Secrets and love: An interview with historical romance author M.K. McClintock

Today I'm talking again with western historical romance author M.K. McClintock about another book in her Montana Gallagher series, Gallagher's Hope. We discussed the first book in the series, Gallagher's Pride, in March.

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1) Tell us about Gallagher's Hope.


The blurb can do a better job of that than I can.

She sought a new beginning.
He sought what he didn't know was missing.
Together they would discover hope in unlikely places.
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Isabelle Rousseau must escape New Orleans and the memory of her family's tragic loss. With her younger brother in tow, she accepts a position as the new schoolteacher in Briarwood, Montana. Desperate to keep what's left of her family together, Isabelle joins her life with a stranger only to discover that trust and hope go hand in hand.

Gabriel Gallagher lived each day as it came believing he had everything he could possibly want . . . until a determined woman and her brother arrive with a little luggage and a lot of secrets. It will take a drastic choice to protect her and give them both hope for the future.

2) Tell us a bit about your heroine.

Apparently I enjoy writing heroines who have to go through a lot of tragedy and turmoil in order to become who I know they can be. Isabelle is no different. In the beginning she’s just a well-bred woman from the city who has to find the strength to care for her brother on her own. Once she arrives in Montana, she goes through a lot and shows us that she is strong, capable, loving, and able to endure whatever is thrown her way. It takes her a little time to reach that point, but she doesn’t disappoint. I’d also say she’s gentler than the other women in the series.

3) Tell us a bit about your hero.

Gabriel Gallagher. I have a soft spot for this one, though that tends to be true of whichever hero I’m writing at the time. Gabriel is similar to his brother Ethan from Gallagher’s Pride—they’re both strong, chivalrous, devoted to family, loyal, hard-working. In the first book, Gabriel was a bit more laid back. In Gallagher’s Hope, you still see that side of him, but he shows us his darker, human side.

4) What themes underlie the plot of this book?

The usual themes found in both romances and westerns. You see a lot more of the typical western-revenge theme in this one. You’ll also see characters facing inner darkness and overcoming that, faith vs. doubt, love and sacrifice—a lot going on here.

5) Is anything in particular you enjoyed in this book vs. Gallagher's Pride? Was it easier or harder to write this second book in the series?


I can’t say I enjoyed anything more about writing this one better than I did writing the first book. I certainly enjoyed returning to the family and seeing characters from the first book get their own story. I have a fondness for Gabriel, so I was thrilled to write his unique story, but I love the Gallagher family, so it’s difficult to like one more than the other.

Both! It was easier because I already knew most of the characters and so writing them came easily. It was more difficult because I was editing the 2nd edition of Gallagher’s Pride while finishing up Gallagher’s Hope.

6) You've previously noted that you've already planned this series out to the fifth book. The changing leads gives you some flexibility with this, but I'm curious if you ended up changing anything in Gallagher's Hope after completing Gallagher's Pride?

And I still have five books planned, though the fifth book is now completely different than what I originally planned. I did change some of Gallagher’s Hope after completing the 2nd edition of Gallagher’s Pride. The story I mapped out is the same, but the character’s journeys have certainly changed. In addition to new characters, I changed, or should I say added, a major scene. I’m thrilled with the changes.

7) Any overlap with the characters of Gallagher's Pride?

Definitely! Almost all of the characters from the first book have carried over into the second with the Gallagher family of course being at the center. I have introduced a few new characters and I’m excited about how they’ve so easily entered the story.

8) When can we expect the third in the series to be published?

I’d like to say exactly six months, but I won’t be rushing the book. I’m taking the month of August off from writing to help balance out my schedule and then I’ll be back full-force in September. Gallagher’s Choice should be released in the first half of 2013.

Trailer:

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M.K. is also doing a giveaway for three signed paperbacks via this link or you can leave a comment here to be entered:  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks, M.K.

If you would like to read more from M.K., please check her out at:

Website: http://www.mkmcclintock.com

Official Blog: http://mkmcclintock.blogspot.com
Goodreads Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5438837.M_K_McClintock

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/mkmcclintock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MK-McClintock/454576274571336
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MKMcClintockMT or @MKMcClintockMT
Kindlegraph: http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/MKMcClintockMT

Gallagher's Hope can be purchased in physical and eBook form at Amazon.

A Bit of Scotland, A Bit of Montana: An interview with historical romance author MK McClintock

Today I'm talking with MK McClintock about her western historical romance, GALLAGHER'S PRIDE.

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1) Tell us about your book.

Without giving you the standard back-cover blurb…GALLAGHER'S PRIDE is a historical western romance with adventure, some humor and enjoyable characters who are also flawed (yes, you get the happy ending). There is also the revenge element found in true westerns, so it’s a nice combination. Brenna Cameron, our ‘heroine’ is a Scottish lass who finds herself in the wilds of Montana. Ethan Gallagher and his family are respected cattle ranchers who have their own scores to settle. The Gallagher siblings are all educated, hard-working and share the same hatred-a hatred that mirrors Brenna’s, though on a different level and for different reasons. There are some surprises and some laughter throughout the book. You’ll also get death and love, beautiful landscapes and rough land – a lot of elements went into this book.

2) What inspired this book?


I imagine what often inspires readers – write what you want to read. I enjoy a genre that seems to have branched out into a number of sub-genres, but I still wanted to read historical western romances in a more original form. The inspiration behind the story came from my time in Scotland and my life in Montana and a way to combine the two into a genre I enjoy reading.

3) Scotland and Montana are two places that one doesn't typically associate with each other. You mentioned spending time in both places, but is that the main reason why you chose to include both of these places in your story?

Good observation and you’re right, though I do know a few Scottish who have made their way to Montana. I included both simply because I love both places. Scotland is a gloriously beautiful country and the Highlands had a mysterious and wild feel to them. The people I had the pleasure of meeting were kind, hard-working and amazing storytellers. It’s also a country with a fascinating history. Montana is considerably younger than Scotland, but in some ways similar. While in Scotland people I spoke with about my home were fascinated with the American west, still in this day. They asked about cowboys and Indians and the way of life-I think some were disappointed that we lived modern-day lives, but the fascination was still there. What it comes down to is that both places are dear to me and I wanted both to have a home in the story.

4) What's the allure of Scotland? Even people with zero Scottish blood seem enamored of the country.


There is a mystery about Scotland and a deep, sometimes dark history. The castles around almost every corner, the ruins, the royalty, the wars and even movies like Braveheart – all of these elements combine to paint a fascinating image and energy that draws one in. I remember feeling that energy the moment I stepped foot onto Scottish soil. Like so many countries whose history have spanned centuries, there is a sort of magic in the air. Scotland has also been portrayed as not only a barbaric country, but also a romantic one through movies and stories-both are strong elements. I will say that I believe the real Scotland is far more beautiful and interesting than anything portrayed in fiction or on screen.

5) What, for you, defines the perfect romance hero?


Personally, I prefer a hero with flaws. Perfection is overrated, especially in a hero. Yes, the element of a strong, capable character is essential to any hero, but I’d rather have a hero who shows us their less-than-perfect side. He doesn’t get everything right. He might occasionally take a beating and he might even make mistakes-he’s human. I also don’t care for cookie-cutter heroes, meaning the same hero written over and over. I’d rather see a personality, whether charming or gruff, so long as he’s an individual.

6) What defines the perfect romance heroine?

The same elements for the hero, at least in my mind, are essential to the heroine. I do enjoy a heroine who has to be rescued by our hero-that’s a part of the adventure and romance, but she should also be strong of character. I enjoy a heroine who knows her own mind and doesn’t necessarily define her life by the hero but rather allows him to complement who she is as an individual.

7) It's no secret that romance, as a genre, has gotten steadily steamier over the years. Indeed, a few notable romance sites have even stated they are realigning their "heat" scales to better reflect that reality. Others have noted that the rise of certain specific sub-genres, such as the so-called "Bonnet books" (Amish/Mennonite romance) may be a reaction by certain segments of the romance reader population who are disappointed by a lack of cleaner offerings. Can you share your thoughts on all this?

I do agree that romance books have indeed gotten steamier, but at the same time, even erotica was written hundreds of years ago; It’s just become more accessible and more accepted. I’ve also noticed that ‘heat’ scales or content ratings have been placed on blogs that offer reviews (mine included) to warn readers about the level of steamy content. The main problem I see with this, is that one person’s opinion of minor steam content may be completely different from another’s opinion, so it’s not always easy to judge a book by those steamy-meters. The sub-genres have definitely seen a rise, especially Christian-romance sub-genres because some readers want a guarantee of a clean book and they know that certain authors will always deliver that. I do believe that the population of readers looking for cleaner offerings will continue to grow and possibly faster than authors realize.

Personally, I choose a book for the story. If the steamy content isn’t overdone or doesn’t take away from the story, then I generally don’t think much about it. In GALLAGHER'S PRIDE, the scenes are merely implied and that was a personal choice as an author. The other books in the series will be just as clean even though books wouldn’t be considered one of these cleaner sub-genres, because I believe some readers are looking for clean books without the religious element. The good news is that there are enough readers who are either willing to span the entire romance genre, regardless of content, or who prefer a specific sub-genre and have found enough authors who have filled that need.

8) Can you give us a bit of insight into the future of this series?

There are four more books planned for the Montana Gallagher series, each telling the story of another family member. The next book is about the second Gallagher brother, Gabriel, and a woman from New Orleans. The third will be the story of their sister, Eliza Gallagher. I can’t tell more than that without giving too much away. The fourth and fifth books are planned out (covers and all), but again at this point, those stories are being kept under wraps. I will say that the protagonist from the first book doesn’t go away and storylines from the first book are picked up in the others, though each book has a unique romance and a new adventure.

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Thanks for stopping by, MK.

If you'd like to see more from MK, please visit her at http://www.mkmcclintock.com.

GALLAGHER'S PRIDE is available in print and electronic form at Amazon.