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This Throwback Thursday, we’re heading back to the misty glens of the Scottish Highlands with Highland Arms, Cathie Dunn’s debut Highland romance. Set against the haunting legacy of Glencoe and the Jacobite past, the novel weaves history, heartbreak, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers romance into a story that still holds a special place in readers’ hearts.
In this interview, Cathie looks back on the inspiration behind Highland Arms, the research rabbit holes, the characters she still adores, and how her voice as an author has evolved since first bringing Catriona and Rory’s story to life.
Mary Anne: Looking back to writing Highland Arms, what first sparked your idea for a romance set in the Scottish Highlands?
At the same time, I read a lot of historical romance novels, most of them involving daring Highlanders, and the idea for Highland Arms soon began to take shape.
Mary Anne: What excited you most about writing your first published Highland romance, and what scared you the most?
Cathie: I loved delving into the historical background of the area in which Highland Arms is set – the beautiful Highland village of Ballachulish and tragic Glencoe. I could go down that particular rabbit hole for days. The history really gripped me, and I was thrilled how my main male character, Rory, emerged from this. Glencoe is still my favourite place on earth.
What worried me the most was the fact that Highland Arms contains more historical (or should I say, political) background details than many Scottish romance novels. Would readers enjoy delving into the dark side of Scottish history, and its effect on Rory, with me?
Mary Anne: How did you approach creating the emotional connection between Catriona and Rory — was their chemistry clear from the start, or did it develop as you wrote?
Cathie: Oh, that was such fun to write right from the start! Catriona is headstrong and opinionated, and her banishment is unjust, which makes her come across as entitled at times. Rory doesn’t think much of Lowlanders, and he regards her as a threat to his secret life as a Jacobite smuggler. If she discovers his secret, he’d be in big trouble.
I suppose, these days you’d call it ‘enemies to lovers’. Both have much to learn from each other, even though they realise what matters when it’s almost too late.
Mary Anne: What was the biggest challenge you faced during the writing or research process for this story?
during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November 2009, and the big challenge was to finish it in time. I did it. Yay! But then the serious process of editing and more research was required, which took another few months.
Research could be tough, as I mention several pivotal events. The story is set between the two major Jacobite Rebellions, so there is talk of the first failed rebellion, and the reprisals on the Highlanders, and, of course, the massacre at Glencoe in 1692, still within living memory in 1720, when Highland Arms is set. Research made for heartbreaking reading.
Mary Anne: Since publishing Highland Arms, how has your writing evolved or changed in subsequent novels?
Cathie: Oh, it has changed a lot. Looking back now, I realise I hadn’t fully found my own voice. Having read many historical romance novels, I clearly tried to emulate some of the authors of the day, even though hints of my own voice are breaking through now and then.
My early novels have quite a different ‘feel’ to my recent books. Every author evolves as we continue to write. We discover new facets to our voice, new ways of interpreting our characters’ paths, new outlooks as to what we want out of a story, and how to get it. And so, our writing changes all the time.
Mary Anne: Which scene or character in Highland Arms are you most proud of — and why?
Cathie: I adore Auntie Meg. She’s the heart and soul of the story, showing off the famous Highland welcome. Astute, caring, and savvy, and she knows right from wrong – and she’s not afraid to voice her opinion. Then, of course, there’s troubled Rory, for whom I have a soft spot…
As to favourite scenes, I still love the scene where Catriona walks into the kitchen at Taigh na Rhon very early in the day in her nightshift, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and encounters a topless Rory. To this day, this scene always makes me giggle, and I can’t believe I actually wrote it.
Mary Anne: What was one piece of feedback from readers that surprised you or influenced how you write now?
Cathie: It’s important to find your own voice, and follow your instinct. At the time I wrote my earliest books, I tried to copy the style of historical romance authors, as I thought that that was what readers wanted. (That caused me a lot of trouble with my then work in progress, Dark Deceit, which I still want to tweak.) Now I know that readers enjoy authors’ genuine voices, and their own interpretations. Readers’ feedback and reviews have been invaluable in my progress as a writer.
Just listen to your inner voice, and you’ll find it. It may be hiding sometimes (I’m just going through that phase), but it’ll come back.
Mary Anne: If you could go back to your first day working on this book, what advice would you give your earlier author self?
Cathie: Don’t try to copy others! I realised when I edited Highland Arms that much of the narrative didn’t sound like ‘me’, so I made quite a few major changes. And my editor at The Wild Rose Press, my first publisher, was wonderful in helping me gather my own thoughts on where I wanted to take the story, and find my voice in its delivery. Her guidance was a great learning curve, and it helped me to understand the ins and outs of writing and editing, even though I’d already studied Novel Writing by that time.
Mary Anne: How do you balance historical setting and romance — and has that balance shifted in your later work?
Cathie: Historical setting has always been of major importance to me, which is why the focus of Highland Arms changed a bit when I re-released it after I got my rights back. In effect, I closed the bedroom door.
It also made me realise that, whilst the romance aspect is important and should always be genuine and heartfelt, I prefer this to happen within a historical construct. That means including real historic events, and people who lived at the time. I’m keen to portray daily life, with all its joys and tragedies.
Having said that, I don’t want to write about kings and queens (at least not for the time being) – there are already some brilliant writers out there who know them much better than I do. But recently, my focus has shifted to forgotten women in history, and I want to bring them to life. Romance is a big part of that, but not the major one. That’s life itself.
Mary Anne: What are you working on now, and what can fans of Highland Arms look forward to next from you?
Cathie: I’m (still, after three years!) working on Treachery (the sequel to Ascent) about Sprota the Breton, handfasted wife William Longsword, son of Poppa of Bayeux and Rollo the Viking. Set in 10th-century Normandy, I’m keen to show her struggles as the mother of William’s only heir, especially after his assassination.
I hope to have that novel finally finished in the summer. Famous last words…
Thank you so much for allowing me to chat about my first published novel, Highland Arms, on your fabulous blog, Mary Anne. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey back to those early days as a published author.
Check out the blurb:
A Lowland Lady in disgrace.
Sizzling romance in the Highlands.
Betrayed by her brother’s lies, Catriona MacKenzie is banished from her home to her godmother’s manor in the remote Scottish Highlands. While her father ponders her fate, Catriona’s insatiable curiosity leads her into trouble – and straight into the arms of a notorious Highland rogue.
Five years after an ill-fated Jacobite rebellion, Rory Cameron smuggles cattle and weapons to raise money for another uprising – until Catriona uncovers a deadly plot against him. When she inadvertently exposes his activities, Rory is faced with a decision that could save their lives, or destroy them both.
But is he running out of time?
Ready to escape to the Highlands?
Available now on #Kindle, Paperback, and #KindleUnlimited Pick up your copy HERE.
This post totally made me want to pack my bags and head straight to the Highlands! ✨ I love how you capture the landscape and the vibe — it feels like a real escape. Thanks for sharing all these amazing spots and tips — great read!
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