Aloha to THE GREAT SCOT BLOG TOUR with Paula Quinn and Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Six hundred and ninety four years ago, on April 6, 1320, Scottish Lords gathered at Arbroath Abbey to sign a declaration of independence: 

...for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

Let's kick off the celebration of Scottish Independence with Forever's THE GREAT SCOUT BLOG TOUR with Paula Quinn and Sue-Ellen Welfonder.    Both are celebrating new releases set in Alba.   Sue-Ellen joins us for a cozy chat about that which symbolizes Scottish independence - castles!

Kim, thank you so much for being a tour host. It’s always a pleasure to be here. I’d like to add a caveat about Scottish castles. There are so many and I love them all! Choosing just five is so difficult. Also, my personal taste runs to wild places and ruins rather than the mega-popular ‘tourist attraction’ castles. But for the sake of today’s appearance and assuming some readers have yet to visit Scotland, I am naming the better-known, must-see castles that I believe every first-time visitor to Scotland should explore 

1) Eilean Donan Castle near Skye. Scotland’s most photographed castle is every bit as romantic as its many pictures indicate. This one should top everyone’s must-visit list. Eilean Donan inspired my popular MacKenzie series which began with DEVIL IN A KILT. That book’s hero, Duncan MacKenzie ‘appeared’ to me there and told me his tale, the entire story coming to me in one great rush. The castle is called Eilean Creag in my MacKenzie series, but anyone visiting the castle will easily recognize the setting. 

2) Edinburgh Castle. The granddaddy of Scottish castles. No trip to Scotland is complete unless you’ve been there. It’s crowded and busy, but the grandeur and history is worth the crush. 

3) Stirling Castle. Another proud edifice that simply must been seen. Like Edinburgh Castle, it’s crammed with tourists and always will be. But for good reason. If you love Scottish history, you can’t miss spending a day here. Stirling is also the setting of TO LOVE A HIGHLANDER. As an aside, if you go, keep an eye out for the pink lady ghost mentioned in TO LOVE A HIGHLANDER. She really exists! 

4) Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. A beautiful and atmospheric ruin, Urquhart is also overrun by tourists, but so special that it should be on every visitor’s itinerary. It is also easily accessible and on one of Scotland’s most scenic tourist routes. Bonus: you might catch a glimpse of Nessie! 

Kim's picture of Urquhart Castle

5) Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven. Another ruin, this time on Scotland’s east coast. Truly magnificent, this ruin is so steeped in dramatic historical events that the very air crackles here. Dunnottar is also not quite as crowded and busy as Urquhart, so it’s a sure-pleaser for those preferring less tourist-jammed sites. If you’re lucky, you might even find less than a handful of other castle explorers when you go. Dunnottar is also very haunted, so watch and listen carefully as you move about its crumbling, cliff-top walls. As a bonus, if you love Sir M from my MacKenzie series, Dunnottar was the setting of his book, BRIDE OF THE BEAST. (I called the castle Dunlaidir in the story) 

Kim's picture of Dunnottar Castle

Thanks again, Kim! And thanks to all readers looking in today. Enjoy Scotland’s many castles (and ruins) if/when you go. My tip is to first see the biggies (those named above are just a few) and then rent a car and take off for the wild places. It is there that Scotland’s past can best be felt.

Kim's picture of Glen Coe

Mahalo, Sue-Ellen, for sharing the top Five Must See Castles in Scotland.  I agree with you ... crumbling ruins inspire my imagination).   

THE SEDUCTION OF MISS AMELIA BELL

Edmund MacGregor will do anything to save Scotland from English rule-even kidnap Lady Amelia Bell for ransom. As the daughter of a duke and the chancellor's betrothed, she's the perfect pawn in this game. But from the moment he first lays eyes on his spirited captive, he can't resist stealing a kiss.

Lady Amelia's duty is to marry well, but that hasn't stopped her from fantasizing about true love. So when a sexy Scot appears in her home, she's beguiled. When he kidnaps her, she's furious. Yet as Edmund introduces her to a world of passion beyond her wildest dreams, can she leave her family behind for this handsome Highlander? And will Edmund risk the only true home he's ever known to capture the heart of this lovely lass?

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About Paula Quinn

New York Times bestselling author Paula Quinn lives in New York with her three beautiful children, three over-protective chihuahuas, and a loud umbrella cockatoo. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings.

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TO LOVE A HIGHLANDER

As one of the bastards born to the Stirling court, Sorley the Hawk has never known his mother or father. It's a burning quest he has devoted himself to uncovering at any cost. But as a roguish warrior who serves at the pleasure of the King, his prowess-both on the battlefield and in his bedchamber-is legendary. So when a flame-haired Highland lass sneaks into his quarters with a tantalizing proposition, he can't resist taking her up on her offer .

Lady Mirabelle MacLaren will do anything to keep from marrying her odious suitor, even sully her own good name. And who better to despoil her than his sworn enemy, the one they call "Hawk?" As they set about the enjoyable task of ruining her reputation, Hawk and Mirabelle soon learn that rebellion never tasted so sweet.

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About Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Sue-Ellen Welfonder is a Scotophile whose burning wish to make frequent trips to the land of her dreams led her to a twenty-year career with the airlines.

Now a full-time writer, she's quick to admit that she much prefers wielding a pen to pushing tea and coffee. She makes annual visits to Scotland, insisting they are a necessity, as each trip gives her inspiration for new books.

Proud of her own Hebridean ancestry, she belongs to two clan societies: the MacFie Clan Society and the Clan MacAlpine Society. In addition to Scotland, her greatest passions are medieval history, the paranormal, and dogs. She never watches television, loves haggis, and writes at a 450-year-old desk that once stood in a Bavarian castle.

Sue-Ellen is married and currently resides with her husband and Jack Russell terrier in Florida.

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