This is the 12th of 25 blog posts to celebrate my 25th published novel, A Skye Full of Stars. Today is publication day, and I share how the Isle of Skye is an important character throughout the trilogy.
A Skye Full of Stars is a very special book to me as, as you may have already read on my recent blog posts, as it’s my twenty-fifth published novel. It’s set in the beautiful Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland, which is completely free of high-rise buildings or motorways, boasting instead beautiful mountains and bays, rock formations and Hebridean cottages, jewel-green grass and silvery seas.
The Isle of Skye
I loved researching Skye in winter. I’d visited in summer and didn’t think I’d enjoy my winter sojourn yet more, but who could resist pastel skies over frosty moors, snowy mountain tops and icicles clinging to roadside rocks? Even the burns had frozen on the hillsides in shiny white meandering lines.
My husband came with me to share the driving, and we stopped overnight in Dumfries, which is around halfway to Skye from our home in Northamptonshire. And Dumfries is where I accidentally left my coat, hanging in our hotel room …! Bad mistake. I made do by buying a waterproof shell and also wearing three fleeces and a thermal base layer. With my hiking trousers over my leggings, this meant I had fourteen pockets in which to lose my car keys.
We’d chosen to stay in a cottage in Sconser, halfway between Broadford and Portree, and it proved a great decision. Daylight was over by about 4pm. We retreated to our lovely cottage with a view of a sea loch, made dinner and – in my case – wrote for an hour or two. I do love writing part of a book when actually in the place I’ve set it.
A Skye Full of Stars is Ezzie’s story. She’s the middle Wynter sister. You may have already read youngest sister Thea’s story in Under a Summer Skye, but it doesn’t really matter if you haven’t. Each book is designed to stand alone perfectly well. Ezzie’s the manager of a grand house, Rothach Hall, owned by the Larsson family. For once, the family intends to spend Christmas at the hall rather than summer. Ezzie’s plans are going well … until some of the family decide to arrive waaaaay earlier than agreed and Ezz has not just her employers Grete and Erik to deal with, but their impulsive son Mats and his gorgeous kids Astrid and Alvin. And, later, some even more unexpected visitors.
I hope you enjoy this latest trip to the Isle of Skye!
Early reader reviews for A Skye Full of Stars…
