Please join R.L. Syme as she tours virtually for The Runaway Highlander from May 14-June 13.
Anne de Cheyne has a choice. She can play the dutiful daughter and allow her mother to sell her to a greasy English sheriff, or she can take control of her own life and find her own match. After a frightening run-in with her promised husband reveals a dark secret, she makes a desperate choice. Flight.
Aedan Donne needs easy money and no-questions-asked. When Milene de Cheyne offers him enough to pay all debts, requests complete silence, and pays half up front, just for a simple recovery, he can't believe his luck… until he meets his mark. Anne’s beauty and passion ignite something Aedan can’t ignore, even as she leaves him in the dust. Suddenly, he finds himself wanting to capture the runaway Highland lady for himself.
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Series: The Highland Renegades
The
Highland Renegades Series
Book One: The Outcast Highlander
Book
Two: The Runaway Highlander Book
Three: The Pirate Highlander -- Coming
Soon!
Buy the Book
Q&A with R.L. Syme
What are three things people may not know about you?
Hmmm. Great question. People may not
know that I have a Seminary degree and used to be a pastor. They may not know
that I ran my own non-profit for several years. They may not know that I grew
up on a farm that borders Canada.
What has
been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?
My greatest challenge was not knowing how to
trust my own voice. I think it’s been years and years coming (because I had to
get to know my voice, as well), but now when I get certain kinds of feedback, I
just know if it’s going to work for me, or if I need to rewrite it. But I feel
like I finally get my own voice.
What is
your favorite scene in The Runaway
Highlander?
My favorite scene has got to be the one where Anne comes
back to Berwick and there is a big conflict. I had a hard time writing this
scene exactly the way I want it, but once I got it the way I wanted it, I was
very happy with the story. I like what kind of resilience Anne shows in the
face of everything. She is a great character.
Do you share any personality traits with Anne de Cheyne?
I’m
not sure. I’d like to think that I am resilient (which is, I think, my favorite
thing about her). But more than anything else, I think I share her sense of
adventure. She is willing to do new things and withstand change. I do think I
share that with her.
Do you
have to be alone or have quiet to write?
I
rarely write in quiet. Typically, I have everything plotted out so I can write,
and I just write what I already know I want to write. So I generally listen to
music or have the TV on in the background. But I do write in absolute quiet
when I need to really concentrate. Or when I’m editing.
What do
you think about when you are alone in your car?
Books. Plots. Characters. I always try to plot
while I’m driving. There’s something about scenery flying by that inspires me
to create action and adventure in my scenes.
What type of hero do you
like best?
That’s a great question because,
as a general rule, I don’t tend to write alphas. I’m not convinced that I write
betas, either. My heroes tend to be tortured. They have a past that they are
squaring with and they struggle through their life. I do like my heroes to take
charge when necessary, but they’re not great hulking brutes with no nuance.
They’re complex and mysterious to me… and wonderful.
If
you could be any character from literature, who would it be?
That
is such a hard question. There are so many amazing characters from literature
that I would love to be. Today, if I had to pick, I think I would choose Jane
Eyre. Of course, her tortured hero was such a complex, unique man. I love that
she is plain and principled and no-nonsense. She’s smart and she loves a
difficult man.
What
appeals to you most about your chosen genre?
Highlanders,
of course.
The rugged, warrior-like, clannish, protective, single-minded, complex, men of
the mountains. What could be better? :)
How do you feel about
book trailers and do you have any?
I’m
still not sure about book trailers. I’ve seen some really good ones, and some
that really are not worth paying for. Bottom line, anything that gets the hook
of the book across and makes me want to read is good.
What is your favorite movie based on a book, where you
preferred the movie?
North & South by
Elizabeth Gaskell. This is maybe the one instance of a movie just blowing a
book out of the water that I’ve ever seen. The book wasn’t great, but the
movie… oh, the movie! Richard Armitage at his best. If you haven’t seen it, you
must. Right away.
What has been your greatest pleasure in writing The Runaway Highlander?
Probably
finishing it. J It wasn’t the easiest book to write—there are some scenes
in the book that really gave me a run. But when I finished and read it, I knew
that it had been worth the trials. They say write
the book you want to read and I did. :)
What is
your favorite non-writing pastime?
I love to crochet and knit. There’s something so relaxing
about just doing stitch after stitch, and then making something that really
could be worn or used. I love it.
Favorite place?
Disneyland.
Favorite smell?
The outdoors after it
rains.
Favorite dish?
Dublin
coddle. I have a fantastic recipe for this that I give out as a gift for
subscribing to my newsletter. http://rlsyme.com
Dublin coddle is an amazing dish.
Favorite color?
Blue.
Your best trait?
I
think I’m pretty easy-going.
Your worst trait?
I can sometimes be too easy-going. :)
About the Author
R.L. Syme works at a youth theatre,
teaching kids performing arts and musical performance classes/camps when she's
not writing. Otherwise, she's putting her Seminary degree to good use writing
romance novels. Let not all those systematic theology classes go to waste . . . For more information please visit R.L. Syme's website and blog.
You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter,
and Pinterest. Thursday, June 12
Review at Reviews by Molly
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, June 13
Review & Giveaway at To Read or Not to Read
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