HIGHLANDER’S HEART Release Party
I am so pleased to announce my second book, THE HIGHLANDER’S HEART is finally being released today! Yay! The crowd goes wild!!
It is wonderful my characters are finally seeing the light of day, so to speak. I enjoy all my characters, but David Campbell comes the closest to a man I might I actually fall for. Is it wrong to admit a small crush on my hero? He is steady, prayerful, and selfless in his concern for the welfare of his clan. He also looks smoking hot in a kilt!
I did a lot of research to find just the right name for my hero. I researched the clan histories and locations to find just the right fit. The powerful Campbell clan, located in Western Scotland, was perfect. Then I had to find a first name. I searched records which listed the names of the clan leaders and high ranking officials in the 14th century. The name ‘David’ was commonly in use, in fact it also was the name of the king of Scots at the time. ‘David’ also seemed to fit well with the surname of Campbell.
All you Freudians will smile knowingly when I confess that it wasn’t until the end of the manuscript, a manuscript that took me almost an entire year to write, that I realized I actually knew a real David Campbell. He was a totally cute boy I was mad about in high school. Hmmm…coincidence?
Did you ever have a “Freudian slip” where you accidently revealed what you really meant, rather than what you meant to say? Do tell!
Comment on this blog for a chance to win a copy of both THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD, and THE HIGHLANDER’S HEART. I’d also love hearing from you on facebook, or twitter.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:39 am
I haven’t done that, but I do try to stay away from names that are used in our family when writing!!! But dh and I are both from big families and it’s becoming harder and harder! LOL.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:39 am
Oh, and I forgot to say…CONGRATS ON THE RELEASE OF HIGHLANDER’S HEART!!!!!!!
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:01 am
Tess – I actually come from a small family so avoiding a name I know shouldn’t be so hard! Good luck with finding the right name for your characters!
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:01 am
Tess – THANKS!!
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am
Congrats on the release of your new Highlander book! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win!
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:18 am
Jennifer – Thanks for stopping by!
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I can’t wait to read your second book, Amanda. I loved the Highlander’s Sword and watched you working on Book #2 at a soccer game last year when I visited Washington state. So glad it is finally finished and released. I’m sure I will love these new scottish characters as much as I did the ones in “Sword”. Thanks for making 14th century Scotland come to life for all of us modern women.
November 2nd, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Diane – so glad you enjoyed highlanders sword – hope you like this new one too. Yes, as a busy mom I have to work wherever I’m at!
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I picked up my copy today and look forward to getting started on it tomorrow.
November 2nd, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Peggy – I hope you will enjoy it!
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:56 pm
No Freudian slip (that I’ll admit to).
But the power of names is amazing. I’ll get inspiration about a name for a character, then look up the meaning of that name and it’s weird how perfectly the meaning matches my hero or heroine. I love it.
Congratulations on your new release, Amanda!
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Laurie – it’s cool when the name matches the character of the person. Sometimes that works for me, but other times I chose a different name because the meaning isn’t quite right. I find naming folks one of the hardest things.
November 3rd, 2011 at 9:05 am
That is too funny! I have a very large family too. And I could picture David Campbell quite well and I agree! He was by far your best hero to date. I imagine him to be quite sexy! Lol! Now if I could get my husband to don a kilt…. Lol! Thanks for another great story. ;0)
November 4th, 2011 at 6:47 am
Congrats on your new book, will have to pick it up soon. As to a name issue, I have done a lot of family research mostly in Scotland and my 2xgreat grandfather was named William and his father was named Michael with a surname of Clarke. I hadn’t talked to a cousin in 15 years and recently was sharing all the family research I had done. And out of the blue my cousine mentions that he and his wife lost a son this past year and that son was named Michael William Clarke. Way to woo woo for me because he had no idea these were family names because no one had used either name in probably three or generations and he knew nothing about the Clarke family. Though they are common names they aren’t usual names for now, with all the designer names.
As one who reads a lot of actual history, i am always impressed with authors who use names of a given period, location or era. The study of the evolution of names is fascinating And your right David was a very popular name even after David II, had his great great nephew David Stewart lived there would have been three King Davids in Scotland by the early 1400’s/
November 4th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Hi Jody! It is strange how certain names just resonate with us – one does have to wonder where that comes from! I do appreciate your take on history – nobody knows better than you!
November 4th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Hi Amanda!
I don’t believe that I’ve ever had a Freudian slip, but I do believe that I would love to win your books!!
JH!
November 7th, 2011 at 8:46 am
I just bought this book so now have to find some time to read it what with all of the cooking I have to do for the holidays.
It sounds like a good one.
November 9th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
And the grand winner is (drum roll please!) Suzan!! You win a copy of both THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD and THE HIGHLANDER’S HEART!! Congratulations!!
April 29th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I probably did have a couple of slips since I was young and didn’t always think before I said something. Took me awhile to learn this.
Your book sounds really interesting . I am always looking for new authors to read. Would love the opportunity to win this one.