Fresh Fiction Blog | Lecia Cornwall | The Hidden Secrets Behind ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN

It’s release day For ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN!

It’s a pleasure to be here at Fresh Fiction to share this day with you.

I also thought I’d share some of my deep, dark writerly secrets today, and tell you a bit about the story behind ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN.

ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN is the second book in the Once Upon A Highland series, which began with Once Upon A Highland Summer. Each book in the series has a different magical theme, an otherworldly, mysterious edge. Highland Summer featured a pair of meddlesome ghosts, who return from the grave to see that their descendants find the love, fortune, and happiness they themselves missed out on.

In ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN, it’s Megan MacNabb’s turn to be caught up by mysterious forces, this time an ancient curse.

ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN is actually two stories in one. Megan and Kit’s love story is interwoven with the tale of how the dreadful curse that lies upon Glen Dorian came to be, a tragic story of love, loss, and war, that is still awaiting an ending when Kit and Megan’s story begins, some seventy years later.

Now for one of my secrets: I’m a typical insecure, neurotic, introverted writer. I write half a book, then wail that it must be the very worst thing ever written in the entire history of writing—including grocery lists and misspelled ransom demands. My family has learned to roll their eyes and ignore me after nine books, and nine mid-manuscript panic attacks. By the time I reach the end of the story, I have a good cry (for some reason, no matter how many times I read them, or edit them, the endings of my books inexplicably make me burst into tears), and decide it’s really not such a bad story after all.

Writing ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN felt different—I loved the characters from the moment they stepped onto the page. Megan and Kit have incredible chemistry, the atmosphere of the ruined castle is wonderfully spooky and gothic, the secondary characters were charming and quirky and did not try to take over the story for themselves, and Mairi MacIntosh’s Culloden story made me cry.

I must admit I’ve always had a fascination with the Battle of Culloden. It began back in high school, when I saw a documentary about it in history class and cried. I visited Culloden Moor in 2009, and it is the saddest, most somber place I’ve ever been. I’ve always wanted to write about the battle and it’s tragic aftermath, so I took the make it part of Mairi’s story in ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN

While I was in Scotland, I bought a CD at Culloden (Songs and Voices of the Forty-Five), of Gaelic speakers singing about the battle. I’ll admit to sitting in the car listening to those songs, crying my eyes out, while I was working on writing ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN. Oh dear—Please don’t get the idea that I cry all the time, dear readers—just at the ending of my books, and over Culloden, and of course PBS’s Call The Midwife makes me cry with every single episode, and so does Camelot (yes, the musical). It’s just that even though I don’t speak Gaelic (alas), the emotion in the songs on the CD is so heartfelt, and knowing what happened to the Highlanders after the battle—well, there were waterworks. I wanted to convey that terrible sense of suffering and loss in my book.

Still, I wanted the story to come to a happy conclusion, even if it’s seventy years in the making, and takes a new generation to bring love and peace back to Glen Dorian. Sigh. Nothing beats a happy ending. And now I need another Kleenex …

I hope you love ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN, and that it makes you laugh far more than cry! Let me know what you think—I love hearing from readers. Leave a comment here for a chance to win a copy of the previous book in the series, ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER, or drop me a line at [email protected]. Also click here to visit the book's Avon Romance page.

Comments

Me, too Martha! Every romance has to have at least one ...
(Lecia Cornwall 8:29am June 17, 2014)

If you've put that much passion into your books, because
I've always been the type of person that has a sensitive
spot in her heart, and tends to read her books through the
lives of the main characters of the books, I would love to
read your latest book!! I know that sentence was a bit
disjointed, but I know that you get the gist of what I was
talking about!! I've never really read a book of this
genre, but would be honored to start with yours!! I could
feel the passion that you feel about the subject of your
books, and that's good enough for me to want to read your
books this Summer!! Congratulations on your latest book,
and I'm really looking forward to this book, on top of all
the others that I have on my list!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:02am June 17, 2014)

Hi Peggy—Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I really write my stories from the
heart, and I'm a sentimental, mushy person, and I love history, love, and humour,
so how could I write anything but romance? Good luck in the contest. If you want
to start with one of my books, can I suggest my first book, 2011's Secrets of A
Proper Countess, an award winner for best debut novel.
(Lecia Cornwall 10:42am June 17, 2014)

Your books are fascinating, captivating and intriguing filled
with characters whom I would enjoy meeting and a locale that
is wonderful.
(Sharon Berger 11:59am June 17, 2014)

Thanks, Sharon—there's just something about the Scottish Highlands, isn't there?
(Lecia Cornwall 12:32pm June 17, 2014)

Hi Monique! I live in Calgary now, but I was born in Toronto, and lived in Ottawa
for 18 years. I still miss it.
(Lecia Cornwall 2:17pm June 17, 2014)

I would love to read your book. I just LOVE paranormal romances that features ghosts that mess around with the characters in books. Ohh don't get me started on how I also love the suspense that comes when people start breaking curses. :)
(Karen Locke 2:53pm June 17, 2014)

Liking the sound of your book and series... I do not believe I have read any of your books before... going to visit your site!
(Colleen Conklin 3:26pm June 17, 2014)

Hi Karen—the ghosts actually have speaking roles (and love to interfere) in
HIGHLAND SUMMER. The spirit in HIGHLAND AUTUMN is a bit more malevolent,
but can be playful, too.
(Lecia Cornwall 4:47pm June 17, 2014)

Hi Colleen—welcome! Come on over to my website any time and have a visit. If
you have any questions, drop me a line at [email protected]
(Lecia Cornwall 4:48pm June 17, 2014)

I love the mystery behind ancient curses. And you aren't the
only one who panics over their writing. I don't write books
but when I used to write essays, I'd stop writing after a
few paragraphs and think it is the worst thing ever. I sit
there and think about the F I am going to get. Then once I
finish and read it over, I tell myself it isn't that bad and
it never is. Your writing is great. You've had enough books
published to prove it.
(Alyn Yang 8:24pm June 17, 2014)

Thanks, Alyn. My daughter is currently in university, so I know exactly what you
mean—I hear a lot of essay writer's panic. I think a big part of being a writer is
continually growing and improving, taking risks and trying new things. Keeps life
interesting, too!
(Lecia Cornwall 8:28pm June 17, 2014)

oh, heck, TV commercials make me cry! just remember, it's therapeutic and keeps you empathetic and human. Passionate people can change the world!
(Beth Fuller 9:37pm June 17, 2014)

What an interesting book! Love the cover. Thanks for sharing.
(Bonnie H 10:18pm June 17, 2014)

Thank you for understanding, Beth. If only we owned shares in Kleenex, Inc.
(Lecia Cornwall 10:30pm June 17, 2014)

Hi Bonnie, Avon always does such beautiful covers!
(Lecia Cornwall 10:30pm June 17, 2014)

Wow, Congrats on your new book: ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND AUTUMN. I
love the book cover too! Your book sounds fantastic and I love
to read about Scotland and Ireland stories too. I would love
to win and read your new book in 2014. Thank You very much.
Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:26pm June 17, 2014)

Journeys can be fun or vexing even if you never leave home or go to far off places.
(Laura Gullickson 12:05pm June 18, 2014)

Oh I agree, Laura—I love the being there part of travel, hate the getting there
part. They say the journey is the important part, but I think the airlines have
killed that idea.
(Lecia Cornwall 12:15pm June 18, 2014)

I like the sound of this book/series and I really love the covers!
(Marcy Shuler 12:37pm June 18, 2014)

I know what you mean.. A good old fashion history song can
get your heart going.. Scotland is on my bucket list and I
will get there one day.. I love both Karen's writing and
stories.. Have you read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series
which has almost a whole book on the Culloden battle. Can't
wait to read your books. Congrats on your second book, best
wishes for more to come.
(Tina Ullrich 1:23am June 18, 2014)

I lived in Scotland for two years and loved it and would love
to see your take on it!
(Denise Austin 1:22pm June 18, 2014)

I love the covers on your books. Once Upon a Highland Summer with the red plaid is so eye-catching. I love anything with ghosts and castles thrown into the story and enjoy historical romances.
(Linda Luinstra 6:34pm June 18, 2014)

Music can make me cry too! I love a happy ending, a series,
and a story in the Highlands, so this sounds wonderful to me!
(Diane Sallans 9:07pm June 18, 2014)

I love a good cry...and a good laugh. The best of both worlds is when I get both in the same book. I also love all things Scottish. My ancestors were from there and my mother-in-law was WWII war bride from Glascow. Imagine being a young woman from a bustling city transported to the rural South...Ehhh! What culture shock and what a story THAT would make.
(Debbie Kelly 9:29pm June 18, 2014)

I tear up over lots of things, both happy and sad.
(Janie McGaugh 10:17pm June 18, 2014)

Well if you have to cry, I can't think of a better reason than
over Culloden. Such a sad, sad battle. And what happened
afterwards? Horrible!
(Marcia Berbeza 10:19pm June 18, 2014)

I have been laughing at work. I have been so stressed lately that I'm not even sleeping at night. I found that if I poke fun at my assignment, I get a little bit of sleep.
(Kai Wong 1:44am June 20, 2014)

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