Ask the Author: Celeste Barclay
Answered Questions (12)
Celeste Barclay
Hello,
Apologies for not responding sooner. I didn't see this until now. I'm thrilled you enjoyed Thor and Greer's story in Highland Strength.
Tate gets his own story when he meets his match, Adelaide Grant. She's Madeline and Fingal daughter. They're the couple in A Sinner at the Highland Court.
Shona will get her story, but I've moved over to the Sutherlands for the newest series. The newest book, Highland Love Comes Calling, released in Feb 2024.
Happy reading!
Apologies for not responding sooner. I didn't see this until now. I'm thrilled you enjoyed Thor and Greer's story in Highland Strength.
Tate gets his own story when he meets his match, Adelaide Grant. She's Madeline and Fingal daughter. They're the couple in A Sinner at the Highland Court.
Shona will get her story, but I've moved over to the Sutherlands for the newest series. The newest book, Highland Love Comes Calling, released in Feb 2024.
Happy reading!
Celeste Barclay
That's a good question. I'm having to think on that one. I suppose what might have happened if I'd picked a different career route a few careers back. Perhaps missed opportunities.
Celeste Barclay
I apologize. That is an older link that needs updating. Currently, I'm giving away The Highland Ladies Guide for new newsletter subscribers. Their Highland Beginning is in KU now. This is a good reminder to go back and update my links. Thanks for letting me know.
Celeste Barclay
My horror story: I launch a book, but the ebook file is blank. I try and try, but each new file remains blank. 😥
Celeste Barclay
Only one? I think I would travel to Kathryn La Veque's connected worlds. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for several scenes as well as be the heroine (of course). I'd also love to be a part of my own The Clan Sinclair world and Viking Glory world. I love the closeness of the families in each series and their loyalty to one another.
Celeste Barclay
It's already fall, and I'm still working my way through my TBR. I read novels from Merry Farmer, Cecelia Mecca, Keira Montclair, and Eliza Knight.
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
I can't pinpoint the exact source of my idea for His Highland Lass. I think the inspiration is a mixture of all the romance novels that I have read over the last four years or so. I suppose it's also a little bit of what I would want if I could escape back in time and have a strong, Scottish warrior battle to snuggle up to.
Some of my favorite authors are: Emma Prince, Amy Jarecki, Eliza Knight, Monica McCarty, Barbara Devlin, Michele Sinclair, and Vonda Sinclair. These authors certainly influence my writing style and my story development.
Thank you for asking,
Celeste
I can't pinpoint the exact source of my idea for His Highland Lass. I think the inspiration is a mixture of all the romance novels that I have read over the last four years or so. I suppose it's also a little bit of what I would want if I could escape back in time and have a strong, Scottish warrior battle to snuggle up to.
Some of my favorite authors are: Emma Prince, Amy Jarecki, Eliza Knight, Monica McCarty, Barbara Devlin, Michele Sinclair, and Vonda Sinclair. These authors certainly influence my writing style and my story development.
Thank you for asking,
Celeste
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
Even as a child, I had story ideas that would play through my head each night as I tried to fall asleep. They can be very vivid, almost a movie before my eyes. A few years ago, I was recovering from surgery and stumbled across romance novels. I have always loved historical fiction, but I decided to give a romance a try. It had been years since I had read anything from that genre. I found that it was a terrific escape from reality while I was healing. I started reading everything I could get my hands on, or rather load onto my Kindle app.
Anyway, the ideas that flash through my mind at night now belong to the romance genre. It took me quite a long time, as in I've read hundreds of romance novels by now, to realize that I wanted to give this a real try.
Now I'm inspired to write stories that allow my readers to escape from reality for a little while and experience a happily ever after even if real life isn't always that romantic or idealistic.
I hope that answers your question.
Celeste
Even as a child, I had story ideas that would play through my head each night as I tried to fall asleep. They can be very vivid, almost a movie before my eyes. A few years ago, I was recovering from surgery and stumbled across romance novels. I have always loved historical fiction, but I decided to give a romance a try. It had been years since I had read anything from that genre. I found that it was a terrific escape from reality while I was healing. I started reading everything I could get my hands on, or rather load onto my Kindle app.
Anyway, the ideas that flash through my mind at night now belong to the romance genre. It took me quite a long time, as in I've read hundreds of romance novels by now, to realize that I wanted to give this a real try.
Now I'm inspired to write stories that allow my readers to escape from reality for a little while and experience a happily ever after even if real life isn't always that romantic or idealistic.
I hope that answers your question.
Celeste
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
I am currently working on something! It is the second novel in The Clan Sinclair five book series, His Bonnie Highland Temptation. This novel features Callum, the oldest of the five Sinclair children and the heir to the laird. Callum finds himself unprepared for an arranged marriage, and his bride to be is not particularly interested in being patient while he makes up his mind. Spirited Siusan is determined to have a husband who wants her or no husband at all. Coming from a family where she is unwanted and unappreciated, she has no intention of joining a new clan only to be treated just as she has been her entire life.
It is a Highlander romance and features many of the traditional aspects of that genre. I am about three quarters of the way done with the writing. I have the proofreading and editing stage to do, and then go to publishing.
It should be available by mid to late June.
Stay tuned for the next installment.
Celeste
I am currently working on something! It is the second novel in The Clan Sinclair five book series, His Bonnie Highland Temptation. This novel features Callum, the oldest of the five Sinclair children and the heir to the laird. Callum finds himself unprepared for an arranged marriage, and his bride to be is not particularly interested in being patient while he makes up his mind. Spirited Siusan is determined to have a husband who wants her or no husband at all. Coming from a family where she is unwanted and unappreciated, she has no intention of joining a new clan only to be treated just as she has been her entire life.
It is a Highlander romance and features many of the traditional aspects of that genre. I am about three quarters of the way done with the writing. I have the proofreading and editing stage to do, and then go to publishing.
It should be available by mid to late June.
Stay tuned for the next installment.
Celeste
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
TRY! That is my advice for an aspiring writer. Read plenty of books in your chosen genre to get a feel for the ebb and flow and what readers might expect. Then, if and when you have an idea, sit down and write or type. Let it all come pouring out. If you're working straight on the computer, then it's easy to move parts around or go back and change a section. If you start out by writing by hand, makes notes to yourself if you want to change something.
Allow yourself time. Writing is a process. In real life, I'm a teacher, and I tell my students that since they are not the Golden Goose, their first attempt isn't going to be gold. You have to know that writing is going to take a while. It takes a while to get your ideas on paper or the screen. It takes a while to proofread your writing (at least twice, always at least twice) and make edits. It takes a while to get it onto various websites for distribution or to a printer. If you're looking for a publisher, rather than self-publishing, be prepared to submit numerous times before someone agrees. If no one bites, then self-publish. If you want to retain all creative rights, then self-publish. It's becoming more and more common and more acceptable, so take advantage of it.
Best of luck!
Celeste
TRY! That is my advice for an aspiring writer. Read plenty of books in your chosen genre to get a feel for the ebb and flow and what readers might expect. Then, if and when you have an idea, sit down and write or type. Let it all come pouring out. If you're working straight on the computer, then it's easy to move parts around or go back and change a section. If you start out by writing by hand, makes notes to yourself if you want to change something.
Allow yourself time. Writing is a process. In real life, I'm a teacher, and I tell my students that since they are not the Golden Goose, their first attempt isn't going to be gold. You have to know that writing is going to take a while. It takes a while to get your ideas on paper or the screen. It takes a while to proofread your writing (at least twice, always at least twice) and make edits. It takes a while to get it onto various websites for distribution or to a printer. If you're looking for a publisher, rather than self-publishing, be prepared to submit numerous times before someone agrees. If no one bites, then self-publish. If you want to retain all creative rights, then self-publish. It's becoming more and more common and more acceptable, so take advantage of it.
Best of luck!
Celeste
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
I think the best part of being a writer is the freedom it provides me. I tend to be quite Type A in many areas of my life, but writing allows me to explore and release the more creative side. I can escape my responsibilities or the expectations others may have and create a world of my own making. I love the feeling of getting the ideas that are milling around in my head out onto paper, or rather computer screen. I also get quite a lot of satisfaction from seeing it all printed out. Even if it's not bound as a book and is just on regular printer paper, it feels like such an accomplishment to know that all those pages and all those words came from my head.
I also enjoy knowing that other people can find satisfaction from my writing. If it provides entertainment or escape for the reader, then I have been successful.
Thank you for asking.
Celeste
I think the best part of being a writer is the freedom it provides me. I tend to be quite Type A in many areas of my life, but writing allows me to explore and release the more creative side. I can escape my responsibilities or the expectations others may have and create a world of my own making. I love the feeling of getting the ideas that are milling around in my head out onto paper, or rather computer screen. I also get quite a lot of satisfaction from seeing it all printed out. Even if it's not bound as a book and is just on regular printer paper, it feels like such an accomplishment to know that all those pages and all those words came from my head.
I also enjoy knowing that other people can find satisfaction from my writing. If it provides entertainment or escape for the reader, then I have been successful.
Thank you for asking.
Celeste
Celeste Barclay
Dear Reader,
So far, I haven't suffered from writer's block when it comes to my creative writing. I have several story lines that are whirling around my mind and have been for years. I just need to get them on the computer screen.
When it comes to academic and professional writing, I take a more formal approach. I always create an outline. ALWAYS. I use it as a brain dump. Then I can arrange the parts into the order that I want. I would recommend using a simple plot diagram. Get the gist of your story on paper, so you know where you want to start and where you want to end. If you have any idea of the climax, add that in. Then you can kind of fill it in as you flesh out your story. I also recommend writing down the simple things like setting, protagonist/antagonist, and any symbolism you want to include. This might seem a little structured, but I find it keeps me from going "um" in the middle of my writing.
If you're not sure how to come up with new story lines after the first few, think about the books that you really enjoy. What are the premises or stories that you remember best? What caught your attention and kept you riveted? Use that as a starting point for your own story.
I hope this helps!
Celeste
So far, I haven't suffered from writer's block when it comes to my creative writing. I have several story lines that are whirling around my mind and have been for years. I just need to get them on the computer screen.
When it comes to academic and professional writing, I take a more formal approach. I always create an outline. ALWAYS. I use it as a brain dump. Then I can arrange the parts into the order that I want. I would recommend using a simple plot diagram. Get the gist of your story on paper, so you know where you want to start and where you want to end. If you have any idea of the climax, add that in. Then you can kind of fill it in as you flesh out your story. I also recommend writing down the simple things like setting, protagonist/antagonist, and any symbolism you want to include. This might seem a little structured, but I find it keeps me from going "um" in the middle of my writing.
If you're not sure how to come up with new story lines after the first few, think about the books that you really enjoy. What are the premises or stories that you remember best? What caught your attention and kept you riveted? Use that as a starting point for your own story.
I hope this helps!
Celeste
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more