Why Scotland is a Great Setting for Romance Novels
Though
I’m originally from England having been brought up in Yorkshire, I’ve lived in
Scotland for twenty-six years. Which is longer than I lived in England for! I
decided to base my romance novels in Scotland because it’s what I know but also
because I think it’s a fantastic backdrop for the genre as well as a popular
setting for readers.
Here are
the reasons why I think it’s so popular.
1) Not to
state the obvious, but—men in kilts.
Now, the
reality is that for the most part, the male populus in Scotland does not go
about their daily business in a kilt. On the contrary, if they were to show up
at the office for a day’s work or pop round the local supermarket in that
particular attire they might attract a few stares. However in some areas a casual
kilt might be day wear and in most it’s often a must for formal occasions. But
anyhow, is there is definitely something alluring about a man dressed in full
formal kilt wear. And yes. It is true that a true Scotsman does not wear
underwear with his kilt…
The
Wedding Engagement, as suggested in the title, features a wedding and I really
enjoyed dressing all my male characters up in their kilts.
2) The
accent
Clearly
when it comes to books, it would be grating to write the dialogue fully in a
Scottish lilt because reading it is different to hearing it. However giving the
setting of the accent and then letting the reader imagine it being spoken that
way certainly has its appeal. And it is a lovely accent in real life, from
north to south and east to west the cadence of all the local dialects are, in
my opinion, very pleasing. I know a lot of Scots would interject here with what
they feel the exception is to the rule but I would disagree. No accent shaming
here!
3) The
setting
When it
comes to Scotland, it’s true when they say the setting becomes a character in
itself. There are many iconic spots in the country but even out with those the
sights are spectacular. From rolling hills and glassy lochs to the spectacular
architecture of the cities and the charm of the small towns there are a wealth
of options. I chose the Highlands for The Wedding Engagement to give both an
iconic and cosy feel, but the town itself (Glenavie) is fictional so that I
wouldn’t be bound by the constraints of reality in terms of the amenities I
wanted to set in the area.
4) History
The draw
of Scottish history and lore also brings its rich appeal. A novel needn’t be
set in historical times for the cultural history of Scotland to soak into the
atmosphere on the page. Whether it be colloquialisms or in jokes, Scottish
heritage makes the story come to life.
5) Scottish
sensibilities
The
Scots are for famous for many things—whiskey, bagpipes, haggis…but I think also
for their qualities such as loyalty, passion, bravery, kindness and openness.
And this makes a Scottish hero in particular very appealing. Arran—the hero in
The Wedding Engagement— doesn’t like bagpipes but he’s certainly loyal to his
friends and family, passionate about his art and the loves in his life, brave
in starting afresh after losing his previous career and in deciding to open
himself up to love again, and kind to his son, family and friends and perhaps
most importantly to his ex—even though she was the one who walked away and
broke his heart. Green flags all around!
Author Bio
Zoe Allison lives in Scotland with her husband and two children, having been brought up in a mixed-race family in Yorkshire.
Growing up, Zoe enjoyed stories about falling in love. But rather than daydreaming of being rescued by a knight in shining armour, she imagined herself fighting dragons alongside him, battling supervillains as heroic allies, or teaming up to dive into perilous waters and save the day.
As an adult, Zoe became a doctor. However as time passed, she craved a creative outlet to counter the soul-sapping burnout that her career inflicted upon her, and also to achieve the happy endings that were so often lacking in the real world. She wanted to create heroines who represent her and her values, as well as heroes who truly love women—men who find their true loves inspiring, want to connect with them as soulmates, and fully open themselves to their partners on an emotional level. And so, Zoe began to write romance.
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