Your new book, DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER, is the first in a series. Do you have a set number of books you plan on doing in this series? Or you’ll see what inspires you?
For the Highland Shifters Series, I plan to publish three books about three Highlander warrior friends who are cursed at the same time by their fallen enemy’s mother. For my other series, like my Highland Adventure Series, I follow inspiration and write stories of previous secondary characters (making them heroes or heroines). I even did a spin off series called Scottish Treasure. But the Highland Shifters characters are separate and unrelated to the other series’ characters. The date is also slightly later.
From the book’s description, there seem to be some supernatural and time travel elements to this story. Paranormal historicals are my favorite. Do you include these kinds of elements in all your books?
No, this book contains far more paranormal than my usual books. I have included some very mild paranormal in a couple of my regular historicals, but these were minor elements, like second sight. In DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER, the hero shapeshifts into a hawk during the daytime and changes back into a man at dusk, as part of the curse. He hates it but he has no control over it. I enjoy writing paranormal elements because the only limits are the author’s imagination. It’s fun to make the unbelievable and bizarre believable.
Your hero in DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER, Gavin MacTavish, is a Highland warrior. How would you describe him to readers? Strong and sexy yet sweet? Flawed but with a good heart?
Yes, Gavin is all of those things you mentioned. He cares deeply for his ill father and his clan, which has scattered to the four winds. He is desperate to destroy the curse so he can bring the clan back together and restore his father’s health. He has lived the rough and tumble warrior lifestyle. But Dani reminds him that romance is important, too. Aside from being a “stern” chief, he has a sweet, funny, gentle side. The book has a lot of humor and quirky secondary characters, along with action and danger, plus some steamy romance thrown in for good measure.
What’s the dynamic like between your hero and heroine?
Dani is a 21st century American professor, and Gavin is a 17th century Highland chief. They experience some miscommunication, especially at first, because of the differences in language, but also because of their widely divergent outlooks on the world. Dani is an independent modern woman who is accustomed to speaking her mind. Gavin finds her refreshing and fascinating, but he feels she makes some unwise decisions. She doesn’t see the dangers as he does. His bossy laird attitude and possessiveness doesn’t sit well with her, and she lets him know it. They have some fiery (and entertaining) arguments simply because of their differing ideals. What brings them together is their mutual and intense attraction. Neither has experienced anything like it. Their bond grows deeper throughout the book as they get to know and understand one another better.
If you could recommend one of your books to a reader new to them, which one would you suggest, and why?
My Highland Adventure Series contains ten books so far. I plan to write more. Most people like to start with the first book, MY FIERCE HIGHLANDER. Or they might like to start with the 3rd book, MY BRAVE HIGHLANDER. I see this book as a clasp that holds the whole series together. Several of the characters from the later part of the series first appear in this book. Each book is linked to the book before it and the book after. Sometimes this link is very loose, other times it’s a tighter link. I have three books that share villains, for instance. (Books 3, 4 and 5.) Each book is a standalone story. You don’t need to have read the previous books, but some readers mention the series is more enjoyable if it’s read beginning to end. Many of the characters are friends or related in some way. In later books, I enjoy putting in past heroes and heroines (making them secondary characters) so readers can see what they’ve been up to in the year or two since they were last seen. If the reader enjoys paranormal more, then I would suggest DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER.
With some other authors I’ve interviewed before, they’ve said that what they enjoy writing is not the same type of book they enjoy reading? What types of books do you like to read? Favorite books and authors?
I wish I had time to read more. I do enjoy reading historical romance of all types, including Scottish historical. I also love reading paranormal and contemporary. My favorite romance author of all time is Laura Kinsale. She has some brilliant books, including FLOWERS FROM THE STORM.
What are you currently working on?
The book about Torr, Gavin’s friend who was cursed along with him. He shapeshifts into a kelpie at night. A kelpie is a Scottish legendary creature which often appears as a white horse that emerges from a loch. This book doesn’t contain any time travel, but has the other paranormal elements that the first book has. I haven’t decided on a title yet, but I have some ideas written down.
Thank you!!
DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER by Vonda Sinclair
Highland Shifters #1
A devilish Highlander cursed to change form…
After defending himself in an ambush and defeating his attacker, Gavin MacTavish finds himself cursed by a woman of the enemy clan. Lady Wilona MacRae is a witch of the dark arts and the mother of his slain foe. Ensnared in the curse, Gavin spontaneously transforms into a hawk at dawn each day, then shifts back into a man at sunset. Devastated that his father has been struck with madness because of the curse, Gavin has no choice but to become chief of a dwindling clan. Fearing him as if he were the devil himself, most have fled.
A wayward lass from the future…
When Dani MacRae, a 21st century English lit professor, is given an ancient family heirloom—a brooch—she begins having sensual dreams of a gorgeous Highlander. These spellbinding dreams threaten to take over her life. But when she holds a 400-year-old claymore at a Highland games event, she’s stunned to find herself thrust back in time to 1630 Scotland, into the bedchamber of the intriguing man who invaded her dreams.
A profound love…
After kissing the bonny, unusual lass, Gavin knows she’s the only woman for him, the woman his eccentric father insists he must marry to destroy the curse. But can Gavin conceal from her what he becomes during the daytime? Surely she will reject him and leave if she finds out.
In an effort to help his ill father and his clan, Dani reluctantly agrees to marry Gavin… at least until she can find his enchanted sword, which could return her to the future. Being ripped from her beloved modern day relatives and successful career, Dani is unsure whether she can sacrifice everything for Gavin. That is… until she falls hard for him.
Once Lady MacRae learns Dani is attempting to break her evil spell, she uses any means possible to thwart the union. Can Gavin and Dani seize the magnificent love that will shatter darkness, banish evil, and restore their good fortune?
Romance Historical [Self Published, On Sale: February 9, 2022, e-Book, / ]
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About Vonda Sinclair
Vonda Sinclair’s favorite indulgent pastime is exploring Scotland, from Edinburgh to the untamed and windblown north coast. She also enjoys creating hot, Highland heroes and spirited lasses to drive them mad. She is a past Golden Heart finalist and Laurie award winner. She lives with her amazing and supportive husband in the mountains of North Carolina where she is no doubt creating another Scottish story. Please visit her website to learn more.
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