Not everyone is cheered by Monday mornings but we can be cheered by Rosemary Gemmell's warm smile. Rosemary's an author who hails from another part of Scotland, an area I know quite well. Today, she's sharing information about her contemporary novel The Highland Lass and there's an excerpt at the end for your enjoyment. Though a contemporary novel - the story of The Highland Lass is neatly interwoven with historical episodes which feature a certain well known Scottish figure...
A prize-winning writer, Rosemary Gemmell’s short stories,
articles, and poems have been published in UK magazines, in the US, and online.
She is now a historical and contemporary novelist and The Highland Lass is the first novel under her full name. She has
also published historical novels and contemporary novellas with a touch of
mythological fantasy as Romy and two tween books as Ros. Rosemary has a BA
(hons) in European literature and history and a post-graduate MA in Humanities
and she is a member of the Romantic novelists’ Association,
the Society of Authors and the Scottish Association of Writers.
You'll find Rosemary at the following places:
Website: http://www.rosemarygemmell.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RosemaryGemmell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Romy-Gemmell/1422387704702586 Rosemary Gemmell's first Crooked Cat novel - The Highland Lass - was published in March 2015 and it's a great read which I can thoroughly recommend.
Eilidh Campbell returns to her Scottish roots from America
with one main aim: to discover the identity of the father she never knew. But
her mother’s past in Inverclyde is a mystery with family secrets, a book of
Robert Burns’ poems with a hidden letter and a photograph link to the Holy Loch
at Dunoon when the American Navy were in residence.
Staying with her childhood friend, Kirsty, while searching
for answers, Eilidh begins to fall in love with handsome Scot Lewis Grant, but
just how free is he? Together they trace the story of Highland Mary and Robert
Burns, with its echoes to her mother’s story. In short alternate chapters,
Highland Mary tells her own story from 1785-6. From Dunoon, to Ayrshire and
culminating in Greenock, Eilidh finds the past is closer than she realises.
Book Trailer Video
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This excerpt is from one of the historical chapters...
The lasses glance after him longingly and the women warn
against him, for his reputation is well known. Yet there must be other sides to
him, for he sits in the Kirk and listens to the word of God. And I’ve heard my
 |
| Nancy Jardine's copy |
Risking another
glance, I see he has turned away to look at the preacher. His dark hair is
smooth and curls in below his neck, and his profile is strong. He is smart in
jacket and neckerchief and he has not the air of a farmer. Just as I remember
I’m still staring, he looks up and our eyes meet again. This time I smile shyly
and briefly before returning to my open Bible. He must not think I admire him
too well. I’ll not become one of the silly lasses who cast longing glances at
him in the hope he will dally with them. I have too much pride for such
behaviour. However, I cannot help one final glance as we stand to end the
service. He smiles. And my heart tells me it is too late.
But I still do not realise that this man, Robert
Burns, will have anything to do with my destiny.
Thank you for sharing with us today, Rosemary, and best wishes for a good second half of 2015.
Slainthe!
Thank you very much for featuring me on your lovely blog, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Rosemary. i love having visitors. :-)
DeleteA beautiful book from a wonderful writer, I enjoyed the way the historical part is delicately laced into the contemporary story of The Highland Lass. Congratulations on its well-deserved success, Rosemary,and thank you, Nancy, for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteHi,Joanna. thanks for visiting and commenting. I agree- it's a gread read.
DeleteThank you so much for your lovely comment, Joanna, and for taking time to visit Nancy's blog. Really appreciate it!
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