Interview with Julie Shackman - author of ‘The Cottage in the Highlands’
Interview with Julie Shackman – author of The Cottage in the Highlands
Novel out Dec 1st, 2022
(My review here)
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Welcome Julie! Please share the inspiration behind The Cottage in the Highlands and its setting?
The inspiration was actually an empty house very close to where I live. It is furnished, but there are various rumours and stories about the place and why it is hardly ever occupied. That was what gave me the inspiration for Merry Wood!
As for the setting, that just came from my visits to the Highlands and also to my visits as a kid, to the Scottish town of Bo’ness. Silver Ness sprung from that!
The Cottage in the Highlands is a modern-day romance but with historical connections. Can you share what these links are without giving anything away?
I will try! The links are basically due to romance, memories (both good and bad) and a mysterious letter that Leonie finds in the house by accident. So many people’s lives are tied up with Merry Wood in one way or another and it is a case of Leonie trying to piece them together.
This story has an abandoned cottage at its core. In many ways, it is a character, too. What is it about forgotten cottages that intrigues you?
Like I mentioned before, the idea for Merry Wood and it being forgotten/abandoned, came from the house that is situated very close to me. When I walked past it, I would wonder about who had lived there, why they weren’t there now and what the stories were behind it. Then my imagination started to ramp up!
There is a rescue puppy in The Cottage in the Highlands. What significance does she hold in the story? Also, I understand rescue dogs have a special place in your heart. Would you like to share more on that, too?
Harley is Leonie’s rescue cockapoo pup and she was inspired by my own rescue pup, Cooper. Leonie has had a tough time of it and Harley came along when she needed rescuing, so she thinks they both rescued one another in a way.
I adopted Cooper from Romania, via the wonderful Glasgow based rescue charity Euro paws, when he was just four months old. There are so many dogs out there of all ages who can give so much love and affection and I think if you can, adopt and don’t shop. It is so rewarding for both the owner and the dog.
Which scene was the most fun to write in The Cottage in the Highlands?
I don’t have a particular favourite, as I just enjoyed telling the story of all of the characters and what they had been through. However, I did particularly enjoy telling the story of Flynn senior. He has been through a lot, but soldiered on regardless. Flynn senior is perceived as a rather aloof and grumpy individual by his family, but there are reasons for that and it was great and very enjoyable, revealing more layers to him.
Please provide some background on Leonie Baxter, including her personality traits?
Leonie is a talented journalist, who wants to succeed in her career, but help people too and channel a good cause. She is determined, kind but rather impulsive and that can get her into one or two scrapes!
What three words would you use to describe Lily Cruickshank?
I would describe Lily as loyal, acerbic and trust-worthy. She gives the impression that she is prickly, but it is really life that has made her that way and underneath all the bluster, she is quite vulnerable.
Who is your favourite male character in The Cottage in the Highlands and why?
It would have to be Flynn senior – talented, witty, passionate and stronger than he thinks.
What is the main theme of The Cottage in the Highlands? I would say the main theme is to move forwards and not look back. You can’t do anything about the past, but you can do something about the future. It’s there for the taking, so just go for it.
If you were inspired to write a novel in another genre, what genre would it be and what is it about that style of novel that interests you?
Oh gosh, that is a good question! I love reading and writing feel-good romance, but if I were to write another novel in another genre, I think it might be something in the thriller genre. It’s the page turning, tense, character aspects of that which really appeal to me.
Name two books you read this year you would recommend? One that made you seriously cry and the other that made you openly laugh?
Another great question! I loved Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce. Its set during World War Two and the characters and the scenes jump off the page. It made me want to cry, just with the bravery and the stoicism of the characters, as they got on with their lives under hellish circumstances.
For laughter, it would have to be An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan. Some tense and thought-provoking issues, but she has a sparkling wit and the humour jumps from the page.
In describing yourself as a writer, what would you choose as your spirit animal and why?
Oh, well I love dogs and dolphins, so either one of those, I think! I’m like a dog in the writing sense, in that I can procrastinate and sniff out other things to do, instead of getting the words down!
With dolphins, that would be a good spirit writing animal for me too, as I think they are so dreamy looking, as if they are often on another planet – again, that is often like me – thinking of other things and day-dreaming, when I should be writing!
What is your favourite Christmas dish and festive dessert to share with your family and friends?
Oh, I don’t think you can beat a gorgeous roast turkey for Christmas, with all the trimmings. As for dessert, I don’t like Christmas pudding, so it would have to be a delicious trifle.
What writing project are you working on now and can you share a little about it?
I am currently working on Book 6 in the Scottish Escapes series, which centres around the publishing world and a grumpy but handsome portrait artist…!
Thank you for such lovely questions, Cindy! X
It was lovely to have you as my guest again, Julie! Best wishes on the release of your new novel!
