I’ve spent the last year living in a Highland romance, writing the Untamed Highlander series for St. Martin’s Press, creating my wounded Waterloo warrior in Tarnished Honor and entertaining myself with the Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy. I fell in love with the characters, the settings and the mood of the work.

But I’ll be honest. It ain’t easy writing scorching Highland romances with big, brawny, savage heroes. Here are some of the challenges I faced in the past year.

But no worries, my darling reader. I am more than happy to take the bullet and suffer these trials. Just remember, I do it all for you!

The Top Ten Challenges of Writing Hot Highlanders

#10  Incessantly flipping through pictures of thousands of gorgeous, hunky men in kilts looking for exactly the right inspiration
https://giphy.com/gifs/drooling-nrBiXYVwpLBNS

#9 Taste tasting Scottish shortbread. You know. You make sure I “get it.”
https://giphy.com/gifs/like-monster-hungry-bp8WrM4ZJf2WQ

#8 Watching an endless loop of The Highlander to make sure I get the accent (and the swordplay) right
https://giphy.com/gifs/fantasy-highlander-christopher-lambert-VnBZbytQ7kS2s

#7 Picking a time period in the Scottish history where my beloved characters have a chance of living happily ever after post-story
https://giphy.com/gifs/frustrated-brave-tired-gVoQge4JXndPq

#6 Deciding how much dialog to “Scotify” so people get the flavor but don’t have trouble understanding what the characters are saying.
https://giphy.com/gifs/robert-downey-jr-what-12KIDmWGQGDKww

#5 Trying to find a location that is more than desolate sea coast and moors
https://giphy.com/gifs/artists-on-tumblr-photographers-algy-2lw2AV3K9R1iU

#4  Keep getting stalled on the sex scenes. (Needs more editing, or at least to be read again!)
https://giphy.com/gifs/reign-francis-mary-stuart-13ZqwZLulzhwis

#3 My heroes declare their undying love for me, causing an awkward situation with my heroines…
https://giphy.com/gifs/television-reign-mary-queen-of-scots-sQfzAKfGuCEtG

#2 Plotline inexplicably veers off into a Gothic Novel with Ghosts and dour Lairds
https://giphy.com/gifs/doctor-who-confused-kKPWz3TC2LBGo

#1 I keep getting distracted by my hero’s hotness
https://giphy.com/gifs/sexy-flirting-austin-powers-AZGzgV2q4MwVO

I’ve loved writing these books so much, I am even planning a visit to Scotland this fall. I’d love to hear your suggestions on things I should see and do (but be gentle. It’s my first time!)

https://giphy.com/gifs/excited-the-hobbit-home-lfQNNvl75HDY4

LOVE HIGHLAND ROMANCE?

Pre order your copy of Hannah and the Highlander (releasing September 1st) FINALLY!

https://giphy.com/gifs/happy-free-freedom-fPkWsBe1wWPtu

First in a brand-new series from New York Times bestselling author Sabrina York about the bold, brawny men of the Highlands-and the lovely lasses who bring them to their knees…

Scotland 1813:

Highlanders are her weakness.
Hannah Dounreay has no time for suitors who only seem interested in her family’s land, which she manages as well as any man. If she marries, she wants to be loved for the educated, independent woman she is. But when a strong, silent-and spectacularly handsome-Highlander saves her from a violent attack, her heart is stirred. Who is this man? And if he asks for Hannah’s hand, will she be able to resist him?

Love is the most powerful weapon of all.
Alexander Lochlannach, Laird of Dunnet, has no time to lose. The Highlands are in an uproar as clans battle for land-without mercy-and Alexander can’t afford to fall for the wildly attractive, strong-willed Hannah. What’s more, he has a desperate secret, one that could destroy them both. But as their attraction turns into an all-consuming passion, Alexander has no choice but to prove to Hannah that he’s the only man for her-body and soul…in Hannah and the Highlander.

PREORDER NOW: https://www.amazon.com/Hannah-Highlander-Untamed-Highlanders-Sabrina/dp/1250069696/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Susana and the Scot is coming in December!

A SCANDALOUS TEMPTATION
Andrew Lochlannach is famous for his conquests, on and off the battlefield. When a fellow warrior challenges him to a kissing contest, he wastes no time in planting his lips on ninety-nine lovely lasses-an impressive feat of seduction that gets him banished to the hinterlands. Still, Andrew has no regrets about his exploits-especially his embrace with the most beguiling woman he’s ever met…

AN UNDENIABLE PASSION
With flaming red hair and a temper to match, Susana is not some innocent farm girl who gives herself over easily to a man, even one as ruggedly handsome as Andrew. The wicked Scot may have won a kiss from the headstrong beauty in a moment of mutual desire, but Susana refuses to be just another one of his conquests. Andrew must convince the fiery lass that even though he is not playing a game, losing her is not an option…

PREORDER NOW:  https://www.amazon.com/Susana-Scot-Untamed-Highlanders-Sabrina-ebook/dp/B00Z65S84O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Check out the Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy!

LAIRD OF HER HEART
Book 1 in the Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy
By Sabrina York

When Maggie Spencer is mysteriously transported to the Scotland of her ancestors, she is stunned to come face to face with him. Dominic Dundragon, the man she’s been half in love with her whole life. A man who’s been dead for 700 years.

They both have enemies aplenty. Will she have a chance to win his love, or will this adventure end in disaster?

GET IT NOW! https://www.amazon.com/Laird-Heart-Dundragon-Travel-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B012EP0NT6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Happy reading my darling!
https://giphy.com/gifs/gifnewstest-scotland-eestfgviuTuVi

About Sabrina York

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & snarky to scorching romance.  Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: https://sabrinayork.com/free-teaser-books/ Get updates and alerts from Sabrina here: HotSheet Sign Up: https://eepurl.com/bj8tKb.

Bookshelf! https://sabrinayork.com/books/
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/bj8tKb
Website: https://sabrinayork.com/
Follow my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/sabrinayork
Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/SabrinaYork
Like my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Follow me on Twitter @sabrina_york https://twitter.com/sabrina_york
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_York
Check out my Pinterest boards: https://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SabrinaYorkChatAndContests/

https://giphy.com/gifs/awesome-brave-merida-ozjLCijOIW7a8