Sunday, March 10, 2019

Guest Author Day with Mageela Troche

Please give a warm welcome as author Mageela Troche drops in the Reading Nook to talk with me about their latest book, Highland Scandal.


Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin writing and why? 
I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing or at the very least conjuring up stories in my head. But I had stop when I was a teenager since I had been discouraged by my teachers. I thought it was a silly dream. Then after college, I was depressed. My fiancĂ© had died and I need a passion in my life and that’s when I returned to writing and decided I would be a published writer.

Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write? 
I love books. But my favorite genre is Historical romance and that is what I write. I prefer a happy ending. There is too much sadness and tension in life. I don’t want to spend my day like that.

Do certain themes and ideas tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you?
I write romance so my theme is Love conquers all. And I truly believe that loving someone and being love can let you accomplish great things. Another theme that I tend to write about is family. Either the family is in danger or plays some part in the character’s conflict or goal because for me, nothing is more important than my family.


How do you balance long-term thinking vs. being nimble in today's market? 
I don’t know if I do that. I just write the stories I love because I know that there are people out there who love a historical romance. Also too, I tend to just focus on myself. So if I’m bored, annoyed or just plain over something, I imagine other people are too.


How do you find readers in today's market?
I’m always working on that. I have a newsletter, social media accounts, a blog and guest post on other blogs. But I’m always open to opportunity. Also too I try not to always be selling my books. Most important though is for me just to be me and share that will people.


Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook?
I generally have characters first and they are usually in a scene then I start building on it, figuring out goals, conflict and motivation.


How do you create your characters?
They come to me. And once I have the Goal, motivation and conflict, I start writing and they develop in the writing.


What's on the top of your TBR pile right now? 
That is a very big pile. But at the top is A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe.

Tell me a little about the characters in Highland Scandal. 
Lachlan Gordon is a man with charm and good looks. His ready smiles and easy jokes hid his heartache. As the bastard son of the Chief Gordon, he knows that he cannot have the woman he loves—Rowan MacKenzie.

Rowen MacKenzie is the daughter of the Chief of MacKenzie. Most people are frightened of her because of her pale blonde hair and skin. They call her banshee and in the superstitious Highlands that has set her apart. She has learned to hide her feelings but Lachlan is the only one who can stir her love.

Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of the story? 
Highland Scandal is set in 13th century Scottish Highlands. In Scottish and Irish folklore, A banshee is a fairy that heralds death with wailing. So that played a part in creating my heroine Rowan. And the setting of Scotland played a part. I wanted the reader to be transported to the medieval Scotland of my characters.

If you had to write your memoir in five words, what would you write?
creative, independent, stubborn, tender and loving

How often does your muse distract you from day to day minutiae?
Very often and I do not mind. My mind is always filled with characters, scenes, settings or emotions.

What do readers have to look forward to in the future from you?
I have a novella The Chieftain’s Secret coming out soon. Also I have my regency, His Lady Charlie being release this year. And I’m working on more novellas.


Highland Scandal
Historical Romance

How long does happily ever after take?


They call her banshee. The taunt has pursued strong-willed Rowen Mackenzie through the glorious Scottish highlands. One man sees beyond the superstition—Lachlan Gordon. This brave highlander is the man she loves but duty requires her to wed another.

Wickedly charming, Lachlan Gordon has loved Rowen Mackenzie since his first glimpse of the ethereal beauty. As bastard of Chief Gordon, Lachlan can never claim her as his own. When his father, Laird Gordon, is murdered, Lachlan becomes the clan chief…too late to marry the woman he loves.

Years later, Rowen is now a widow and mother and her son is in danger. She jeopardizes her life and most importantly, her heart to protect her son. Lachlan is the only man who can help her. For a second chance at love, he must risk all—his clan, his life and his love to win even as secrets threaten their happiness and their very lives.

Will Rowen and Lachlan have their own happily ever after?


Must read for lovers of all things Scottish”—Paranormal Romance and Author’s that Rock

5 Stars—Goodreads Reviewer

The book has it all war, scandals, death and undying love.” —Spunky N Sassy



Excerpt:

Lachlan lingered in the courtyard. He refused to step inside. No doubt, he could find a widow to warm the night with. He just had to stay away from the Great Hall and Rowen. Damn, she was so beautiful sitting upon her horse. She was so near to him. He could have snatched her up and run away. He couldn’t go near her. He kicked at a rock. Why did MacLean have to permit the marriage here? MacKenzie Castle was fitting enough. But the lairdess had to be pregnant. Murray’s lands were just as fitting, but lacked a female touch. Och, weren’t there women in the clan? Such ruminations failed to matter. She was here.
He peered up at the tower. She was in there and tonight he would be also…unless there was an attack or a raid. He prayed for a raid.
Lachlan leaned against the wall. He straightened as Caelen took his spot beside him, as he had countless times before. They watched the castle people stroll by them.
“All is good?” Caelen asked.
“Aye. Your wife?”
“Fat with child again. She wishes for a daughter.” He crossed his bare arms.
“You wish for a son.”
“I know what men do with women.” Castle folk hurried on at Caelen’s scowl.
“This marriage should happen soon.”
“Aye, Father Murray is here. I heard about Father Sullivan.”
Lachlan chuckled. “A skeleton of a man. Why they sent that man—I do not know. He had been here for two days. He stuttered whenever Duncan laid his gaze on him. When he saw me, he looked like he smelled something most foul.”
“Women?”
“Sin, so I guess the daughters of Eve left a certain smell only priest can catch whiff of. He fled in the morning.”
“Did you really chase after him?”
“Aye, he said, ‘you are the devil’. Me and Duncan were standing like this, so I had to find out which one of us he spoke of.” Lachlan chuckled. “I ran beside his animal. He kicked his heels harder, but I stayed alongside him. When I asked him, that poor holy man paled and then reddened. He proclaimed we were both devils. I thanked him and told him I wouldn’t want to lose my reputation.”
Caelen laughed. Lachlan felt a lightness that had been missing since the wedding negotiations began. It was the damn hardest thing to make Caelen laugh.
His laughter cut off at the approaching riders. The Murrays arrived. Lachlan stared at Eacharn riding among his father’s men. Bile rose in his throat and its foul taste filled his mouth. He gulped back the burning spew.
He should hate that man. He was getting to spend the rest of his days with the woman Lachlan loved. But Eacharn, the plump bastard, was a good man. He was always in the center of a fight. He was sharp-minded and loved Lachlan’s humor. Hell, Lachlan admitted it—he liked him. Not that he’d say it to him.
One more thing denied Lachlan. Nay, he was not feeling pity for himself. Never. His temper roared like a hundred Highlanders on a charge. He pushed away from the wall, only realizing Caelen had left him. Halfway out of the courtyard, he turned back. His duty was to stand with MacLean.

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Author Bio

An Air Force brat, Mageela Troche has lived throughout the world then landed in New York City. She wanted to leave the same day she arrived. Yet, with her stubbornness, Mageela learned to like the place and the libraries were the main reason. Since she was a little girl, Mageela wanted to be an author and an actress, however, once in college, she changed her life plan in the pursuit of money. After all, college loans must be repaid.

With life’s twists and turns, she returned to writing and focused on the romance genre. Mageela Troche’s first break came when she sold a short story to a magazine. She sold two more before the publication of her historical romance novel, The Marriage Alliance. She has gone on to write four more novels and a novella.

Mageela is currently writing in the cramped corner of her Big Apple apartment. She is the proud owner of a Black-masked lovebird named Boobula. She loves to hear from her readers and can be found online at MageelaTroche.com



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