Thistle in the Mistletoe by Margaret Izard #blog #wrpbks

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Margaret Izard…

From stage to page—a storyteller’s journey

Storytelling has always been a focus in my life. I’ve always wanted to write but never had the confidence. I’d write a short story, then trash it over and over. I’ve told stories my whole life, be it dancing or acting. It wasn’t until I finished tutoring my triplets through college that I finally put my foot down and said, “This is it!” Once my family overcame their shock, I wrote my first book, then another, and another. It’s those great classics from ballet and theatre training that inspire me. Folk and fairy tales that I put a twist or a spin on creating innovative stories.

My mom put me in dance classes at age three since I bounced all over the house, and I kept dancing my whole life. My background in performance arts has heavily influenced my writing and storytelling. I lean into classics due to all the ballets I’ve studied or performed. Yet, I also like modern dance, which places a twist on some of the norms. These experiences pretty much drive the types of stories I desire to tell. They are something based on the classics with a twist.

The greatest asset to my writing is my performance background. It’s how I work through each story. From scene to scene, I run the overall story arc in my head like a movie or a play. I’m the director/choreographer; the characters are my actors/dancers. I run scenes differently to produce the outcome I want and need to push the story forward. The dance training has had a significant impact on writing scenes that involve body movement. Merging physical details with emotion is a particular favorite of mine.

Before I wrote a single word … I read, read, and read. I wanted to find a single castle that would anchor my series. Dunstaffnage Castle in Oban, Scotland, provided a rich, tremulant history, while the Chapel in the Woods gave me the perfect opportunity to blend history into fantasy.

In early research, I read about the Stone of Destiny, or the coronation stone, traveling through Scotland and stopping at Dunstaffnage Castle. When I learned about the Stone of Destiny and its rumored birthplace—Iona Island—I asked myself: what if the stone was magic? What if many stones were magic, and what would that mean? As I delved into research on Scotland, I found that many of its beliefs link to its folklore. These rich stories of worlds beyond ours became essential in capturing this country, its people, and its culture and bringing them to life.

The character’s personas, quirks, wounds, and strengths I formed early on. Stone of Love was the first book I wrote. Writing relatable characters took time and patience to make sure they resonated in the way I wanted and needed them to tell their story. Each character plays an essential role in the overall series arc. Every narrative in the seven-book series focuses on the search for a magic Fae stone, a Stone of Iona. Via a Fae fable, the characters learn which stone needs finding. Blending the fables into the plotline and how it unfolds became the series’ backbone.

After drafting the first three books in the series, a trip to Scotland in June 2023 provided an inspiring view of Scotland and her people. I feel even more connected to the characters and their stories after visiting the locations featured in the series—Dunstaffnage Castle, Chapel in the Woods, Iona Isle and Abbey, and Dunollie Castle.

Stones of Iona series

Stone of Love, book 1. Colin and Breille’s story. American scholar starts a new life by renovating a Scottish chapel as a Fae’s prophecy sends her through time into the arms of the modern Scottish Laird, posing as his ancestor who must find a magic Fae stone to bring order to the realms. Out now!

Stone of Fear, book 2. John and Marie’s story. A Scottish expert on religious buildings finds herself kidnapped and forced to search for a magic Fae stone as a Fae prophecy sends her lover chasing her through time to save her and the realms from evil. Out now!

Stone of Lust, book 3. Ainslie’s story (Colin’s sister). A modern woman attempts to save her kidnapped sister-in-law when she comes face to face with the Viking warrior of her dreams as a Fae prophecy demands she search for a magic Fae stone, but is his love worth risking her future? Out now!

Thistle in the Mistletoe, a Christmas companion book. Mary and Roderick (Colin’s identical ancestor in the past). An innocent highland beauty seeks peace in a forced marriage to her clan’s greatest enemy as betrayal looms from within; she only hopes to find true love. Releases November 4^th.

Stone of Hope, book 4. Dominic’s story (Brielle’s brother). Adrenaline junkie, special ops hunk, finds himself hunting a magic Fae stone as his niece and nephew, who possess Fae powers, land them in the middle of the 1930s Egyptian dig of an attractive archaeologist whose archenemy attempts to steal her work. Coming 2025.

Stone of Doubt, book 5.  Evie’s story. (Colin and Bree’s daughter) A human with Fae powers finds herself fulfilling an old magic stone prophecy as her lost dream boy, now a man, must rescue her from the cruel grip of an evil monster and save the realms. Coming 2025.

Next in the series:  Holly and Ivy, a Christmas companion book. Stone of Faith, book 6. Stone of Destiny, book 7. Evergreen Evermore, a Christmas companion book.

This series leads into another connected series, Dragons of Tantallon, a dragon-shapeshifter series revolving around the magic Iona Stones.

Wild Rose Press

Cover artist Lisa MacDonald

Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7eeAAqrPUI

Audio Excerpt – https://youtu.be/Qr3LdATZs14?si=E2FXWfMV152k4I0H

Blurb

A kiss under the Mistletoe brings good fortune, but can a Christmas wedding stop a deadly feud?

The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest enemy who murdered his da. Trust in a Comyn is hard won, even if she tempts his senses.

Mary Comyn only wants to stop the wars and live a life of peace and goodwill. Tricked by her father and forced by the English king to marry her clan’s enemy, Mary fears she’s scarifying finding true love for peace. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic, but why would the handsome MacDougall laird, her greatest clan enemy, love her?

A man conflicted by duty charged to find peace. A woman whose father betrayed all. When betrayal looms from within, can enemies find love and forge a new future for both clans?  

Buy my books here:  https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor

Excerpt

“Stop, don’t kill anyone.” Breaths echoed in the silent church as Mary’s heart lurched from her chest. A blade held at her father’s throat. Another at her clan’s long-time enemy, the MacDougall laird. The newest laird stood proud, eyeing her from across the pulpit. He’d tied his jet-black hair in a queue at his nap leaving a lock that fell over his eye, making him seem handsome and vulnerable.

Damn him. She shouldn’t find her enemy attractive.

His expression held malice and disgust, reflecting her father’s. The expression the MacDougall wore, her father well earned. The glare her father settled on Laird MacDougall, she knew, was not.

She took a deep breath. “Certainly, there is some other way.”

The king’s agent spoke in a flat voice. “Marry, or they both die.”

Her gaze shot back to the MacDougall laird. While not old, he wasn’t in the budding of youth. His enormous frame filled out his clothing well, and the muscles on his exposed thighs flexed as he fought to remain still. Her eyes traveled back to his face, and his mouth quirked a half grin.

The king’s agent raised his hand, and Mary grabbed his arm. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry Laird MacDougall.” One of her mother’s sayings echoed, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. One step toward peace, and it started with her.

The king’s agent chuckled. “Lass, you are the wisest in the room.”

She fingered her cross necklace, knowing a knife hid inside. But her pin knife, compared to the swords the king’s guards carried, remained useless. The moments before the confrontation ran through her mind.

Why was she here for a meeting between the king’s agent and her father? At Iona Abbey, of all places. Prior to entering, the king’s guards disarmed her and her father’s men. They wait, but for whom?

A scuffle from the back of the church alerted them that the guests they had waited for had finally arrived.

A long curse echoed in the sanctuary. “Son of a—the Comyns.”

Mary turned, and the worst sight greeted her. Her clan’s long-time enemy stood at the back of the church. His plaid was similar to her Comyn’s, green and red. But the dominant color of the MacDougall’s was red, whereas hers had more green and blue.

Her eyes connected with the large warrior’s, much as they had weeks before in battle. She wasn’t supposed to be with the war party, but she’d come, the men needing her. Her father, too focused on the attack, didn’t notice or maybe didn’t care. She spotted the MacDougall on the ramparts as he called orders to his men, who responded as they tried in vain to protect their home. When his eyes found hers, they both stopped as the fighting continued. The blue of his eyes captured her. The intensity of his glare rooted her to the spot.

She took a breath, then another, and he still stared as awareness washed over her. He’s your match, your soul mate. She shook the sensation off, breaking eye contact. When her gaze tried to find his again, he had gone.

Now facing him here, those deep blues eyes held her in place.

What did the king have in mind?

About the Author:

Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college and adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.