Today is release day for Veronica Wolff’sDEVIL’S HIGHLANDER! And yes, she’s celebrating it with us (at least partly) here on the blog. Please extend a warm welcome to Veronica.
Veronica, welcome to The Season Blog and congratulations on DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER not just being an August Top Pick, but your hero, Cormac, for being chosen a Hero to Die For! Can you tell us a bit about DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER, the first book in your Clan MacAlpin series?
Thanks for having me, Beverly! I’m a big fan of The Season, and was thrilled that Cormac was voted To Die For!
My Clan MacAlpin series follows a family of orphans in the 1660s, after the Civil Wars have ravaged Scotland. These devilish Highlanders run wild, without parents or other family, steeped in secrets and tragedy, claiming castle ruins as their home. Think Party of Five with claymores.
DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER is Cormac MacAlpin’s story. He and Marjorie were ten—the best of friends and only just beginning to wonder at the fascination each felt for the other—when, because of a childish prank, Cormac’s twin Aidan was kidnapped. Blaming themselves, their friendship was shattered.
Years later, another boy is taken, and Marjorie begs help from the only man she knows who’ll understand: Cormac. Now a war hero, Cormac treasures his solitude and wants nothing to do with an incident that can only bring fresh pain. But he and Marjorie find they are still drawn to each other, only this time they’re adults, with needs too powerful to deny.
What do you find appealing about writing about Scottish Highlanders and that time in Great Britain’s history?
The stakes were high, tremendous courage was demanded of both men and women, and unfathomable personal sacrifice was the order of the day. An irresistible cocktail for any storyteller!
If Cormac was transported to the 21st century what occupation would be best suited for him.
Oooh, this is a toughie. I think a modern Cormac would have an illustrious career in the Special Forces then retire to a lonely, windswept, rocky Scottish shore.
The next book in the series, THE DEVIL’S OWN, is due out April 2011. Can you tell us a little about it?
Not without giving book one plot spoilers! Suffice it to say, you get to know more of the MacAlpin siblings. I will tell you about my heroine—I adore her. She’s a stammering and bookish farm girl, thrust together with the most Alpha of men.
You state that your father was in the Navy so you moved around quite a bit. Out of all the places you’ve lived, which was your favourite?
Hawaii, hands down. I was just in elementary school at the time, but our four years on the military base on Oahu ingrained in me a lifelong passion for flip-flops and
living by the ocean. There was something special about everywhere we lived, though, and I have particularly dear spots in my heart for the south (we lived in Charleston, then my parents later moved to New Orleans) and for the Washington, DC area.
They share a haunting past…and an unspoken passion.
After Scotland’s Civil Wars, the orphaned brothers and sisters of the MacAlpin clan reclaimed the abandoned Dunnottar Castle as their birthright. Hardened in battle and haunted by family secrets, these fiery Highlanders must rely on each other as they right the wrongs of their troubled history.
Before she can give herself to him, he must forgive himself.
Cormac MacAlpin lost his innocence too young—he’s always blamed himself for the kidnapping of his twin brother, Aidan. He turned away from his childhood friend, Marjorie Keith, denying the prospect of happiness with the young woman who loved him.
**Click cover to read the review.
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Can you tell us about “The Call” and your first published novel?
I don’t have a dramatic “call” story like you hear from other authors. I do have a funny one about my serendipitous road to publishing, though. Back in 2006, I found out about a “Pitchapalooza” being held at the San Francisco main library. Brainchild of Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, authors of Putting Your Passion into Print, the Pitchapalooza gave anyone off the street sixty seconds to pitch their book to a panel of publishing professionals.
I was a stay-at-home mom with two tiny preschoolers, but thanks to my husband’s encouragement, I went MacGyver on my closet and cobbled together some relatively presentable, unstained “adult” clothes and headed downtown. I pitched my book, then followed up with an email to Arielle, who is an agent. She forwarded my email to her colleague Stephanie Rostan at Levine Greenberg, who happened to be a fan of Scottish time travel. Steph is a wonderful agent, and everything moved quickly from there. It was a great bit of good fortune, and I’m thankful the stars aligned as they did.
October 2011 will see the release of your new YA series, which you state as being pitched as La Femme Nikita meets Mean Girls. Can you tell us anything about it?
Yes—I am SO excited about it! The series is called “The Watchers.” Girls who are outcasts from society (like gang girls, runaways, etc.) find themselves seduced onto a bleak and faraway isle where they undergo rigorous training, studying everything from languages, to computer hacking, to ballroom dancing, to the tidiest way to kill an armed attacker. Only the best survive to become Watchers, an elite group acting as emissaries, guards, agents, and sometimes assassins for an ancient coven of vampires.
Each book will be told in the point of view of a very kick-ass, very smart young woman named Annelise Drew. The first installment, ISLE OF NIGHT, hits shelves in the Fall 2011, and I can’t wait. I’m practically exploding to see the cover they’ll come up with!
You’re writing historical romances and YA novels, are there any other genres that will have a space on your author’s bookshelf?
I grew up reading Fantasy, and though I’ve never tried my hand at it, I’ve told myself that years from now, for my sixtieth birthday, I’m going to let myself stop everything for a couple of years to work on a massive fantasy epic. Otherwise, I never say never to anything. I could wake up tomorrow wanting to write post-apocalyptic zombie horror or a good, rollicking Regency. And honestly, both are likely in my lifetime.
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Please feel free to ask Veronica anything. Okay, maybe not anything, but you know, stuff about her writing and her books. 😉 Veronica is also giving away a signed copy of DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER to a lucky commenter.
40 Replies to “Interview: Veronica Wolff ~ Devil’s Highlander”
Veronica,
Your book sounds absolutely yummy!
Thanks for a chance to win!
Chris Mead
Highlanders, my favorite. Sounds like this will be a series I’ll want to follow. Scotland has had such a troubled history. It made the people strong and resilient. Just checked your website. I didn’t know you did time travel books. Goody, another favorite and combined with the first. What more could I want? Will be looking for them.
Good luck with the release of DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER. I can’t wait to read it.
It looks like a wonderful story. I would love to win it.
Your book sounds fabulous and a great start to a new series — love highlanders! and a whole family of them, even better 🙂 Congrats on the release and thanks for the chance to win.
Veronica….I just have to say that your stories are fantastic! Love, love, love those highlanders!! I’m lucky to have two of your ARC’s and will never part with them!
Here’s wishing you continued success!!
Slainte!
This book has been on my to-read list since I read the promo here on The Seasons website, I can’t wait to to pick up Devil’s Highlander.
Enjoyed reading the comments. The book sounds really good and I have added it to my TBR list.
I read one of your books and I like the way you write. Can’t wait to read this one.
I have a huge weakness for Highlanders and Cormac sounds great. This seems like a story that I would love to read.
I love a highlander. And I read the last Hero to Die For (The Irish Warrior) and couldn’t agree more. Pick me for this one!
Just looking at the cover makes me want to read the book.
This book sounds really good. Great interview!!
Bookish heroine with alpha male? I’m so there! 😀
I agree with Julie. I want to read a bookish heroine with an alpha hero.
Thanks everyone for the warm, wonderful welcome!!! 🙂 Does anyone have any questions that didn’t get asked in the interview? I’ll be popping in through the day, and would be happy to answer!
Really great interview adding to my tbr!
The books sounds really good and interesting. It is definitely on my to read shelf. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Veronica Wolff is a new author for me, and Devil’s Highlander sounds like a great read, so thanks for introducing her to your readers!
Your books sounds fabulous!!! I would LOVE to win it!! I just LOVE Highlander books!!!
This book sounds like a keeper! Please enter me in the drawing to a win a copy.
I do enjoy highlanders and would love to win.
I love your Highlanders Veronica. They are my # 1 choice in Heroes. Love those kilts as well. How many books are planned for this series ? This is on my TRL.
Carol L. Lucky4750@aol.com
Count me in too! New author to me , would be great to check her out!
Nice interview !! If i had to go from place to place with a military father, I think hawaii would be my favorite ‘station’ too!
I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this series. ^_^
I’m excited about your YA series as well; it sounds right up my alley. ^_^
^_^
TL
Thanks! Carol, there are five siblings–plus the inevitable Highland kin that’ll spring from the heather. 😉 So there’s the opportunity for *plenty* of books!
Thanks for the interview Veronica. The book sounds great. Best of luck (sales-wise) with it!
You are a new to me author but anything with Highlander in the title definitely sparks my interest 🙂
Do your YA books feature a romance or is it mainly about the female protagonists and this Watchers group?
ISLE OF NIGHT will have a long-term love story that I plan to tease out painfully slowly (*g*), with minor-but-intense love interests occurring in the different books. To say any more will spoil it. But, suffice it to say, I am a romance author at heart. 😉
p.s. If you’re interested in my young adult series (or any of my other books), be sure to sign up for my newsletter at http://veronicawolff.com — I only send it when I have a new book out, and you’ll be notified when ISLE OF NIGHT hits the shelves.
Veronica, you are a new-to-me author and read one of your books a few months ago. Gotta love those alpha Highlanders! Your new book sounds great!
I love Highlanders! The book sounds like a great read.
I enjoyed the post and look forward in reading this.
I love highlanders! Love your book cover~yum!! Cannot wait to read it.
Hi Veronica,
I loved reading your interview with Bev. Your new book DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER sounds and looks fantastic! So does it’s follow-up, THE DEVIL’S OWN. I love bookish heroines also! How wonderful for you to have lived in Hawaii, right by the ocean! And New Orleans! Since you’ve lived in so many beautiful places, do you think you will ever use them as a location in one of your upcoming books?
Good luck with your new release! 🙂
Devil’s Highlander sounds fantastic! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Your books sounds wonderful 🙂
ooh, good question, Sandra! You know, I actually don’t think I’ll use any of the places I’ve lived as a setting. I think ultimately I write about the places I do because I like to imagine what it’d be like to live there. The magic of the not-knowing and the imagining keeps it fresh for me. But I sure do love to visit! Monica McCarty is my travel buddy, and we’re planning our second Scotland trip this September (we like to call it the “Mommy Abandonment Tour”–LOL!).
Well, thanks again, everyone! What a wonderful and gracious welcome you’ve given me. 🙂 I’ll let Bev have the honor of announcing our winner. I wish I could send a copy to each and every one of you!!
Congrats on your new release! I love your Highlanders! And I can’t wait to read the YA series!
Thanks, Cories! I can’t wait till it’s out!
Sounds great! I love Highlanders too. It’s my favorite genre.
Veronica, welcome to The Season Blog and congratulations on DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER not just being an August Top Pick, but your hero, Cormac, for being chosen a Hero to Die For! Can you tell us a bit about DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER, the first book in your Clan MacAlpin series?
Devil’s Highlander
Veronica,
Your book sounds absolutely yummy!
Thanks for a chance to win!
Chris Mead
Highlanders, my favorite. Sounds like this will be a series I’ll want to follow. Scotland has had such a troubled history. It made the people strong and resilient. Just checked your website. I didn’t know you did time travel books. Goody, another favorite and combined with the first. What more could I want? Will be looking for them.
Good luck with the release of DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER. I can’t wait to read it.
It looks like a wonderful story. I would love to win it.
Your book sounds fabulous and a great start to a new series — love highlanders! and a whole family of them, even better 🙂 Congrats on the release and thanks for the chance to win.
Veronica….I just have to say that your stories are fantastic! Love, love, love those highlanders!! I’m lucky to have two of your ARC’s and will never part with them!
Here’s wishing you continued success!!
Slainte!
This book has been on my to-read list since I read the promo here on The Seasons website, I can’t wait to to pick up Devil’s Highlander.
Enjoyed reading the comments. The book sounds really good and I have added it to my TBR list.
I read one of your books and I like the way you write. Can’t wait to read this one.
I have a huge weakness for Highlanders and Cormac sounds great. This seems like a story that I would love to read.
I love a highlander. And I read the last Hero to Die For (The Irish Warrior) and couldn’t agree more. Pick me for this one!
Just looking at the cover makes me want to read the book.
This book sounds really good. Great interview!!
Bookish heroine with alpha male? I’m so there! 😀
I agree with Julie. I want to read a bookish heroine with an alpha hero.
Thanks everyone for the warm, wonderful welcome!!! 🙂 Does anyone have any questions that didn’t get asked in the interview? I’ll be popping in through the day, and would be happy to answer!
Really great interview adding to my tbr!
The books sounds really good and interesting. It is definitely on my to read shelf. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Veronica Wolff is a new author for me, and Devil’s Highlander sounds like a great read, so thanks for introducing her to your readers!
Your books sounds fabulous!!! I would LOVE to win it!! I just LOVE Highlander books!!!
This book sounds like a keeper! Please enter me in the drawing to a win a copy.
I do enjoy highlanders and would love to win.
I love your Highlanders Veronica. They are my # 1 choice in Heroes. Love those kilts as well. How many books are planned for this series ? This is on my TRL.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Count me in too! New author to me , would be great to check her out!
Nice interview !! If i had to go from place to place with a military father, I think hawaii would be my favorite ‘station’ too!
I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this series. ^_^
I’m excited about your YA series as well; it sounds right up my alley. ^_^
^_^
TL
Thanks! Carol, there are five siblings–plus the inevitable Highland kin that’ll spring from the heather. 😉 So there’s the opportunity for *plenty* of books!
Thanks for the interview Veronica. The book sounds great. Best of luck (sales-wise) with it!
You are a new to me author but anything with Highlander in the title definitely sparks my interest 🙂
Do your YA books feature a romance or is it mainly about the female protagonists and this Watchers group?
ISLE OF NIGHT will have a long-term love story that I plan to tease out painfully slowly (*g*), with minor-but-intense love interests occurring in the different books. To say any more will spoil it. But, suffice it to say, I am a romance author at heart. 😉
p.s. If you’re interested in my young adult series (or any of my other books), be sure to sign up for my newsletter at http://veronicawolff.com — I only send it when I have a new book out, and you’ll be notified when ISLE OF NIGHT hits the shelves.
Veronica, you are a new-to-me author and read one of your books a few months ago. Gotta love those alpha Highlanders! Your new book sounds great!
I love Highlanders! The book sounds like a great read.
I enjoyed the post and look forward in reading this.
I love highlanders! Love your book cover~yum!! Cannot wait to read it.
Hi Veronica,
I loved reading your interview with Bev. Your new book DEVIL’S HIGHLANDER sounds and looks fantastic! So does it’s follow-up, THE DEVIL’S OWN. I love bookish heroines also! How wonderful for you to have lived in Hawaii, right by the ocean! And New Orleans! Since you’ve lived in so many beautiful places, do you think you will ever use them as a location in one of your upcoming books?
Good luck with your new release! 🙂
Devil’s Highlander sounds fantastic! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Your books sounds wonderful 🙂
ooh, good question, Sandra! You know, I actually don’t think I’ll use any of the places I’ve lived as a setting. I think ultimately I write about the places I do because I like to imagine what it’d be like to live there. The magic of the not-knowing and the imagining keeps it fresh for me. But I sure do love to visit! Monica McCarty is my travel buddy, and we’re planning our second Scotland trip this September (we like to call it the “Mommy Abandonment Tour”–LOL!).
Well, thanks again, everyone! What a wonderful and gracious welcome you’ve given me. 🙂 I’ll let Bev have the honor of announcing our winner. I wish I could send a copy to each and every one of you!!
Congrats on your new release! I love your Highlanders! And I can’t wait to read the YA series!
Thanks, Cories! I can’t wait till it’s out!
Sounds great! I love Highlanders too. It’s my favorite genre.