From stage to page
Actress Trethewey debuts first book in historical romance series
After 25 years of taking on character roles in a theater, Jennifer Trethewey is now bringing them to life through the written word. “Tying the Scot,”the first book in her Highlanders of Balforss series, will be released [soon/date].
Trethewey will discuss her book and writing process, as well as sign copies of “Tying the Scot” during her upcoming visit to [place] on [date] at [time].
Trethewey is a co-founder and former co-artistic director of one of the most well-established women’s theaters in the nation. As an actress, producer, and playwright, Trethewey has plenty of experience bringing expression and emotion to characters and to dialogue. As she steps back from acting, Trethewey has moved into writing historical romance full time. Her newest series combines historical elements with vibrant characters and a seductive romance.
“Tying the Scot” follows the romance of Alex Sinclair and Lucy FitzHarris, who meet when they are children. At age eleven, Alex Sinclair pledges an oath to the Duke of Chatham, promising to serve and protect his daughter, Lucy FitzHarris.Nine years later, the duke unexpectedly takes Alex up on his vow, offering the future Laird of Balforss his daughter’s hand in marriage. As the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Chatham, Lucy’s dream of marrying a viscount and becoming a properly-titled member of London Society is dashed when her father announces her engagement to the brawny Highlander. At her father's insistence, Lucy moves from her posh estate to the unknown, uncivilized land of Scotland in order to wed a man she barely remembers.
In the interim, Alex comes up with a hare-brained scheme to see what kind of a woman Lucy has become, hiding his real identity from his soon-to-be bride during their journey between Inverness and the Sinclair estate. When Lucy discovers Alex’s deception, she is furious with the tawny-haired Scot, yet neither can deny their growing attraction to one another once they reach Balforss. But when Lucy spies Alex being kissed by his former lover, Lucy’s faith in their budding relationship falters. Despite Alex’s determination to prove his affections, Lucy is heartbroken enough to accept a questionable offer to flee Balforss. It doesn’t take long for Lucy to realize that her choice to leave may have put herself—and the entirety of the Sinclair family—in greater jeopardy than she could have ever realized.
The Highlanders of Balforss series is set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Highland Clearances and features some of the most notorious historical characters associated with that time. But while the series is set in a time of turmoil, it celebrates all the wonder of the region including healthy doses of Scottish humor and Highland folklore. When Trethewey visited Scotland for the first time in 2013, she found a place where she was welcomed, and where she was not only accepted but, in a strange way, felt as though she was expected. In her fascination with the place and culture, Trethewey jokingly deemed herself “Scot Curious.”
“I was drawn to the pace of daily life. The values and sense of humor resonated with me,” Trethewey said of Scotland. She described the landscape with three words: “Wild, green, forbidding.”
Her books contain the same cultural elements and breathtaking landscapes that make Scotland and its people so alluring. Combined with defined characters and a spark of romance, she believes readers will find it difficult to put the book down. They may find that they, too, are Scot Curious.
Trethewey found, as she transitioned into writing full time, that her experience as an actress translated well to writing. Dialogue came naturally. After all, she’d been performing dialogue for years. She drew on her experience crafting characters for the stage to write complex and appealing characters for her stories.
“The process of developing characters for a novel is very similar to the process an actor would use to build the person they would portray on stage,” Trethewey said.
As readers get to know dramatic, stubborn Lucy and hot-headed, reckless Alex, they’ll share in the duo’s challenges and triumphs in their journey in Scotland. And “Tying the Scot” is just the beginning.
To learn more about Trethewey, the Highlanders of Balforss series or “Tying the Scot,” visit Don’t miss her upcoming visit for your own signed copy of the book and insight into the captivating, seductive series.