My musings about finding my life so radically changed is what brought me to the Chattan Curse. It is a simple curse—when a Chattan male falls in love, he will die. There is no gray area there. I could imagine the creation of the curse because, for me, if someone had harmed one of my children, there would be no limit to my vengeance. I would be angry for centuries, I would reach from beyond the grave, and so it is with Fenella, the mother who placed the curse upon the Chattan. Furthermore, there is always one male Chattan born so the curse continues. Is that part of the curse or an action by a kinder, gentler soul searching for a way to save the Chattans from complete extinction?
In order to flesh out this story, I needed an over-arcing storyline. I couldn’t tell the tale of the curse and its impact on the lives of this family with just one couple/one book.
Let me explain—
First there is Neal Chattan in LYON’S BRIDE. The desire to breed is man’s strongest biological drive. But I also believe that there is more to that drive than just need. Some men are called to be fathers. They are as hungry for children as any woman. Neal Chattan, Lord Lyon has that desire. Siring a son is more than just an obligation, it is also the only way he will feel his life is complete. He hopes to break the curse’s grip by marrying a woman he could never love . . . but is that really living? Doesn’t love give life its meaning, its something extra? In truth, Neal knows all too well the effects of being raised in a loveless marriage. That is the way his father sought to break the curse and consequently bred three children, the first of his line to do so. But is Neal cut from the same cloth as his sire?
Can a man who longs to be a father avoid love?
His brother Harry in THE SCOTTISH WITCH has no such longings. He is a rake through and through. Avoid love? Easily done. Spread yourself amongst all the ladies and then you will never grow fond of just one. However, Harry does love someone—his brother Neal. He’d do anything for him, even traveling to the ends of the earth to confront a witch.
Can a man willing to sacrifice his life for another escape love?
Finally, there is Margaret in THE DEVIL’S HEART, the first Chattan female to be born since before the time of the curse. Love is a mystery to her. Her mother was a cold person, remember? A woman incapable of love and yet we learn so much from our mothers. Then again, inside every healthy female is a wistful hope that there is more to life than just what presents itself. We value relationships. We nourish and create them. Margaret has fallen into what she believed was love before. Her young love was betrayed. She dare not trust again. Considering her unique position as the only female in the family, she wonders if she may hold the secret to breaking the curse. Then again, she, too, may be a victim of it.
Can a woman who has spent her life regretting her past find the courage to battle her demons?
Well, there it is—my thought process behind the Chattan Curse series. Yes, these books are tightly woven together. I am so pleased that my publisher is offering the first two bundled together.
And, please, don’t hesitate to give me your feedback. I enjoy hearing from my readers. You can even join my Max Pack by going to my website www.cathymaxwell.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Maxwell/166883240063709?ref=hl and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Maxwell-Fan-Page/144546442251787?ref=hl. I send out quick updates on when books will be released plus offer fun stuff for Max Packers alone.
All my best—
Cathy
Field Notes from Loch Awe Research Trip
One of the perks of my “job” is the research. For the Chattan Curse series, I made a point of visiting Loch Awe where I set the mystical doings.
Here are some photographs along with my thoughts on the pictures—
Scotland is like Minnesota, it has hundreds of lakes or lochs. These lochs are nestled between “mountains” creating a landscape of stunning beauty and lush greenery.
Why did I choose Loch Awe? I liked the name of it. I could have picked almost any loch. There are legends surrounding all of them. This is a country of storytellers. They have been weaving their history into tales for centuries.
Loch Awe in the Afternoon
Here is Loch Awe in the afternoon sunshine.
Loch Awe in the Morning
Loch Awe in the morning with the mist coming off of it. The mist in Scotland is legendary. It will trail the ground or take on shapes as if it has a life force of its own. Who knows what souls hide in the mist?
I’ve tried numerous times to photograph it and have not been successful. What I like here is the mountain coming down to the shore, the pewter gray of the water, and the endless sky above. By the way, Scotland’s waters are deep and cold.
The Shore of Loch Awe
The sort of stuff that would only interest a writer—the shore of Loch Awe. I wanted to remember how the water lapped the shore, and this was a windy day.
Innis Chonnell Ruins
There are two islands (innis) with ruins on them in Loch Awe. Innis Chonnell’s ruins served as the inspiration for Macnachtan Keep. Can you not imagine Rose watching the road and waiting for her lover to return? And then realizing he will not come and losing all hope? In THE DEVIL’S HEART, the ruins I imagined were not as substantial as these. In the book, the Macnachtan had used many of the stones to create their manor on shore.
Brainstorming the Book
The following are bits and pieces around Loch Awe that I chose for brainstorming:
One thing Scotland has a lot of is water. This is a pic of a hydroelectric plant. What interested me is the terrain and the vegetation. After all, I had a coaching accident to plot.
Inspiration for the Forest
More trees. (You thought this piece would be interesting??? I had a forest to plot.)
St. Conan’s Kirk
St. Conan’s Kirk (church) is nestled beside Loch Awe. They started building the church in 1881 and expounded upon over the years. An amateur designed it and used architectural elements from almost every age, including the Norman period. I didn’t use anything I saw here for the books but I will in the future. Also, I like to document those little bits that will add a touch of realism to a story. The internet says this church has rabbit head gargoyles and carved owls trimming some of the places. I came upon this kirk by chance and didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t notice the gargoyles but this is one of those places you could spend hours and still not see every detail. Oh, yes, and they claim to have a relic bone from Robert the Bruce.
One interesting side note on the kirk’s namesake St. Conan, here is a great tale from the website www.stconanskirk.org:
“Like many of the Celtic saints, St. Conan was not afraid to meet the Devil face to face. On one occasion the saint and “The Deil” met to discuss the fate of the souls of the people of Lorne. They went about it in a thoroughly businesslike manner, for they divided these not into the sheep and the goats but into three categories, the “really good,” the “downright bad” and the “middling.” The good were to be the saint's, the bad the Deil's, and the middling they were to share equally. And this sharing equally was to be done by drawing in turn. All went smoothly as arranged until the Devil got excited and stretched out his hand when it was the saint's turn. But St. Conan would have none of this; he rapped the Devil smartly over the knuckles, exclaiming, “Na, na, fair play, paw for paw,” and it is this phrase which has passed into proverbial use.”
So, St. Conan fought the devil, and our Margaret in THE DEVIL’S HEART will as well!
Vegetation
More vegetation. I’m also looking at the slope from the church to the loch.
Wooden Doorway
This door will appear in a book sometime soon. Love the walkway.
Stone Steps
These steps are incredible. I wondered what was behind that sealed door?
Church Pews
Pews. Not my time period but look how narrow they are. And how hard! Imagine sitting on those for hours on end. No, thank you.
Red Door
Another great door, this one opening into a cloister.
The Cloister
The cloister. Notice the carved stone (?) roof.
Carved Roof
A close-up of the roof carving. I don’t know if it is stone or lead.
Rosetta Window
Finally, here is this incredible Rosetta window that is very much in keeping with the time period when the kirk was finally finished, 1930.
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by Cathy Maxwell
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EPUB Edition AUGUST 2013 ISBN 9780062321220
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Lyon's Bride and The Scottish Witch with Bonus Material (Promo e-Books) Page 48
