Lane McFarland
Thank you so much for having me today!
Tell us a little about you and your new book.
I am a southern girl living on top of a mountain in North Georgia, and I write historical romance, spanning the early Middle Ages through the American Civil War. While my books are fiction, each one is based on historical facts, and you will often see known figures such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, or The Red Comyn make guest appearances. All my books revolve around human struggles, sacrifices survivors are forced to make, and their resilience to live and thrive.
My THE TURNBERRY LEGACY series begins in October 1301, a time of unrest between Scotland and England. It has been such fun to research this period and imagine living amongst the clans. Here is a little about the series and the first book:
The Turnberry Legacy Series
At the turn of the fourteenth century, danger abounds with Scotland’s leadership in flux. Amidst rumors of King Edward reinstating John Balliol to the throne, Robert the Bruce commands his most trusted men to resurrect The Turnberry Bond, a pact specifying loyal Scots and Irish nobles band together in resistance against all adversaries. Follow the rebel warriors fighting for the rightful king of Scotland and their struggle with honor and love as their lives become intertwined with the brave women who challenge them.
To Support a King ~ Book One
Plagued by atrocities he committed against innocent victims while pursuing his father’s killers, Laird Mangus MacAndrew pledged to defend and provide for his clan. But his leadership is tested when two of his ships are attacked and his crews massacred. Desperate to fulfill his obligation to protect the clan, Mangus agrees to help reinstate The Turnberry Bond. His mission—garner support for the Bruce and avenge the deaths of his men.
The MacAndrew clan provides Catriona Butler something her Irish home could not, a safe haven. But when she receives a missive her brother is imprisoned and will be executed unless acceptable éraic can be obtained, she must return to her homeland.
Mangus agrees to take Catriona to Ireland and vows she will not become a distraction, but he longs to be near her. Catriona witnesses Mangus’s fierce anger and grows distrustful. After a life of suffering her father’s vicious temper, she is skeptical of anyone with a penchant for violence. She attempts to keep her distance, but her traitorous heart pulls her in Mangus’s direction.
With the fate of the kingdom on his shoulders, will Mangus reunite the men of The Turnberry Bond? Can he pursue vengeance against his enemies without taking more innocent lives? And can Catriona free her brother and grow to trust Mangus, staying true to her heart?
How about an Excerpt from TO SUPPORT A KING?
A man stepped from the path.
Pulse pounding, she froze.
He advanced into the clearing. It was Laird MacAndrew. Relief poured over her. She would recognize the strapping man anywhere. He had been away for long periods of time when she’d first arrived. Morna said he took care of Scotland’s business, which left Catriona pondering a hidden meaning. Upon her friend’s whispered hints, she suspected he played a secretive role in the rebellion.
The laird strode toward her. A dark cloak covered his broad shoulders and fell to the top of his brown boots. Gray breeches hugged his lean hips and molded to his muscular thighs. Leather straps crossed his chest and a sheathed dagger dangled from a belt around his waist. As he drew near, his blue eyes narrowed into a scowl.
What had she done to deserve his glower? He stopped within feet of her, crossed his brawny arms, and glared down at her. “Do ye make it a habit to leave yerself open to danger?”
“I…I beg yer pardon?” She stammered like a fool and hated the way her voice shook.
The wind tousled his thick black hair. “Are ye daft, lass? Ye are at the mercy of any man who comes across yer path.”
With worry for her brother heavy on her heart, Laird MacAndrew’s menacing demeanor infuriated her. She fingered the sharp blade hidden within the folds of her skirt. Her chin rose. “I am armed and wouldnae hesitate to defend myself.”
He advanced so close she discerned gray wisps in his otherwise dark beard and mustache. “Is that right?” A whiff of wine drifted off his breath.
She wobbled back. Her legs scraped against the boulder as she extracted the small dagger. “As ye can see, I keep it nearby in case I need it.”
In a flash, he grabbed her wrist and with a twist, effortlessly seized her weapon. “Ye’re more likely to hurt yerself with it, or at the verrae least, give yer aggressor a knife.”
Intense frustration sprang forth along with the tears welling in her eyes. “Ye’ve made yer point.”
“Have I?” He dragged her up against his hard body. She gasped, her palms splaying over his brawny chest. “Ye donnae seem to take my point seriously. A man could easily take what he wanted, and ye’d have little to say about it.”
She pushed against the solid wall of his torso. “Unhand me.”
“Yer father entrusted ye to my care. I willnae have ye recklessly jeopardizing yer safety.”
Laird MacAndrew held her so tight she could scarcely move. “I said, ye made yer point. What more do ye want?”
His head tilted slightly. “Ye know what I want, lass.”
~~~
What are you working on now? Do you have any other releases scheduled for this year?
Now that I finished To Support A King, I’m writing the second book in the series, A King’s Enemies. I hope to release that story late fall of this year.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I love to research the period from what was going on during that time to what foods people ate, the clothes they wore, the pastimes they enjoyed. As a matter of fact, I can get lost reading about that era and have to limit the time I spend absorbed in history.
Where do you start when writing? Are you a pantser or plotter?
I could never be a panster! I admire authors who can write by the seat of their pants, but I always outline my book’s flow. I start at a high-level and then fill in a bit of detail, but not too much as my characters sort of take care of that part as I write. By the time I have the storyline down and my characters defined, I start writing.
Do you have a favorite time of day for writing?
I enjoy writing at most any time, but my daytime job often gets in the way. So, I write a good bit before I go to bed and then edit what I wrote early in the morning. I also write after work, on weekends and any time I can find a few minutes.
What do you like to read?
I like most any kind of romance novel, but my heart has always been drawn to the medieval period, particularly in Scotland, Ireland, and England. Escaping into a world of brawny Highland warriors and feisty lasses as they fight for independence and stories of daring pirates, raiding Vikings, and valiant knights, transport me to an era filled with strife and hardships only to be overcome by everlasting love.
Where can readers find you?
I love to hear from readers! Here is my email address: mcfarland.lane@gmail.com
Website: http://lanemcfarland.com
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/LaneMcFarlandAuthor
Twitter: @LaneMcFarland
Where can readers find your books? Here is my author page. You’ll find my books listed on Amazon.
Thank you for having me!
Social
Thank you for hosting me today, Kate!
Thank you for being a guest, Lane!