Interview With Author K.L.Huntley

1. What inspired you to write this book? I am first generation in the states from Scotland. In researching my genealogy I came across, “The heroine Flora MacDonald”. I have not been able to substantiate the connection however I ordered an alleged autobiography and the rest is history. That particular ‘autobiography’ had her siblings births out of order - so I delved a little deeper - then deeper and determined that there had not been a good book written about this shy, strong, educated woman who really changed history. I was intrigued that Flora’s family actively opposed King Charles II (Culloden) but when coming to the colonies became Loyalists to King Charles III during the American Revolution. I felt strongly that Flora’s story deserved to be told.  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It is about Flora MacDonald a huge player in saving Scotland’s Bonnie Prince Charlie after the slaughter at Culloden and then later involved in the American Revolution. The target audience would be anyone interested in Scottish, British or American History at the time of the Revolution. In addition, the attraction would be the story of a strong woman playing a huge role in history but definitely not commonly known of in the US.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? A more realistic perspective of two countries’ histories. The British sold their POWs and ‘undesirable’ people to the colonists. That the British also persecuted the Scots for centuries attempting to wipe out their culture by making it illegal to wear their tartans, speak their language or even play the bag-pipes (weapons of war). We seem to ‘white wash’ so much and romanticize our own history when that isn’t the case at all. I would like the reader to develop a respect for individuals attempting to keep their cultures and the freedom to do so.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Misneach (pronounced Mish-Knock) is the Gaelic word for Courage. - My son is a graphic designer. He has done all my books. We did make an error on that cover, but you would only know that if you lived in the Hebrides.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Oh, good one! For those who have asked me I tell them, “Do it for fun. It isn’t going to make you rich."  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I have no idea - It was such an ordeal to do this one myself. I have learned so much. The first two books I hired a publisher and editor however naively didn’t realize that they were not distributors. I thought all I had to do was write it. The distribution end and promotional end has taken quite a bit of wind out of my sail. I still love to write but, if I’m being honest, I don’t know if I would do this again… (even though I am researching more of the white slave trade to the Colonies (US). 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Many! As a woman I know Flora would not have ridden side-saddle across the moors for very long. Like Flora I am uncomfortable with too many compliments or being shown off as a trophy. She was intelligent, well-read, spoke at least three languages and cool headed in an emergency, all attributes I can relate to. Her family came first and I could feel her grief at losing a child. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Great Question. There is only one ‘created’ character. When I write it just ‘comes to me’… I have not considered ’style’… And similarities to other writers I really draw a blank. I went into my library and stared at the bookcases for a while - and still had no answer. I read across multiple genres. Totally impressed with Louise Erdrich’s writing and so many more. Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown was the closest I could come to. An exciting, true story. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Acquiring accurate history of characters and events and questioning what their motives were. Then weaving it together. I probably wrote it three times and then made multiple changes. I did a lot of reading beforehand and note taking. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Discovering and expanding their knowledge of American and British History. Learning about a woman who stood by her convictions and her role in history. To be exposed to the thought there was opposition to slavery even before the American Revolution and that white slaves were a part of our history. We were a penal colony before Australia. Why people were loyalists and that they too were persecuted even if they did not actively take part in the war. The practice of genocide for entire cultures started very early in world history.  

About The Author: My life has been like a tapestry of many colors. I started writing around the age of twelve and have continued as my life journey unfolded. I am the personification of the life-long learner starting in California and continuing through a variety of colleges and Universities sprinkled from Washington, Montana and Idaho. Unfocused I had accumulated enough units for a PhD but finally got a BS in Education at the age of 52. I have worked in the music industry, was a Criminal Law Specialist in California’s prison system and finished with the best job of all as a Third Grade Teacher in a rural Montana school. I have packed horses in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and sat with Senators in an Embassy in DC.

All this comes to my writing. I am uncomfortable ‘blowing my horn’ so to speak, however did write two other books about my life. As a survivor of child abuse and a mentally unstable family I wrote Sociopaths I’ve Known and Loved, and with other adventures and experiences, like getting accidentally locked in a maximum-security unit, I wrote A Chick Named Charlie. The ‘all about me’ autobiographies are not my style so ‘Charlie’ is written tongue-in-cheek, from the perspective of my eight-foot-tall guardian angel named Zelda who has a penchant for hanging out at the bars.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.