Heather McCollum Writes Highlander Romances
USA Today bestselling author, Heather McCollum, is here today to share about her writing life, her inspirations, and her newest Highlander novel.
Welcome, Heather. Why did you become a writer?
I grew up reading, walking through the halls between classes in my high school with a book in front of my face. I wrote stories and poetry, but instead of majoring in English or creative writing in college, I earned a biology degree. I went on to graduate school for cellular immunology, but the stories whirling in my head wouldn’t cease. I’d come home after working in the lab and type on my first book. Even when I left the lab to work for a drug development company managing clinical trials, I would still come home to create characters and worlds in 16th century Scotland.
I write to fill my well, to take history and create stories within it, and to reach that “high” I get when a scene comes together perfectly. I finally realized my dream by getting published in 2010 and began to write full time. Doing anything else now seems impossible.
What do you do when you are not writing?
Always first, I’m a mom of three kids (ages 16, 22, and 24) and spend time making sure they are well even though two are out of the house. I love to bake things I see on The Great British Baking Show, host tea parties, and decorate my planner with stickers. I am also an ovarian cancer survivor and work to educate women on this stealthy, vicious disease. I’m a part of Survivors Teaching Students, an organization across the US where we, OC survivors, go into medical schools to give our stories to resident doctors. Our goal is to put a face to the disease so young doctors can be more aware of what to look for in their future patients.
What are some of your favorite things?
I love dragonflies. They’ve been around since the days of the dinosaurs, yet they are so delicate. To me, they represent women: Fragile in form but resilient in spirit. I also love hot chai tea lattes, ancient Scottish castles, eating popcorn with my rescued golden retriever on Friday nights, and listening to mysteries set in the 1920s with feisty sleuthing heroines.
Do your travels influence your writing?
Absolutely! I traveled throughout northeast Scotland last June. Smelling the fresh rain across the moors, seeing the vibrant greens, and hearing the wind whipping around the edges of 16th century castle ruins helps me bring a vibrancy to my stories. Without traveling there, writing would be much harder for me.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
I have books in three different Scottish historical romance series coming out this year and a new series starting in 2024. So, I’m always dreaming, writing, and editing.
Book #3 in my Queen’s Highlanders series: THE HIGHLANDER & THE COUNTERFIET QUEEN releases 5/13/23 on Kindle.
Book #4 in my Brothers of Wolf Isle series: THE HIGHLANDER’S SECRET AVENGER releases in August on all platforms.
Book #5 in my Sons of Sinclair series: HIGHLAND SURRENDER releases this fall on all platforms.
I have also gotten the rights back on my historical paranormal series, THE DRAGONFLY CHRONICLES, and will be re-releasing them under a pen name later this year. So keep an eye out for books by Eleri Drake.
Highland Beast
by Heather McCollum
Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand—and sword—of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…
Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met—nay, kissed—only days before.
But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.
Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is STANDALONE:
* Highland Conquest
* Highland Warrior
* Highland Justice
* Highland Beast
Available from:
AMAZON | APPLE | B&N | GOOGLE | KOBO | BOOKS_A_MILLION
Heather McCollum is an USA Today Bestselling Author of 16th and 17th century Scottish romances. Brawny Highlanders and feisty heroines are her favorites!
The rugged beauty and rich history of Great Britain captivates Ms. McCollum each time she visits. The country’s history and landscape have been a backdrop for her stories since her very first book.
When she is not dreaming up adventures and conflict for brawny Highlanders and feisty heroines, she spends her time educating women on the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. She is a survivor and resides with her very own Highland hero and three spirited children in the wilds of suburbia on the mid-Atlantic coast.
More information about Ms. McCollum and her books can be found at www.HeatherMcCollum.com.
Thanks for the interview, I love Heather’s Highlanders books! And that man… Definitely no beast, with the most kissable mouth ever!