scottish historical romances and Sherrie, Scottish contemporary romances.

What are your current projects?

Presently, I am writing the second novel in the Highland Treasures series entitled, A Highland Ruby. The first draft is two-thirds finished.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?

The local writer’s guild is my greatest support outside of family members. They are the primary reason I began putting my thoughts on paper and publishing.

What would you like my readers to know?

I have another series, the Wades of Crawford County, consisting of three books—a novella and two novels. The story settings are post-Civil War Missouri. The theme of each story, as in the Highland tales, is enduring love and overcoming faith. They are about a young couple struggling with the difficulties of 19^th century life during courtship, marriage, and raising a family.