Welcome, Susan.
Tell us about what you write.
I write historical fiction/romance. My favorite thing to do is research a true life historical event and drop my hero and heroine into the middle of it. Much of history comes under the category of “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!” which lends itself to some very interesting story lines.
By Promise Made is my second book about the Cullane family. The first Steadfast Will I Be came out last year. Each is a stand-alone book.
Hugh Cullane, accused of murder and sentenced to hang, will escape the noose if he delivers a message of betrothal to four-year-old Queen Mary of Scotland. He faces death yet again when, in rejecting the proposal, the queen's guardian orders his severed head sent back to England in a jar.
Trained to protect her queen at all costs, Katherine Payne can show no mercy to the handsome messenger, despite the way his stolen kiss unsettles her single-minded sense of duty. Trapped between the English and Scottish armies, she must escape with Mary. Hugh joins her as men chase them determined to murder the young queen in their own quest for power.
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EXCERPT – By Promise Made
Although this wasn’t his first kiss, it somehow mattered more than any other kiss he’d ever had.
He kissed her again. His tongue darted along her teeth and then into the juicy cavern of her mouth. She did not refuse him as he suckled her tender lips. She responded to his kiss, pulling him near, offering more of her mouth. She moaned quietly and ever so slightly eased her body closer to his as her hands worked their way up his back.
Pausing briefly in the most delicious kiss he’d ever had, he whispered, “My name is Hugh Cullane.” He brushed his lips against hers again. “What should I call ye, my beautiful princess?” Softly he licked her lips with his tongue.
“Call me whatever ye wish,” she said, locking her fingers into his hair and snapping his head and shoulders away from her with unexpected strength. She swung her right fist squarely into his jaw, and after a quick jerk of her knee into his groin, he fell to the ground, coughing and gagging. With one last powerful kick to the ribs, she ran madly away around the hill.
As he struggled to take a full breath, a sharp jab of pain bit through his side. Letting his head drop to the ground, he rolled over onto his back.
“Oh, my Lord,” he said between coughs, “I do believe I have offended the lady.”
What historical event inspired this novel?
Mary, Queen of Scots’ real life betrothal at age four to King Henry VIII’s nine-year-old son, Edward, begins the story in By Promise Made. When the Scottish government would not approve the contract, Henry waged war during a period called “Rough Wooing.” In retaliation, Scotland ordered Mary betrothed to the five-year-old Dauphin of France and sent her to France with four other young girls, all named Mary.
Did a trip to Scotland inspire you?
I took a two-week cruise with my sisters around England, Ireland, and Scotland. Our heritage is Scottish, so we soaked up the scenery and the culture. We even got to visit a castle, Dunrobin, owned by our long past ancestors. My sister, after reading my first book, Steadfast Will I Be, wanted to know if I “got off the boat at night to talk with Scottish wenches.” Below are some photographs of our trip.
Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, Blarney Castle, and a Bagpiper — A guide at one stop (not this one) told us not to tip the piper because “he is terrible!”
Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.
Arcadia Press published my two non-fiction books about my hometown and The Wild Rose Press published my fiction books. Both are small presses. I published numerous short stories for children in national magazines, but when sending out manuscripts, I got some nibbles and encouragement, but no contracts. An online editor suggested The Wild Rose Press after critiquing my work, and I received a contract right away. I have been very pleased with my editor, Eilidh MacKenzie, and with the support given by the staff members of Wild Rose.
What was your inspiration for the title?
While researching the era, I came across The Findern Manuscript, a collection of stories and poems written for the gentry living around Derbyshire in the fifteenth century. Women may have written several of the love poems because the manuscript includes the names of five women, along with other royal poets of the time, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower, Thomas Hoccleve, and John Lydgate.
The first lines inspired the title of my first book, Steadfast Will I Be, which features Hugh’s parents, Robin and Suannoch, and their adventures with Scotland’s King James V. The last lines became the title of By Promise Made.
The poem translated from Middle English into modern vernacular is printed below
Where I have chosen, steadfast will I be,
Ne’er to repent in will, thought nor deed,
You to serve, whatever ye command me,
Ne’er to withdraw for any manner of dread.
Thus am I bound by your godlyhead,
Which hath me caused, and that in every wise
While I in life endure, to do you my service.
Your desert can none other deserve,
Which is in my remembrance both day and night.
Before all creatures I you love and serve
While in this world I have strength and might,
Which is in duty, of very due right,
By promise made with faithful assurance,
Ever you to serve without variance.
