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

Hello Margaret, thank you for joining me today. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? 

My name is Margaret Izard. I live in Houston, Texas, with my family of adult triplets, my loving husband, two doggies, and a cat. I’m a previous professional dancer in ballet, modern jazz, tap, and other dance forms. I’ve been involved in the arts since I could walk, and I love to tell tall tales about fantastic events. I love any holiday and enjoy cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. On most hot Texas days, if I’m not at my laptop, I’m in the pool trying to say cool. I keep busy with not only writing but many hobbies. I enjoy hearing from my readers.

Where did you get the idea for Stone of Lust?

Lust is one of the Stones of Iona, and magic Fae stones are featured in my series.

The idea for the stones came from research for my series, Stones of Iona. 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.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I love historical paranormal romances. Writing about the two sub-genres of time travel and history came from my vast reading. I had stories inside me that craved to be told. So, I started writing.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

When I first outlined Stone of Lust, it weaved two stories into one, each dependent on the other, as both found a resolution. One element of the story has vexed me for some time, and when my stories do that, I delve into the World Wide Web, searching history. Usually, there’s something that I read that sparks inspiration, and a solution evolves from that.

The day I found the Brooch of Lorne, a highland brooch created by the Lord of Lorne, a MacDougall ancestor, designed to hold stones and one of three rare left today, I nearly jumped from the chair, cheering. This was the answer! (Which I can’t share here without spoiling the book.) I called it a gift from research. Incorporating it into the story resolved a major plot point and opened the door for other places where I could use the relic in other books. It was such a great gift. This isn’t the only book you’ll see, the Brooch of Lorne, so look for it in future books coming soon!

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

My books aren’t linear. I like to call it a story with “meat on the bone.” For the Stones of Iona Series, there’s not only a romance story for each book but an underlying story driving the series forward: the hunt for the magic Fae stones. The challenge, which I love, is weaving these stories together to where they merge into one and make sense. Each book is a love story; the series is one long saga of finding lost magic stones.

Fun fact: A second series called Dragons of Tantallon is connected to this one, featuring dragon shapeshifters introduced in Stone of Love, book 1, Stones of Iona.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

The hardest part of this story was weaving Ainslie’s love story within the kidnapping plotline of her sister-in-law, Brielle, the main character from Stone of Love, and the storyline of the search for a magic Stone of Iona. Three distinct plot threads are dependent yet not. The first challenge was choosing the best places where these stories intersect and overlap. The second challenge was ensuring each plot thread found a resolution by the end of the book. It’s one of my darkest and most challenging books. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

Research. When I start outlining a story, I begin with research. When I’m stuck on a story, I dive into research. So many ideas have come from reading about our past and present day. It only takes one spark, and a story develops from there.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I’ve had multiple different careers: professional ballerina, dance teacher, marketing, and sales, but people pick up this one from my bio all the time: Triplet mom. Yes, I have adult triplets, and it’s a job. Everyone asks – two boys and a girl.

Once they hit grade school, I quit my day job and dedicated myself to their upbringing and education. (I tutored them through college). Did I like it? Yes and no. Some days were a blast and others a challenge, but I wouldn’t change it. They are my hellions on earth, and I love them. Every day is an adventure.

After they had completed college, I decided to take back my life and started writing.

Do you collect anything?

Earrings. I love different earrings.

I also collect art. I love Peter Max. Years ago an employer (He had commissioned the artist to do a family portrait) took me to Peter Max’s studios in New York, where I met the artist. I witnessed him work, and came away with a personalized signed poster. It hangs in my game room. I have three lithographs of his work.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?

My romances focus on how people form connections. They explore the notion of fated love and true love. I hope each person comes away from my stories with hope. Hope for themselves and the relationships they form in their own lives.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

The irony of this question is I have a pictorial memory. My leads already have an image I’ve modeled them after.

Stone of Love – Colin MacDougall is Henry Cavill, and Brielle DeVolt is Anne Hathaway
Stone of Fear – John MacArthur is Richard Rankin, and Marie is Freya Mavor
Stone of Lust – Rannick is Clive Standen and Ainslie is Kristie Mitchell

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

Contemporary Romance – I have a few ideas on what I’d like to write next after my two paranormal romance series.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes. Years ago, I wrote short stories, but out of a lack of confidence in my writing, I threw them all out.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Early on, criticism was hard to handle, even after all my dance training, which had a lot of criticism. But as I worked on my craft, I looked to feedback as a gift. If I didn’t get the response from a reader I wanted, I went back and looked at what I needed to improve to get the message I wanted across. I still do this today.

Best Compliment. There have been many over the years, but my publishing editor’s reaction to my latest submission, Stone of Doubt, book 4 Stones of Iona series, is the most recent. After reading the synopsis, she sent an email complimenting my creativity. An hour later, she emailed again and admitted she had read the epilogue first to find out where the next book, Stone of Faith, Book 6, would go, and then she complimented my creativity again. Her first word was “WOW!” Best compliment – my editor read the end first!

Thanks, Margaret. I enjoyed your interview. Wow, triplets? That must have been interesting. 😊 Please tell us about your book…

Blurb:

She dreams of a Viking warrior with Fae-blue eyes and a God-like body that makes her heart pound like no other. Trying to save her kidnapped sister-in-law, Ainslie follows her back to the Vikings of Scotland, where she faces the very man who has haunted her dreams.

When Jarl, Rannick MacRaghnaill meets the alluring Warrior Woman who helped steal his warship, she dresses in clothing so strange that every curve teases his senses. But is she, as she claims, a woman from the future or an irresistible lying thief?

She’d risk her life to save her sister-in-law. He’d risk his honor to win her heart.

Can both hardened warriors save the realms from the evilest of Fae’s minds combined with the most dangerous of humans?

Excerpt:

Ainslie smoothed her hand over his firm fist, and he relaxed it a little. She understood his warrior’s heart. The desire to control the fierce energy within him that wanted to wage war but still needed to be gentle with his friends and family. The people he loved deeply. Maybe if she explained how she saw the bloodlust, he might understand the balance between the two.

She continued to caress his fist as she whispered, “Bloodlust is something every fighter has, Rannick. Even women.”

He stared at her hand, gently stroking his, and he relaxed a little more.

Her fingers trailed along his knuckles. “Fighting comes in many forms, not just the sword a warrior wields, but a mother’s fight to bring an infant into the world, a husband’s fight to hunt for food for his family, a warrior’s fight to defend his land.”

She opened his fingers and lightly brushed hers along his palm, from his fingertips to his wrist and back. “A child’s fight to survive in a hard world.” She slowly traced the lines in his hand. “Using the bloodlust for the right reasons and causes is the art of being a great warrior.”

Rannick glanced at his hand, then her face. His free hand came to her cheek and caressed it.

He used his thumb to tilt her head till their eyes connected. “Warrior for the children, woman of war. Is yer bloodlust only for the children?”

Ainslie gazed into Rannick’s bright blue eyes and became lost. She spoke before she thought. “Everyone, I fight for everyone. Who does yer bloodlust fight for, Rannick?”

He leaned toward her, and their breaths mingled. “I fight for many things.” He licked his lips and spoke softly. “But tonight, I use it to pursue the woman I love.”

Buy link:

https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor

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.

www.margaretizrdauthor.com