One of my favorite things to do is interview authors and today I get to do it again. This time with Becky Banks author of the incredible The Legend of Lady MacLaoch.
First, I want to thank you again for inviting me to be a part of your blog tour. I loved The Legend of Lady MacLaoch so I’m thrilled to be able to feature it.
1) So I have to know what inspired you to write The Legend of Lady MacLaoch?
The idea more or less began during my infamous trip to Scotland in 2009. I had started writing the book before I went, just getting to the part about a woman who goes to Scotland discover a long lost ancestry. The story changed drastically by the time I came back - mainly because the history and the stories associated with various places - most especially a little town called Portree on the isle of Skye. They captured my imagination and I found myself weaving them into the story. It was then that Rowan and his clan lands of Glentree and Castle Laoch were born.
2) Is the Legend of Lady MacLaoch your first novel?
Yes, and no. I’ve got two other manuscripts that I’ve begun and not gotten around to finishing. They are currently stuffed into the proverbial desk drawer. They will some day be finished but with the new story and more being created in my mind, it could be a while. :0)
3) How long did it take you to write?
The first (rough, rough, rough) draft took me just three weeks to complete. When stories come to me, they come fast and intense. It then took me roughly a year to edit and revise to the final version. Quite a quick processes overall.
4) I absolutely loved Rowan. What is your favorite thing about him?
He’s a great guy isn’t he?! And this is also a great question, one I’ve not gotten a lot of feedback on. Let me ask you, what is your favorite thing about him? (I'll be answering this question in my review. Stay tuned!!) For me it’s his quiet observance, and strength in character. The fact that writing him, he was a clan leader but was also human, down to earth and not officious.
5) I'm now a huge fan of your work. Are you working on anything new for your readers?
That makes my heart sing! Thank you! And yes I’ve got a new novel planned for 2012, its working title is The Mechanic. The Mechanic, is very very different from The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, as it is set here in the US and is much more of a gritty love story. The main character is a woman named Eva Rodgers. She’s a businesswoman and a chief editing officer for a large magazine, the man in the story is named Nathaniel Vellanova. Nate is a street-wise European auto mechanic with a brutal past. The grit comes out in strong language, even stronger characters and a storyline that is about fast cars, smart yet tragic youths and intense life changes. Oh, and the bond of it all? Love.
Now just for fun I always like to do a few getting to know you questions...
1) What is your favorite book? And why?
Oh that’s easy, currently for a fiction book it’s Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. This book is tightly written, the story stays interesting to the end, a great strong female lead and witty dialog. I very rarely read books twice and within a day I was already re-reading it.
Note the Kindle version has a few grammatical errors (which I usually loathe) but I was reading so fast I skimmed them without wincing, and that’s saying something. For non-fiction it’s currently Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m an avid gardener and foodie, and this book is the best of both worlds. You feel like you’re involved in all the best parts of food and food consumption with this book and Kingsolver takes a subject that can be very bland to write about and makes it entertaining.
2) And your favorite movie?
Oh my, this one won’t be so easy! Ah, Pride & Prejudice (BBC version) or Ever After or The Long Kiss Goodnight or The Bourne Identity or Thor or . . .
(OMG! These are some of my favorite movies)
3) What 3 things would you absolutely have to have with you on a desert island?
For a second there I thought you said dessert island, and I thought, a spoon. :0)
Three things . . . my initial thought is that I’d not want to be stuck there so a working satellite phone, water, and sunscreen. But then if I can’t leave I’d say, my husband, my pugs, and a fully stocked houseboat. :0)
4) When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
It wasn’t until a fiction writing course in college that I thought I could be a writer. Like most people, my family put emphasis on the sciences and I was encouraged to leave the arts to my hobbies. But as a writer that’s about as easy as telling humpback whales not to migrate to Hawaii every year. It wasn’t until The Legend of Lady MacLaoch was published (yes, that was in May) and I was holding the novel in my hands did it really hit me that being an author was what I was meant to do.
5) Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Oh, I’m a pantser all the way!! My personal belief is that you get more emotional and natural dialog from pantsing. Is it more work? You betcha, but for me even with an outline I just listen to my characters and let ‘em go! :0)
Finally, a lot of my readers are aspiring writers. If you could give them one piece of advice, what would it be?
Well, I’d have to say that the one thing I learned is the more time you spend on a project the better your skill at it becomes. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t also add that no matter how much editing you’ve personally done on your book (if you’d like to become an author) it needs to see a professional editor who specializes in your genre before it’s seen by the public (i.e. - pitched to a publisher, published, printed, etc.). A solid editor is indispensable.
About the Book:
Buy It: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
A legendary love, an unforgiving curse, and the discovery of a lifetime ...
Centuries ago a vengeful curse buried itself deep into the history of the MacLaoch clan and become a legendary tale told by all those not cursed by its words.
In present-day Scotland, the laird and chieftain of the MacLaoch clan is an ex-Royal Air Force fighter pilot who has been past the gates of hell and returned a changed man. Rowan MacLaoch does battle with wartime memories and a family curse that threaten to consume him—unaware that his life and that of the history of the clan will be changed forever by the arrival of an American woman.
Cole Baker, a feisty recent graduate of a master’s program, stumbles upon the ancient curse while researching her bloodlines. Moved by the history of the MacLaoch clan and the mystery of its chief, she digs into the legend that had been anything but quiet for centuries.
On their quest for answers, Cole and Rowan travel to places they have never before been and become witnesses to things they have never before fathomed. The legend—one started with blood—will end with more shed as its creator finally exacts her justice.
About the Author:
Becky Banks grew up in the Maui countryside, where she spent her childhood running through grassy fields, swimming in the ocean, and learning the time-honored local tradition of “talking story.” She moved to mainland after high school to attend Oregon State University, where she studied forestry, natural resources, and science education.
With a keen understanding of human nature and a knack for vivid narrative, Becky’s writing resonates with power, charm, and wit. Her stories will enchant you, and her characters will become an unforgettable part of your life.
Becky lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband Keith.
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And now for the giveaway!!!
I wanted to open this up internationally so the giveaway will be for an e-book in the format of your choice. All you have to do is follow this blog, follow Becky Banks' blog, and fill out the rafflecopter below. Easy, right?! Contest closes 10/1/2011
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