1. Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

I grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. According to my dad, magazine pictures fascinated me as a toddler, and Mom instilled her love of reading in me. I started writing poetry during classes when I was bored. When my ninth grade English teacher asked the
class to write a descriptive paragraph, I wrote three pages. Some of my poetry was published in high school and college. I didn’t
consider writing a novel until college. Upon graduation, I combined my love of reading and writing in my work – I was a
librarian for twenty years. I retired in 1999 to pursue a career in writing.

Mom introduced me to books, so she would be the person who influenced me the earliest. From there, it would be the authors who wrote the stories I enjoyed the most. Carolyn Keene was a favorite in elementary school. Eventually, Mom shared her love of
Victoria Holt with me. Books allowed me to become someone other than who I was and to escape to places I’d never been. That’s what I attempt to do for others with the stories I write now.

2. Why did you write your book?

During a boring staff meeting, I doodled by writing the opening scene of The Scottish Thistle. As I began researching Scotland, I became so intrigued with melding story and history that I penned this story. With each revision the characters matured and the
story improved. Initially, I wrote the story because I wanted to write a novel. Getting it published wasn’t essential, but signing the
contract fulfilled a dream.

3. Tell us about your book.

The Scottish Thistle recounts the story of the Rising of 1745, the last civil war fought on British soil. When Elizabeth I died, James VI
of Scotland became James I of England. James belonged to the House of Stuart. His grandson, James II, became a Catholic after marrying his second wife. At the time James was not king, but once he ascended the throne, he did nothing to appease the
English, who were predominately Protestant. On the birth of his son, they rebelled. James fled into exile while the Protestant Stuarts ruled Britain. Eventually, the House of Hanover, which was related to the House of Stuart, came to power.

Although in exile, James II and his descendants never stopped believing they would one day regain the throne. The Scots, particularly the Highland clans, believed James was the rightful Scottish king. They supported him and his son in several failed attempts to wrest the throne from the usurpers. In 1745, James’ grandson, Bonnie Prince Charlie tried once again.

Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, influential chief of a small but powerful clan, chose to follow Prince Charles. Had he not taken up arms
against George II, the Rising of 1745 might never have happened. He did, however, and the two sides eventually met at Culloden. Akin to our Battle of Gettysburg, Culloden dashed the Stuart dreams forever. Thousands of Highlanders were slaughtered that day, both during and after the battle. The crown insured there would be no further uprisings by giving no quarter to those who fought for the Stuarts.

The Scottish Thistle is the story of Clan Cameron and the ‘Forty-five. At the same time, it’s a tale of love between Duncan Cameron and Rory MacGregor, chieftain of an outlawed clan. It is through their eyes that readers relive Highland life of the eighteenth century and experience the rising that forever changed the Scottish Highlands.

4. At book signings, what do readers say to you about their interpretations of your book?

My first book signing won’t occur until mid-July and since this is my debut novel, I don’t know what readers will say. Those who’ve
contacted me via e-mail have given only positive comments, but they haven’t included any interpretations.

5. What general advice do you have for writers who just completed their first book?

Be patient and keep writing while you wait for that special call. Learn about the business side of writing and start collecting possible
promotional venues and opportunities. Don’t lose hope.

6. Tell me about your publishing experience-- Is it difficult process to promote your own writing?

My publishing experience resembles a roller coaster. The Scottish Thistle was published as an e-book in January 2001, but six months
later I had to terminate the contract for cause. That was probably the lowest point in my career because I questioned everything I’d done in choosing that particular publisher. Another publisher offered me a contract last fall and now my book is available in both trade paperback and as an e-book. The reviews are even better than before and I’ve already sold more copies than I did with the first publisher.

Some promotion is difficult for me, while other promotion is easy. I believe in my story and have no problem sharing it with others, but
it’s tough sometimes to toot my own horn. What I find more difficult is juggling the time I devote to promoting with the amount of time left for writing.

7. Are you working on a follow up? Or something totally different?

Some day I will probably write the story of Rory and Duncan’s children and/or their friends, Fergus and Anna. For now, though, I’m
working on something totally different. The Rebel and the Spy is set in New Orleans during the War of 1812. It centers around
the life of Jean Laffite, a privateer who provided Andrew Jackson with the men, arms, and ammunition he needed to win the Battle of New Orleans. At the time, the Americans had destroyed his base of operations and considered Laffite a pirate, but hisassistance made him a hero.

8. Have you written multiple books? Is it harder every time or does it get easier?

The Scottish Thistle is my debut novel, although it’s the second one I wrote. I’ve been working on The Rebel and the Spy since college,
but there were pieces missing to the story and the characters have only recently come together in such a way to allow me to finish the book.

Ideas for stories come easily to me, but since I write historical fiction, they require extensive research. Once I’m comfortable with the
time period and the characters, though, it’s relatively easy for me to write the first draft. It’s the revisions that slow me down because I want to be as historically accurate as possible without ruining the story.

9. What was the last book you read?

Currently, I’m reading The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zacks, which is a biography of Captain William Kidd. Before that I read Dorothy
Garlock’s High on a Hill. While I enjoy reading both these books, I didn’t choose them for pleasure reading. I’m reviewing them for my piracy column – Pirates & Privateers (http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/pirates) – and for Historical Novels Review. The last book I read for pleasure was Stuart Woods’ Orchid Blues.

10. Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

I collect Teddy bears, watch professional bull riding, and enjoy listening to music. I’m not sure any of these enhance my writing,
although songs sometimes provide story ideas and I became a fan of bull riding while doing some research for a story.

11. What advise do you have for those just starting out in their writing career?

Never stop dreaming. Be flexible in your thinking and be willing to consider a diverging path along the way, for that may let you achieve
your dreams. When I began my career as an author, I only wanted to write historical novels. An opportunity to write about maritime piracy presented itself. My monthly column proved I could write and meet deadlines. I established a readership base and have made friends around the world. My reputation for providing factual information and answering queries garners me support and encouragement from readers. I also acquired a portfolio of publishing credits and improved my writing. I believe this divergence from my original path helped when I submitted my first novel to a publisher. Signing their contract allowed me to achieve my dream.

12. As a writer, what is the worst rejection letter you ever received?

Probably the first, but the publisher was right to reject the submission. It was terrible, but I was too naïve and inexperienced to know
that at the time.

13. Why do you write?

I write because it’s what I enjoy. So many wonderful authors have entertained me with their stories over the years. Now, I want to
entertain others with my stories.

14. Finally, please give our readers a brief synopsis of your book and a hyperlink to where they can purchase it. Be sure to include the
price for each format.

The Scottish Thistle by Cindy Vallar
A historical novel intertwined with a love story

Chieftain Rory MacGregor puts her clan’s welfare ahead of her own and weds a stranger. An oath sworn on the dirk compels Duncan Cameron to forge an uneasy alliance with Rory, unaware that a Stewart prince comes to the Highlands to wage war against the usurper
who sits on the throne. Duty and honor dictate they answer the call to arms, but will the bloody rebellion on 1745 sever the ties that
bind them or will it forever strengthen the fragile threads that unite them?

To buy the book:
http://www.novelbooksinc.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NI&Product_Code=1-59105-034-0&Category_Code=sff-tbps

To view pictures of Thistle’s Scotland: http://www.cindyvallar.com/

To read Odin’s Stone, a medieval short story of how Alexander, Lord of the Isles, chose to end a feud between the MacLeans and the
MacKinnons: http://www.novelbooksinc.com/authors/cindy_vallar/shorts/odins_stone.html

To buy souvenirs featuring the cover art of The Scottish Thistle: http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=nbi_tst