Story Title: The North

Author: Scottish_writer

Author Bio:

Rebecca A. Stewart (Scottish_writer) is from a village in Perthshire, Scotland, where she lives with her dog, and all the characters crammed into her head. Brought up in a culture of storytelling, of fairies and spirits, she thrives in the make believe world of vampires and werewolves that she's created. 

Blurb:

What would you give up to keep your family safe?

The time when wolf shifters could roam the land freely has ended. The world is changing swiftly around us. Skin Shifters have had to sink ever deeper into the shrinking wilderness; hiding from more than just the humans who hunt us, but from shadows who stalk the night and leave chaos in their wake - creatures driven by bloodlust and pass on their sickness to the humans they feed on.

My pack has seen too much of death, and has nowhere left to run to except towards one last light of hope; rumour of an Alpha of alphas gathering our kind together across the Northern sea. Our sanctuary comes in the form of Alpha Hati Hróðvitnisson, a male of undeniable strength but a burning hatred in his eyes that sears my flesh the same way his touch does. . .but even he may struggle to save me when the very blood running through my veins endangers us all. . .

. . .because the prophecies of Gods and Monsters may be alive in more than just the stories after all. 

What sparked your interest in writing, and how did you end up writing on Wattpad?

When I was a bairn, my mum read to me every night (little women, Anne of green gables were our favourites). That really forged my love of books. As a teen I used reading as an escape, and sometimes I would write little stories set in the worlds I read about. I didn't realise what I was doing then was setting up the foundation for me to become a writer who creates worlds of their own. I'd been reading on Wattpad all through my teens, and one day I was brave enough to post one of the little stories I wrote. Haven't looked back since!

What inspired your historical fiction story?

History plays such an important role in my country and culture that I was drawn to it from my childhood. Stories of Jacobites, invading vikings, star-crossed lovers, all steeped in magic, it captured my imagination. 

What about the historical time you write in appealed to you enough to want to write a story set during that time?

I've set my story in a time of great change for Western Europe, politically and in regards to religion. I've always been fascinated by the switch from paganism to Christianity when it came to Celts and vikings, and was interested how it might have felt from the point of view of the beings left behind having to navigate a shifting landscape.

Historical Fiction can be difficult to write in. What was the most difficult thing to convey historically from a modern perspective?

The most difficult thing has to be trying to use descriptions that don't sound too modern; I can't describe a feeling as being electric for example. It means really having to see through the eyes of someone from that far in the past. 

How do you create and develop your characters? Do you base them on historical figures, or are they entirely fictional?

It might sound mad, but they just pop up in my head full formed! Sometimes I might use influences from real people, but as most of my main characters are from mythology, it gives me some freedom...or rather, it gives them some freedom. I have little say over what my characters say or how they act. 

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?

It's alright to step away sometimes. Yes, write every day if you can, whether you feel good or not! But sometimes it's also good to close the laptop and not think about it for a while. Give yourself space to breathe. You'll never run out of ideas!

Thank you for your time ♥