December, 07 2007 Interview with Deborah MacGillivray 1) Did you always want to be a writer? I did, just didn't know what I wanted to write. My grandfather envisioned me as a non-fiction historian. My mum saw me as the next Harper Lee. I loved to write when the story meant something to me, i.e. romance. LoL. Of course, when I first began writing there was no real romance categetory. There was women's fiction, historical fiction, Glitz & Glamour and series books. I tried writing mysteries, but the romance always took over. Finally, what I wanted to pen found a home as the romance market was born. 2) Was your family supportive of this? Very. I only cook when I want. I haven't washed a dish in two years! The washing is done. So a lot of everyday chores are taken from me so I have more time to write. I think in some ways they don't understand the business, but they always support me by giving me the space and time I need. 3) How long did it take you to finish your first novel? I never finished one for so long. I would do about 3/4s of a book and stop and start another novel. I think I really needed that deadline before me. When I sold my first novel to Kensington, I had written it over 10 years before, but hadn't finished. I had started a rewrite to make it less historical fiction and more historical romance, but was only about half done. I had to do the second half of the book in three weeks after I sold it. 4) Were you agented from the start, or did it take you some time? I was agented from the start, once I made a serious determination to be published, though I have since dropped the agent. However, my first sale came from my husband and uncle sending to Hilary Sares at Kensington. My agent at the time was having trouble selling a historical. She submitted to one editor at Kensington, but he turned down my proposal. I knew Hilary Sares would buy it, but the agent refused to submit to Sares since she already submitted to another editor. I was at wits end. So my husband and uncles--after listening to me rant for an hour-- waited until I went to bed and printed off 100 pages and sent it to Sares in my name. She got it on Monday morning and called immediately with the offer. 5) Where does your preference for Scotland come from? I write from what I know and love, whether it's Scotland, England, Virginia or Kentucky. My grandfather envisioned me reaching the level of historian that he was never able to achieve, so I was listening to tales of William Wallace, James Douglas, Robert the Bruce, and Andrew de Moray instead of faerytales as a kid. Since I was raised half of the year in the US, I think Scotland was always that magical place I went to on holidays and summers. I was always dreaming about these places so close to the past. Medieval Scotland just seems too real to me. When I was helping my grandfather restore damaged and missing parts of the family history, I came across the tale of the English warrior and a Scottish lady--my ancestors. I became obsessed with the complexities of the relationship--two countries warring, clashes of culture and religion. It just seemed to have all the perfect ingredients for a great historical romance. 6) How was your first novel received? Very well. It's in its second print already. I must have some seventy-five 5 star reviews. It's one of the highest selling Debut books for Kensington's Debut line, and has been sold to a top German publisher to be translated there. I don't think I could have asked for a better reception for A Restless Knight. 7) Can you handle criticism well? Fair criticism? Yes. It's what makes you grow as a writer. What I don't like is someone telling me this is wrong or that is wrong, when they have little idea what they are talking about. People often react to a lot of factors in a book, that really has nothing to do with the story you are telling. It colours their perception of the story, gives them prejudices. 8) How important are the readers to you? Very. I love hearing from them. I try to answer all MySpace messages, emails and letters as soon as they come in. If a reader takes the time to write to me, then I think they deserve a reply. I enjoy hearing what works for them, why they liked my stories. 9) Do you visit the places you describe in your books? Yes, and no. All the places I write about are my world-building, fashioned from pieces of real places. As someone familiar with Scotland, I have a problem as a reader with stories where world-building is on real places. Someone sets a book in Eileen Donan, Dunnotar, Dunvegan...I know their history. I know the plot they are telling could never have happened. It takes me out of the story. Some writers have the wrong clans in the castles, and things happening to the castle, when I know something else entirely was happening at that point. It's hard for me to fully enter their world of their book and believe it. Thus, I take places and build my own world. It's easier for someone to come to my Glen Shane and not have to worry about it clashing with real history. The historical time line works within the story. I worked up a very details time line listing day by day the whereabout of Edward Longshanks, Robert the Bruce, Edward de Moray etc. with anything going on that was of importance on that day. Thus I have a solid foundation to build upon, yet won't have anything that could pull you out of the story. 10) Who are your favourite authors - what books do you like to read? Lynsay Sands, Dawn Thompson, Leanne Burroughs, Maggie Davis aka Katherine Deauxville, Colleen Thompson, Rowena Cherry, Cynthia Breeding, Heather Grothaus, Nina Bangs, and Barbara Pierce. I love to read any good story, that has vivid characters. Make me love your hero and I am hooked. I love non-fiction for my own reading. Well-written historical books always absorb me. Interested? Come and visit Deborah's homepage at www.deborahmacgillivray.co.uk and get to know the author and her work.