Falling in love means tempting fate in this passionate new novel in USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen's Highland Weddings series.
Maggie McCallum's dreams about her new fiancé aren't the romantic sort. It's not just that she was bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property to end a clan feud. She's also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won't let her call it off, even though his life and his clan are both in jeopardy.
Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between their clans, so much the better. But while lusting after another chief's sister had its risks, growing to trust Maggie is far more dangerous. Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim . . . and survive.
USA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane. Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at gaylecallen.com.
Finger Lakes, NY
Public Domain (link)
Gayle joins me for a cozy chat ...
Kim: Central NY - what is your favorite sight, sounds, and smell of the Empire State?
Gayle: We have the beautiful Finger Lakes in Central NY, made long ago by a retreating glacier. I love hiking them in the summer, and snowshoeing in the winter. Our Alaskan Husky Uma appreciates it too! A big event is the NY State Fair, held every year in Syracuse, the center of the state. A million people visit over ten days, and the people-watching is incredible! Not to mention the fried dough, maple ice cream, and so many delicious treats.
Kim: I discovered your books while living in the Netherlands. I remember reading HIS SCANDAL during our summer visit to Budapest. Europe was in the middle of a HEAT WAVE and I was thankful our hotel had A/C. Have you received any funny fan mail from readers around the world?
Gayle: We have the beautiful Finger Lakes in Central NY, made long ago by a retreating glacier. I love hiking them in the summer, and snowshoeing in the winter. Our Alaskan Husky Uma appreciates it too! A big event is the NY State Fair, held every year in Syracuse, the center of the state. A million people visit over ten days, and the people-watching is incredible! Not to mention the fried dough, maple ice cream, and so many delicious treats.
Kim: I discovered your books while living in the Netherlands. I remember reading HIS SCANDAL during our summer visit to Budapest. Europe was in the middle of a HEAT WAVE and I was thankful our hotel had A/C. Have you received any funny fan mail from readers around the world?
Gayle: Thanks so much for relating the cool story about how you first read my books! I have definitely received email from a few different countries, and I enjoyed being the recipient of readers’ kind attempts to write to me in English. I have to say, one of my favorite letters was from a fan in England, who said she lived near a town I’d used as a setting. When she told me I’d gotten the details right, and that she was impressed, I was relieved and thrilled!
Kim: I met you at RWA in NYC enroute to the Avon Cocktail Party. You were so confident navigating the Big Apple! What would Maggie McCallum, the heroine from THE GROOM WEARS PLAID, think of the hustle and bustle of NYC?
Gayle: Oh my gosh, I remember that trip across the city! I owe my confidence to having two daughters who live there. I learn something new every time I visit. As for Maggie McCallum, she may have never traveled farther than Edinburgh, but due to her ability to have dreams that sometimes come true, she’s very open to trying new things. I think she’d be fascinated by NYC!
Kim: I met you at RWA in NYC enroute to the Avon Cocktail Party. You were so confident navigating the Big Apple! What would Maggie McCallum, the heroine from THE GROOM WEARS PLAID, think of the hustle and bustle of NYC?
Gayle: Oh my gosh, I remember that trip across the city! I owe my confidence to having two daughters who live there. I learn something new every time I visit. As for Maggie McCallum, she may have never traveled farther than Edinburgh, but due to her ability to have dreams that sometimes come true, she’s very open to trying new things. I think she’d be fascinated by NYC!
Kim: You have three pen names - Gayle Callen, Julia Latham (Medievals), and Emma Cane (contemporaries) - who do you keep all those muses under control?
Gayle: I consider Julia Latham retired for now, since the market for medievals isn’t what it used to be. So I’ve been going back and forth as Gayle and Emma, writing a historical, then a contemporary, then a historical. It’s really refreshing! Sometimes you’re really exhausted by the end of a book, and switching to a completely different century, with different conflicts between men and women, really gets my creative juices flowing again.
Kim: What's next for Gayle Callen?
Gayle: I consider Julia Latham retired for now, since the market for medievals isn’t what it used to be. So I’ve been going back and forth as Gayle and Emma, writing a historical, then a contemporary, then a historical. It’s really refreshing! Sometimes you’re really exhausted by the end of a book, and switching to a completely different century, with different conflicts between men and women, really gets my creative juices flowing again.
Kim: What's next for Gayle Callen?
Gayle: I’m finishing up an Emma Cane book, the second of my new Fairfield Orchard series, and then it’s right back to the third book in my Highland Weddings historical trilogy. Never a dull moment! Thanks so much for the great interview!
Mahalo, Gayle, for sharing the writer's life with us! I am giving away Scottish swag to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Gayle mentioned ice cream ... what is your favorite flavor? IMine is a twist of chocolate and vanilla. Above is soft ice cream from the Hale Koa Resort on Waikiki (my kids ordred shave ice).
2. Comments are open through Saturday, March 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 13.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
1. Gayle mentioned ice cream ... what is your favorite flavor? IMine is a twist of chocolate and vanilla. Above is soft ice cream from the Hale Koa Resort on Waikiki (my kids ordred shave ice).
2. Comments are open through Saturday, March 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 13.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Book 1 in the series
If having soft ice cream, I usually have the chocolate-vanilla twist unless they have flavors. For regular ice cream, I like Black Raspberry, Butter Pecan, Pralines and Cream, and Maple Bacon.
ReplyDeleteWay too many faves. One is anything cookie dough
ReplyDeleteOne flavor I love is Rocky Road.
ReplyDeleteI like ice cream with caramel and nuts in a sugar cone.
ReplyDeleteI like chocolate chip. It is wonderful stuff.
ReplyDeleteHave this on my TRL now. One of my favorites is Coffee with chocolate sprinkles. In soft serve it's the chocolate.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Kim, thanks so much for the great interview! Ice cream--what a good question, because who doesn't like ice cream? ;)
ReplyDeleteBesides chocolate......any kind of ice cream with chocolate
ReplyDeletechocolate is a favorite.
ReplyDeleteBut I love hand-churned vanilla on a hot summer's day.
Denise
I love Rum raisin, strawberry and coffee flavored ice-creams.
ReplyDeleteLove chocolate, but butter pecan is another favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually a vanilla girl when it comes to soft ice cream and a bit more adventurous with regular ice cream lol.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is peanut butter and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI met Gayle/Emma in NYC, too! :) My favorite ice cream is Heath Bar crunch.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate/chocolate chip ice-cream.
ReplyDeleteChocolate and mint :)
ReplyDeleteCoconut chocolate chip from Graeters! Yum!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a couple - Breyers Black Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chunks + Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia (tho love a good Vanilla Ice Cream on warm apple pie).
ReplyDeleteOh my, that ice cream looks YUMMY!! I love the vanilla chocolate twist. :)
ReplyDeletechocolate
ReplyDeleteAh! Gayle has a husky too! They are great hiking companions. And I hear the Finger Lakes is a great wine area!
ReplyDeleteA local frozen food company, Schwan's, makes the best chocolate marshmallow ripple ice-cream. It takes me back to being a kid and sharing ice-cream with my siblings on hot summer days.