By Rowena Kinread
THREE BROTHERS
Fergus, Loarn and Angus, Princes of the Dalriada, are forced into exile by their scheming half-brother and the druidess Birga One-tooth.
THREE FATES
Fergus conceals himself as a stable lad on Aran and falls helplessly in love with a Scottish princess, already promised to someone else. Loarn crosses swords against the Picts. Angus designs longboats.
TOGETHER A MIGHTY POWER
Always on the run the brothers must attempt to outride their adversaries by gaining power themselves. Together they achieve more than they could possibly dream of.
Fergus Mór (The Great) is widely recognised as the first King of Scotland, giving Scotland its name and its language. Rulers of Scotland and England from Kenneth mac Alpín until the present time claim descent from Fergus Mór.
Full of unexpected twists and turns, this is a tale of heart-breaking love amidst treachery, deceit and murder.
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Pages: 287
Genre: Historical Fiction
Writing Interview questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I suffer from a rare genetic disorder called muscular dystrophy. My parents were carriers without knowing so; no other relations were affected. So I started to do some ancestry research and although I discovered nothing about muscular dystrophy, I soon became infected with an ancestry research bug. I couldn’t stop! History is so fascinating as soon as it becomes personal! I discovered that my father’s surname Kinread is derived from the Dalriada in North Ireland and Scotland. I then researched the Dalriada and was astonished to discover that St.Patrick was captured as a teenager and sold as a slave to the Dalriada. Up until that point I had tended to think only of black slaves. Thus my first novel The Missionary. That Fergus conquered Argyll and became the founder father of Scotland was material galore for my second novel The Scots of Dalriada. I read a lot and enjoy discovering topics and ages that are new to me. Some ages/topics I dismiss immediately as so much has already been written about it/them. So I enjoyed writing about an era not well known – 5th century Ireland and Scotland.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
The best and most comprehensive book about the Dalriada is John Bannermann’s Studies in the History of Dalriada. This is out of print but after a three-year-wait I managed to pick up a copy sold online. The wait was worthwhile as almost all I learnt about the Dalriada was from this book. Even online articles often referred to it. Many other books about Ireland and Scotland generally in this era completed my research. Some of these are: A Brief History of Ireland by Richard Killeen
Ireland's Forgotten Past: A History of the Overlooked and Disremembered by Turtle Bunbury
A History of Scotland by Neil Oliver
Scotland: History of a Nation by David Ross
The Book of Celtic Myths: From the Mystic Might of the Celtic Warriors to the Magic of the Fey Folk, the Storied History and Folklore of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales by Adams Media
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
There is a sub-plot of romance. Fergus falls in love with Rhianna, a Scottish princess already promised to an old man, the King of Strathclyde. The king maltreats her and in fear of her life, they plan a cunning escape from Dumbarton castle.
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
Fergus: fearless, loveable and epic. Although not perfect like superman, which makes him all the more likeable, Fergus puts his own needs last but is clever enough to found a great dynasty.
What are you currently working on?
VANISHED a thriller about a woman who finds a map of the whereabouts of hidden Nazi treausure whilst sorting out her Grandfather’s loft. She is chased by brutal hired hitmen across the Bavarian Alps.
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
Write anyway but then join a group of writers or take part in courses to see where you stand. It’s best to ask experienced editors who do not know you personally.
Personal Interview questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love walking in fresh air, enjoying nature. My husband and I live at Lake Constance, one of the largest European lakes. The whole year around there is plenty of wildlife to be seen, in winter literally, in summer also abstractly! We also like travelling, visiting gardens and areas of natural beauty. And I love reading!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Fairly early on in life I was keen on travelling and specialised in learning languages at school and privately. I wanted to become an air hostess and after the first landing on the moon, decided to become one of the first air hostesses in space! After school my first job was with Lufthansa in Stuttgart in the sales department. It was pretty cool because we were often invited to try out hotels and resorts free of charge.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
We eat our main meal at lunchtime and today it is stuffed peppers. I decided what to eat today so peppers are fine but I would love to have a delicious dessert afterwards. Why are desserts so full of calories?
What would be a perfect day?
Wake up to sunshine, the aroma of coffee drifting upstairs and a letter in the post (an email would be fine too) from a major publishing firm offering me a contract for my next book. Dressing with my clothes fitting perfectly. An outside temperature increase to 25C and a soft breeze. A waiter nearby to bring cocktails, a good book and the sea nearby.
What is the best part of your day?
In the morning, I’m full of creative energy and if I succeed bringing this to paper, then I’m happy.
Rowena Kinread grew up in Ripon, Yorkshire with her large family and a horde of pets. Keen on travelling, her first job was with Lufthansa in Germany.
She began writing in the nineties. Her special area of interest is history. After researching her ancestry and finding family roots in Ireland with the Dalriada clan, particularly this era.
Her debut fiction novel titled “The Missionary” is a historical novel about the dramatic life of St. Patrick. It was published by Pegasus Publishers on Apr.29th, 2021 and has been highly appraised by The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Irish Times.
Her second novel “The Scots of Dalriada” centres around Fergus Mór, the founder father of Scotland and takes place in 5th century Ireland and Scotland. It is due to be published by Pegasus Publishers on Jan.26th, 2023.
The author lives with her husband in Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Lake Constance, Germany. They have three children and six grandchildren.
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Thanks so much for hosting Rowena Kinread today. What a fabulous interview! xx
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