Back in New
Zealand in 1986, my life was at a low
point.
My long
marriage was over, and in my loneliness a
suppressed romantic longing erupted like a volcano. My diary
was full of
angst-ridden desires. I wanted love. I wanted roses. I wanted
a white knight to
carry me away to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
On a whim, I
arranged a nursing job in Australia and
set sail, presumably for one year overseas. Friends welcomed
me into their
home. They belonged to a group who liked to dress up and
re-enact the customs
and pageants of old-fashioned times. Suddenly my fantasies
surrounded me. Grown
men in armor jousted in the back yard. Pages and courtiers
wafted in to visit.
A soulful young man gave me flowers. As the Lady Margaret, I
was bedecked in a
pink flowing garment and invited to join the fun.
My story took a
right turn as Life shook its head at
my plans. I stayed in Australia. I met a man who brought me
roses—growing in a
pot, “so they wouldn’t die.” We sat on the foreshore and
watched the fireworks.
I found my happy ending.
Once things
settled down I thought I would try
writing a romance, using this material. A publisher turned it
down and I forgot
about it. Much later, as I cleaned up my paper mountain, I
found the draft.
About to burn it, I flicked through the pages. I was hooked!
After so long, I’d
forgotten the story. The dress-ups, food and festivities were
there, but what
was all the insecurity, the jealousy, the fear of falling in
love again? Was
Caitlin and Will’s story really ours? Riveted, I couldn’t put
the book down.
It needed a big
rewrite but the story has a happy
ending. Her
Valentine Romance
celebrates that most romantic of all days—Valentine’s Day.
It’s my story, I
love it and I hope many readers will love it too.
Buy from The Wild Rose Press, on Amazon and other major online retailers
www.margaretsutherland.com
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