(Author Interview) Terry Spears

Title: Heart of the Highland Wolf
Author: Terry Spears
Pub Date; June 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Today on Cindy’s Love of Books I am very honored once again to have the amazing Terry Spears stop by for a interview.

If you know me and this blog you will know I don’t read very much romance, the exception to this rule is Terry Spears. I absolutely love her books and I am so happy that I discovered them two years ago.

I want to thank Danielle at Sourcebooks for arranging this interview for me and for Terry taking the time out of her very busy schedule to this interview with me.

Here is the link for my previous interview with Terry Spears.

What would the reader be surprised to discover about Heart of the Highland Wolf that they might not know about?

TS: I’ve read about a lot of castles in Europe, and one that stuck in my mind was where a king had the hidden entrance to his chamber sealed off because he would lose his golf balls down there. When an assassination attempt was made on his life, he tried to escape through the secret tunnel, but he realized too late that he couldn’t and was murdered. But there are several stories about the use of secret tunnels, even one where the tunnels were used during WWI, I believe, at one of the castles. So when I wrote Heart of the Highland Wolf, I wanted to have full use of a secret tunnel. 🙂

If your main characters Ian and Julia had a theme song what would it be and why?

TS: It would be anything Celtic. I watched River Dance in Las Vegas and it was awe-inspiring.

As I was reading Heart of the Highland Wolf I discovered that you mention Prince Edward Island in the book (I’m from Canada!) was there was a reason behind that?

TS: We may be related! Never know! The MacNeills settled there. The duke of Argyll’s daughter married a commoner MacNeill and she and he paid for passage to the Carolinas. The captain of the ship was the brother of the man who owned land in PEI and desperately needed settlers to keep the land. So he diverted his passengers to PEI. The ship landed, wrecked, there, and Lady Elizabeth died because of the harsh conditions. But she and Malcolm MacNeill had two sons and a very young daughter, and we descended from the youngest son. So my mother’s family on her mother’s side had settled in PEI, then moved to Ontario and then onto Manitoba. My mother was born in Alberta. 🙂

You never know about us being related. LOL When you’re not writing your own books, what do you read? Current read? Favorite read?

TS: I read everything from true stories to fantasy and romance, time travels and historical romance. Right now I’m listening to Amanda Quick latest audiobook. I love all her books.

I have never read anything by Amanda Quick. I think I might have to pick up something of hers and read it. Are you working on anything currently? If so are you able to share with us?

TS: I’m always working on something “currently!” Right now it’s Heart of the Jaguar, the first of the three jaguar stories contracted with Sourcebooks Casablanca. So it’s been hot and steamy in the jungle and other locations. Did you know jaguar shifters can be as hot as wolf shifters?

I did not know that but after hearing about jaguar shifters I am dying to read about it. I was super excited to read that Sourcebooks bought five more books from you, what was getting that news like?

TS: Oooh, 6, Cindy! 🙂 Three more wolf books, and three new jaguar books. I was in shock! I had pitched the blurbs for the three wolf books, then my editor, Deb, asked if I had a new idea to pitch. So I came up with the general idea of a jaguar shifter series and she pitched both to the staff. I thought she wasn’t pitching the wolf stories and was disappointed. But when she came back with an offer to buy all six stories, I was totally in shock! She probably wondered why I didn’t act more excited. I was in shock! 🙂 Truly. But of course in a very good way!

Terry I am so sorry, I misread that. I am super excited to hear that it will be six books. If you could have dinner with any of your characters from any of your books who would it be and why?

TS: Well, I can’t help it, but a Highlander in a kilt. Actually, I wouldn’t mind having dinner with the whole clan!!! In kilts. 🙂

I would love to be invite to that dinner. How much research went into Heart of the Highland Wolf?

TS: I always do a lot of research—in this case about the area, weather for that time of year, flora and fauna in the area, talked with lots of people who either visit Scotland on a regular basis or live there. There’s a scene where they remove their shirts to soak up the sun, and that came from one of our library patrons who said on a visit to Scotland, guys were resting on a grassy area, all with their shirts off. So the comments that were made in the story, were really made in real life. I actually visited several castles in Scotland, took the guided tours in some, marveled at the ruins in others. I always find the research fascinating and often in doing it, I pick up things I didn’t know to add to the story—like the sunbathing Scots. It’s just too much fun!

After reading Heart of the Highland Wolf I was suddenly wishing I was in Scotland. Thanks so much Terry for doing this interview with me. I love your books and I can’t wait to read your upcoming books. I truly appreciate the time you take out of your schedule do do these with me.

Thanks, Cindy! I love visiting with you and your readers! I just wish we could get together in person, and I could bring along some Highland hunks so that we could have a cup of tea together. Although they might add a little whiskey to theirs. 🙂 Thanks so much for loving my books and for having me here today!!

HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF BY TERRY SPEAR – IN STORES JUNE 2011

Each holds a secret they can’t possibly overcome alone…

Julia Wildthorn is sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic, but reluctant laird Ian MacNeill may be the key to unlocking the one answer she really wants discovered…

From brilliant storyteller Terry Spear, modern day werewolves meet the rugged Highlands of Scotland, where instinct meets tradition, and clan loyalties give a whole new meaning to danger…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth College. An eclectic writer with a PW Best Book of 2008 (Heart of the Wolf), she writes paranormal romance as well as historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information, please visit

http://www.terryspear.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/terry.spear

https://twitter.com/#!/TerrySpear

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tspea

Check back tomorrow for my review of Heart of the Highland Wolf.