There is naught like the sound of bagpipes in the morn.
Have you ever attended a Scottish festival or the Highland games?
Last year, I attended the 56th annual Ligonier Highland Games in
Ligonier, PA which was generously sponsored by the Clan Donald Educational and
Charitable Trust and the St. Andrews Society of Pittsburgh. The clan and I had a
tent set up right smack dab in the middle of the bagpipers, before the field for
the games, and a very short distance from the haggis. We definitely had a prime
location for all-things Scottish.
I’ve been to many Scottish festivals, and there is always camaraderie among the
clans. Everyone comes together for the purpose of friendly competition and
kinship. To prove my point, I had the MacDonald tartan draped across my tables,
and a lovely gentleman embraced me wholeheartedly. He had a very thick Scottish
brogue.
“I see ye have the clan Donald tartan. Please do me the honor of coming to our
clan tent for a wee bit of whisky or wine, your whole family. We’d be honored to
have ye.”
Seriously. Who is that nice anywhere? That’s why I love the atmosphere. We sat
under perfect sunny skies enjoying the athletes, Highland dancing, solo piping
and drumming events, Gaelic Mod, Scottish breed dog exhibits, sheep herding,
story-telling, and my favorite… Highland cows! Och, aye, and of course men in kilts.
I also lost count of how many times kilted men walked up to my table and said
they were going to sue me because of my books. They were especially surprised
when I answered them.
“Yes, I know. I have your body on the cover of my books.”
“How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
Needless to say, I’ve heard that line a time or two.
My son has a field day at these festivals. When my first novel was published in
2012, my son was seven, and I was in the midst of planning my first book
signing. My daughter said in a jesting manner, “Boy, it’s too bad you can’t get
the cover model to come to your signing. He’d help you sell a lot of books.”
My son piped up without missing a beat. “I’ll do it. But… You have to buy me the
whole outfit, ghillies and all, and it has to be from Scotland.”
From that moment on, my son was kilted up at all my book signings and events,
willingly. Do I force him? Contrary to what you may think, umm…no. He relishes
every moment. I think he enjoys the attention he gets from the lasses. If you’ve
never attended a Scottish festival or the Highland Games, I strongly encourage
you to take your family for a fun-filled day of clans, food, games, bagpipes,
and all-things kilted. C’mon and
About KILTS AND DAGGERS
Ever since Lady Grace Walsingham discovered her uncle and sister are spies for
the Crown, she has yearned for adventure. She's counting the days until she can
leave barbaric Scotland behind, even if she must endure Highland captain Fagan
Murray's company for weeks.
Fagan has a simple mission: escort the haughty Lady Grace back to England. But
nothing is ever easy. The sharp- tongued woman needles him at every turn. But
when a menacing threat follows them on their journey, Fagan's grudging tolerance
for Grace turns to respect...and into a perilous attraction that could seal
their fate.
About Victoria Roberts
Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about
kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single
romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who
knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a
kilt wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband
and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania.
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