Birth of My Novel: The Pledge

I came up for the concept at a Highland Festival. The whole history of the reivers was amazing. They were both mercenary and highwayman, defender of their home, and the devil incarnate, depending on who you asked.

I blended this with my love of the sixteenth century. Think of it. Three women, the regent Dauphin of France, Mary of Scot, and Elizabeth ruled 2/3 of the world. Never before or after has the world's fate been in the hands of women. Martin Luther's writing was turning the religious world upside down. Scribes were changing bible verses to make people believe that the country's laws were 'God's law' and many of those verses remain the same today.


There is so much scope in this period that I could never run out of ideas. For The Pledge, I combined the old world, Calum's highlanders and their legacy of blood, with the new, an educated and independent woman who was enlightened by the new religions.


It was fun to blend the old medieval world with the birthing pains of the renaissance. In many ways, The Pledge, only brushed the surface of the conflicts and dangers of the period. That is why I am writing The Pawn. It steps over the border and focuses on the intrigue and turmoil of the Scottish Royal Court, while still staying true to the Highlander characters.