Roma Cordon was introduced to romance novels in her teenage years and instantly became a voracious reader of the genre. In the 1990s, she came to live in New York where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After taking a writing course at New York University with Anne Rice, she dived into the world of writing while testing the waters at public speaking at her local Toastmasters club. By day, Roma works in the finance industry; in the evenings and weekends, she is a passionate romance writer. She also writes on her blog romacordon.com.
 
Inspiration for Roma’s debut novel, Bewitching a Highlander came from trips to Scotland with her husband. Roma is an active member of the RWA-NYC Chapter and lives in New York with her husband where they care for two adorable furry friends adopted from local shelters.
 
Possibly the best part of being a writer is having the opportunity to rub elbows with other writers, glean a little personal information as to just what exactly ignited the fire that ultimately gave readers a spellbinding and unforgettable adventure. Roma Cordon, author of Bewitching a Highlander, is one such writer and, before we get started, I want to thank her for spending a great deal of her valuable time on this interview. I know readers want to know more about her and her book, and I’ve tried to compile questions of interest to not only the fantasy reading audience but also aspiring fantasy writers.
 
Who or what was it that encouraged you to start writing fiction?
I’ve always loved reading romance novels. Over the years I’ve read hundreds of them. During one of these reads, a few years ago, a voice in my head said, hey, if I were writing this story, I would never make the heroine do that! Then another voice in my head said, well, smarty pants, if you know so much, why don’t you write it the way you would like? And after I took a class with Anne Rice in New York in the early 2000’s, I did just that, I dived into the world of writing. I was saddened to hear of Ann Rice’s passing last year. A great loss to the writing world.
 
Before you started writing Bewitching a Highlander, did you know how it would end?
The only thing I knew before starting to write Bewitching a Highlander was it would have a happy or a happy-for-now ending. There are two prevalent schools of thought on happy endings: the first is writers should write stories with real life experiences so readers get the truth, and the second is writers should write stories which allow the reader to escape reality.

Neil Gaiman said in his Master Class that we as writers should always write the truth: whether it’s about a man in a blue and red onesie who can fly, bend steel, and save the world, or it’s about a young witch who after nineteen years of thinking her parents abandoned her, finds out her father is a prisoner in an enemy clan and will do anything to save him, even if it means landing her own neck in a noose. I am a big believer in what Neil Gaiman said, even before he said it. So my definition of happy endings still comes with a heavy dose of reality.
 
I know you drew much inspiration for your book following a trip to Scotland. Can you tell us a bit about a particular person or a historical site that stuck with you most?
I fell in love with Scotland’s culture, food, and the country’s history. There’s also something unexplainable, intangible, and inspiring in the air in Scotland, especially on the Isle of Skye that makes one think of fairies, witches, and forest nymphs. I like interesting history and the witches part got me into reading up on the actual history of the witchcraft laws in Scotland. In 1563 a Witchcraft Act was passed, making witchcraft a capital offense. Before this law was repealed in 1736, 4,000 to 6,000 people were tried for witchcraft and more than 1,500 were executed by strangulation or burning. It was out of a combination of these things that Bewitching A Highlander, was born.
 
Who is your favorite fictional character?
Throughout the years I’ve accumulated quite a few favorite fictional characters, like the incomparable Tracy Whitney from Sidney Sheldon’s If Tomorrow Comes, the prejudicial Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the seriously funny Jack and Algernon from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. But I have to say, lately I’ve fallen in love with the strong and steadfast Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë all over again. Why? Because I am a big believer that love conquers all, even in a time when women had practically no titles or rights except what was given to them by their male family members or relatives. And when the love-of-your-life is hiding a very disturbing and dark secret in the farthest and highest tower of his very lovely mansion.
 
Which fantasy or romance author do you admire most and why?
My answer, Jane Austen, is very cliché but for very good reason. She had to publish her novels anonymously because women of the British gentry weren’t supposed to write novels, they were supposed to pursue more ladylike pursuits like finding a suitable husband and having children. So that makes Jane Austen a rebel, and I like brave and courageous rebels with good causes. Especially since her novels have brought so much joy and entertainment to so many readers, like me. Jane Austen achieved modest success in her lifetime, while her real success and status was achieved after death and to me that’s a testament to her enduring and true talent.
 
Why did you want to become a published author? Will you share with the readers the pros and cons of the submission process?
I wanted to become a published author because I wanted to entertain readers, to provide stories that hopefully let them escape the ordinary. There are many pros and cons of the submission process but the biggest pro, of course, is being accepted and the biggest con, without a doubt, is being rejected. To be an author going the traditional route (being traditionally published) you have to have patience, work hard, and have a very thick skin. It takes many months for you to get a response, and that’s if you get one, since many times companies don’t acknowledge your submission.  And when you do get a response, the feedback can be exceedingly brutal. But being industrious will serve you well in the long run since you have to do a lot of rewriting, cutting, finetuning, revising and editing. But in the end, it’s worth it!
 
What was the most challenging part of writing your book?
Writing Bewitching a Highlander was an absolute labor of love. But the submission process was very challenging. After many months, the first manuscript was rejected by a small press. After which I spent additional months rewriting, fine-tuning, and editing the entire manuscript. The revised version was graciously accepted by CamCat Publishing.  
 
Please give us a brief synopsis of Bewitching a Highlander.
Bewitching a Highlander is Book I of the Scottish Highland Warriors series. It is a historical romance, with fantasy undertones, set in 1747 Scotland. Breena, A 24-year-old healer, hiding her neuroses and witchcraft, sets out to rescue her father from an enemy clan, the Campbells. Amongst the enemy she uncovers her family’s dark witchery past and falls for a debonair future chief named Egan who is dead set against Breena getting herself captured and hanged in the rescue process.

Egan himself is itching for revenge, against the enemy clan and disobeys his father to help Breena, an alluring lass, who he can’t seem to keep his eyes or lips off of. They become entangled in a romance that is strictly forbidden by both their clans and families. To save Breena from the Campbells, he will risk everything, including disobeying his father for the first time in his life and inciting a clan war.
 
Do you have a work-in-progress? If so, can you give us a hint as to its content and your progress so far?
I am editing the manuscript for Book II of the Scottish Highland Warriors series. What happens when childhood friends, now grownups, one an army captain and the other a rebel spy, are caught in a compromising situation? They are forced into a marriage of convenience. But they will have to survive each other first before they can take down their common enemies
 
Where can readers purchase your book?
Bewitching a Highlander is available where ever books are sold, including my publisher camcatbooks.com who is offering 25% discount on books for 2022 Black Friday sales.
And Amazon Kindle is offering a limited time sale of Bewitching a Highlander for only $0.99!
 
Where can readers learn more about Roma Cordon?
Want to know what else Roma is working on? Check out her website romacordon.com
Want to say Hi to Roma? You can do so on Twitter Or check out her super cute postings on Instagram
And if you’d like to know what Roma Cordon is reading, check out her weekly reviews on BookBub.com and Goodreads
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I recently had the privilege of interviewing Kathryn, author of The Saint's Mistress, which is now available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats. I only interview authors whose books I highly recommend, and you can read my review here.
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​Who were your greatest literary influencers?
My earliest and strongest literary influence was Charlotte Bronte. I first read Jane Eyre when I was in sixth grade and I loved it so much that I immediately went right back to the beginning and re-read it. (Sixth-graders back in those days had lots of time on our hands) I think it was Jane Eyre that implanted in me the desire to write female characters who are morally and emotionally strong.
Stephen King admits his wife rescued his first bestseller, a sci-fi thriller entitled Carrie, from the trashcan after he’d given up on it, deciding it wasn’t any good. Should this happen to you, would you consider another’s opinion or follow your own instincts? Why?
The opinion of someone else I trusted would probably make me think again, but I would only pick the book out of the trash can if I still felt passionate about it. Without a passionate interest in my characters and story, I would have a hard time picking back up on something I felt had failed.