Greetings!!!

I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself and my reason for joining the forum. A lad named Peter Corrance on Facebook recommended this forum, saying that there are many helpful people here for me to ask questions about Scotland, kilts and Scottish history. So, here I am!

I am an author of paranormal romance novels and I've just released my debut novel MIDNIGHT CONQUEST. My main character, Broderick "Rick" MacDougal, will be throughout the entire six-book series.

Book 1 is a vampire romance that takes place in the early 1500s of Scotland and I know they didn't wear kilts back then, so accurately, Rick doesn't wear one. I would assume many of you know where the MacDougal Clan originated. According to the Clan map I swiped off the Internet, they were along the shores of Loch Etive and Loch Linnhe. As I understand it, that's the Highlands.

However, the story itself takes place near Aberdeen just a few miles southwest of a place formerly known at Strathbogie and owned/controlled by the 2nd Earl of Huntly at that time.

That book's published and any mistakes I have in that...well, it's a little too late to fix them. I believe I did my homework, but I guess if any of you get the chance to read my novel, I'd like to know what those mistakes are, if you find any. Perhaps I can make some kind of mention on my web site to set things straight.

That is the reason I'm here. To be sure I'm not making mistakes in my next novel. Book 2 takes place in Leith, 1531. I'm giving my hero the occupation of a merchant. As I have in my first draft:

Davina turned her attention to the ledger before her, scratching her quill across the parchment pages. Over a decade ago, Cailin’s father Broderick MacDougal—in actuality her step-father, but the only father she had ever known and loved dearly—began a small shipping company in the port city of Leith, just a few miles outside of Edinburgh. A meager beginning to be sure, but in the capable hands of her father it grew to be a reputable establishment. Due to Broderick’s inability to tend the business during the day, many responsibilities fell to Davina, but he eventually formed a partnership with Alistair Knightly. Though Alistair maintained the majority of the transactions and scheduling, Davina kept her hands in the accounting and records, allowing Alistair and Broderick to focus on generating business arrangements and the actual managing of the merchandise.

MacDougal & Knightly primarily dealt with the shipping of wool, cured salmon, cheese and furs; however, Alistair frequently journeyed out to secure other avenues of trade for spices, dried fruits, dye-stuffs and choice cloths and embroidery. As of late, Broderick gained a particular interest in importing fine art from Italy and used Davina’s loose connection to the crown to garner an increasing demand for such items. The desk, which Cailin’s mother leaned against now, was piled with contracts and accounting ledgers. Davina appeared as worn as the papers burdening the office.

I have SEVERAL questions and I know this post is long already. I'm having a hard time finding historical information on this little port town during this time. I would love to chat with someone who can give me information on...
  1. Leith Scotland in 1531 (or around that time)
  2. Scottish merchants in the Renaissance
  3. Clothing and attire of that time period that is specific to Scotland. LOTS of information on the bloody English and the Tudors, though.


I'm sure all this will bring up other questions. Though this element doesn't take up a large portion of my story, inaccuracies will pull a reader out of a story and mess with their enjoyment of the tale. The main tale is my heroine getting kidnapped by the bad guy and hero saving her (putting it very succinctly).

Anyone who can help me will be recognized in my acknowledgments and will receive a complimentary signed copy of the book. I would also be happy to mention the web site as a whole.

Book 3 takes place in the early 1600s of the Holy Roman Empire in the area of Germania during the witch trials, so I'm not sure how much help anyone here can offer me when that happens, but if someone on the forum has historical background and information in this region and time period, I welcome your input!!!

I'll close with this little story: I picked the name of my character over 20 years ago when I was married to my first husband. Fast forward to the present. Arial is my pen name. My real name is Gina Henderson. When I met my now-husband's father and told him about my story, he stopped me and said, "MacDougals? WE'RE MacDougals! A MacDougal married into the Henderson clan before the Henderson's came to America." Funny how fate works out, huh? Here I picked my first romance novel hero's name 20 years before I met my real romance novel hero...a descendant of my fictional hero. *sigh*

Thank you so much for any assistance anyone can give me! I don't mind chatting about all this in the open on the forums, but I will also take private messages on the subjects.

That's my two pence...
Arial ;)