After many years in public relations,
advertising and marketing, Blythe Gifford started writing seriously after a
corporate layoff. Ten years and one layoff later, she became an overnight
success when she sold her first book to the Harlequin Historical line.Since then, she has published nine romances,
most set in England and on the Scottish Borders.Her latest books are SECRETS AT COURT and THE
WITCH FINDER.Her stories usually
incorporate real historical events and characters.Your real name and pen name?
Blythe is my middle name, so Blythe Gifford is actually my real name. Perfect for an historical romance writer, yes? What languages you can speak and write? Like so many who live in the United States, I am fluent only in English. However I studied enough French that I surprise myself occasionally in being able to understand and speak. Since I write primarily in the medieval time period, a rudimentary knowledge of French is helpful, since it was spoken even in England until the middle of the 14th century. Your question gives me the opportunity to express my appreciation to those who have translated my books into French, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, and many other languages. It is hard enough to retell the story in a different language. It must be near impossible to convey the story-telling style – the word rhythm and so on. Bravo to those who do it well!
What is your favorite genre and why?
My favorite to write is
historical. I literally do not get
contemporary ideas. But any time I read
history, no matter what the time period, I come away with a nugget of a book. Too many to write! My favorite to read is harder to answer. I read widely and enjoy a good thriller since
it is so different from what I write. I
also love history and travel writing as well as fiction.
When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?
I started writing my first
historical novel at age ten – in pencil!
What I try to do is give my readers the experience of living in another
time and place. I hope when they have
finished one of my books, they will have a much better understanding of the era
and circumstances of history. But I also
want them to have a rich, emotional experience.
A reader recently said she cried at the end of one of my books and I
thought “That’s exactly what a want!
It’s a happy ending, but an emotional one!”
Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to
share a synopsis of your work?
I have published 10 books,
with another scheduled in 2015. You can
find a complete list and more details on my website: http://www.blythegifford.com/Gifford_Books.html
Instead of listing them in
order of publication, I will give them to you in chronological order of the time
the story is set, just in case your readers want to take a journey through history!
INNOCENCEUNVEILED– 1327
HISBORDERBRIDE–1356
THEKNAVEAND THEMAIDEN
– 1357
Royal Wedding Stories
SECRETS AT COURT – 1361
WHISPERS AT COURT – 1363 [Coming in 2015]
The Weston Daughters
THEHARLOT’S DAUGHTER– 1386
IN THEMASTER’SBED
–1388
The Brunson Clantrilogyis setin Scotland during the reign of James II, earlySixteenthCentury– 1528-29 RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR CAPTIVE OF THE BORDER LORD TAKEN BY THE BORDER REBEL
THE WITCH FINDER is set in Scotland in the mid-Seventeenth Century – 1661-62
Specifically on THE WITCH FINDER, here’s a quick summary:
Scotland, 1661 He's a haunted man. Alexander Kincaid watched his mother die, the victim, they said, of a witch's curse. So he has dedicated his life to battling evil. But in this small, Scottish village, he confronts a woman who challenges everything he believes. She may be more dangerous than a witch, because she's a woman who threatens his heart. She's a hunted woman. They called her mother a witch, but she was only a woman made mad by witch hunters like Alexander Kincaid. Having escaped to the Border hills, Margret Reid is seeking a safe haven and a place to hide. But when the witch hunter arrives, not only is her heart in danger. So is her life.
What is generally your preference in reading – a paper book or ebook? And why? I read both. I prefer print, partially because I flip back and forth a lot and print makes that easier. In addition, I find it easier to remember where I have seen something in a physical book and even to remember that I’m reading a book when it is in a stack by my chair. But I travel frequently and I love the convenience of being able to carry a library with me, so I read e-books frequently.
How much real life goes into fiction writing?
I have a theory that all
writing is essentially autobiographical, but never in the way the reader would expect. Often, I find that lessons I need to learn
somehow end up being those that my hero and heroine struggle with. It can work two ways. Either I realize as I write the book that I
must learn the lesson I’ve given the character or, conversely, I’ve had stories
I couldn’t write until I had already learned the lesson. But as for specific plot points or
events? Virtually never are they from
“real life.”
Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/
stayed. What best things you liked in these countries around the globe?
I’m a native of the United
States but have had the privilege of visiting Canada, Mexico, England, France,
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Monaco, Spain, Italy,
Portugal, Morocco, and Greece. And hope
to see some of them again, as well as adding many others!
I love to travel and I
would say I focus on three things when I do.
First, the landscape. I think the
realities of land, sea, and climate and light help mold the people who live
there. Second, the history. (No surprise!) And finally, art and culture. You’ll find me looking for the art museum,
the theatre, or the literature of a country.
Of course, a good local meal is always welcome, too.
One of my fondest travel
memories occurred in Morocco. I had read
Paul Bowles THE SHELTERING SKY before going and when I was in Tangiers, I asked
our local guide about him. The man’s
face lit up. He had known Bowles and
started to tell me his personal stories.
At that moment, another person on the tour interrupted to ask a question. With an expression of disdain, he
replied: “Can’t you see we are speaking
of important things?” Even to this man,
literature was important.
Your zodiac/ sunsign?
I’m a Sagittarius.
What is the last book you finished reading? What is the current book
you are reading?
Among my favorite recent
reads was REFLECTIONS ON A MARINE VENUS by Lawrence Durrell. A series of essays on what life was like on
the Greek Island of Rhodes after World War II, it literally allows you to live
the experience along with him. Right
now, I’m reading (at least!) two books.
GONE GIRL (in hopes I can finish before the spoilers from the movie
intrude!) and Barbara Kingsolver’s THE LACUNA.
Because I’ve had several years of tight deadlines, I’ve promised myself
a reading binge!
What comes to your mind when you think of India[WG1] ?
I’ve not had the good
fortune to visit, so all my knowledge is second hand, from books, movies,
reports of friends who have visited there or lived there, and my study of art
and religion.
I have had the good fortune
to have one of my books released in India (in English.) HIS BORDER BRIDE was released in 2012.
Some quickies:
Coffee or Tea: Both!
My routine includes coffee in the morning and just after lunch with
green tea the rest of the day.
Mountain or Sea: The
sea, definitely.
Silence or Conversation: There’s a time for both.
Tulip or Rose: Tulip.
Your favorite time of the day?
I am very much a morning
person. Any day I can see the sun rise
over the water is already perfect.
First thing you do in the morning after waking up?
For
more years than I can count, I have practiced the routine recommended by Julia
Cameron and written “morning pages” by hand.
Whenever possible, I do so outside as the sun comes up.
State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote
I’m particularly proud of
that the Chicago Tribune said my books were “the perfect balance between history and romance.”
Links & other relevant details:
THE WITCH FINDER is available in e-and print versions via
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.
Links are available at www.blythegifford.com
Webpage: www.blythegifford.com
Twitter handle: @BlytheGifford
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/672889.Blythe_Gifford
Amazon link: Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001H6L5ZA
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/BlytheGifford
I also post regularly on the Unusual Historical blog, http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/
[WG1]That I had a book published thre!
