Welcome to a series of interviews I'm hosting with heroes from the four novellas in Smitten's new romance collection THE HIGHLANDERS which releases November 15th. Today I welcome my first guest, a true and steady highlander, Grant Cummings from Janet Grunst's The Year Without a Summer.
The Year Without a Summer
Shoved off his family’s
land in Scotland in 1816, Grant Cummings looks for work in Ulster, Ireland. He
needs money and a home to raise his young brother. Molly MacGregor loses her
father and his income, but she has no time to grieve as she sews and spins to
earn enough to keep her and her young brother alive. Renting out the hut on
their land might be the answer, but only if she can overcome her prejudice
against the handsome Highlander who moves in. Her heart might soften toward
him, but not when he plans to set sail for America.
Meet Highlander Hero Grant Cummings
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WR - Hello,
Grant, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your willingness to talk to
me today. You seemed like a very straight-forward man. Were you as straight-forward when
you sat down to share your story with Ms. Grunst so she could write it for all
to read? How did that go? Was it easy to pour out, or did she have to wheedle
it out of you, if you don’t mind my asking?
Grant - Well
Mistress Musch, I'm honored ye have taken an interest. Bein a forthright
fellow, there’s was nae problem telling Ms. Grunst. She had an understandin of
the conditions in the Highlands and in Ireland and was curious how I came to
ken Molly MacGregor and her brother Scott.
WR - I found
the tale of you and your brother Keith’s adventure very interesting. First off
tell us about yourself and your background. I understand you’re from
Tullochgorum, south of Inverness. What brought you to Fort Augustus?
Grant - Aye,
Keith and I are from Tullochgorum, near the River Spey in the Cairngorm
Mountains. The family has lived thereabouts for generations. I came tae Fort
Augustus because 'twould be foolish tae remain in Tullochgorum and be at the
mercy of the local laird like my pa working in the linen mills so I studied and
trained as a builder.
WR - That was
foresightful of you to go into construction. Tell me more about this Caledonian
canal project going on.
Grant - When I
heard the Scottish engineer, Thomas Telford was constructing the Caledonian
canal to connect the eastern coast near Inverness with the west coast near Fort
William, I was eager to join that project. The canal is to run about sixty
miles through several lochs in the Great Glen and will have near 30 locks when
it is complete.
WR - You
didn’t stay in Fort Augustus, though did you? You received some distressing
news. Would you be willing to share what that was?
Grant - Aye, my
widowed ma took ill, so I needed to return home. Could nae help but worry about
her and my younger brother, Keith. The laddie was but eight and sure to be
frightened.
WR - When you
returned to Tullochgorum, you found a request waiting for you. What did you
think when you read your ma’s letter?
Grant - Ma wanted
me tae take Keith to where her sister Katherine lived in Northern
Ireland. Ma suggested I find work there so Katherine could care for Keith. Since
the laddie was so young, returning tae work on the canal and not bein able tae
care fer him seemed unwise. Better tae find employment that would keep us
together.
WR - Tell us a
little bit about your aunt Katherine. She seems like a very interesting
woman—and she seemed to have some ideas that might help when you and Keith
arrived on her doorstep.
Grant - Katherine
is a strong but kindly woman. She and her family left Scotland and settled in
Aghadowey years ago. My aunt had asked Ma tae join her when my pa died but she chose
tae continue being a spinner and crofter in the Highlands.
WR - It was
aunt Katherine who introduced you to a certain young lady who intended to rent
to a boarder. Can you share a little bit of your first reaction upon meeting
Molly MacGregor and her brother Scott? And what did her reaction seem to be
upon meeting you?
Grant - I met
the lass at my aunt’s church, and the sight of her took my breath away. Scott
and Keith took to each other immediately. Mistress MacGregor was reserved,
all business and not eager to let to Highlanders.
WR - Was that a
common opinion about Highlanders in Aghadowey? Tell us a little about that, and
how you dealt with it.
Grant - Aghadowey
is a small village and most folks were friendly. Many Scots from the lowlands
had had settled in the area, so perhaps they were nae familiar with Highlanders.
WR - Did your
landlady share these opinions?
Grant - (chuckles and rubs his chin) Molly MacGregor had some definite ideas about
Highlanders—none of them good. She had wee interest in letting out her hut to
Highlanders. But she was desperate.
WR - I see...well, who is
Séamus Macaulay? Someone you get on with well together?
Grant - The Macaulay chap had a mind to marry
Molly, but she was nae keen on him. He was a bit overbearing. The lass was not
shy about sharing her disdain of Macaulay or Highlanders.
WR - Molly has
some special skills that she uses to bring in extra money, and you made a kind
gesture toward her to help her with the work she does. It was a very warm and
touching scene. But Molly was dealing with some external anxiety that had to do
with the crops and landlords. Can you tell us a little about that problem?
Grant - Molly
was a spinner for the local mill and a very fine seamstress. As in the
Highlands, the changing circumstances with the landlords was impacting the local
mill workers, so she had to make some life-changing decisions for Scott and her.
WR - Can you tell us a little about that problem
that had a lot to do with the title of the story?
Grant - (grins and shakes his head) Only
time will tell.
WR - Thanks, Grant, that's a good note to end on. I loved the
beautiful, romantic conclusion to your story—which in some ways, is only
just the beginning. It speaks to many of us with Scottish or Irish roots. I’m
sure readers will be warmed and delighted as well.
Now Meet the Author
Janet is a wife, mother of two sons, and grandmother of eight who lives in the historic triangle of Virginia (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown) with her husband. Her debut novel, A Heart Set Free was a Selah Award winner. A Heart For Freedom was a Christian Indie Award winner. A lifelong student of history, her love of writing fiction grew out of a desire to share stories that communicate the truths of the Christian faith, as well as entertain, bring inspiration, and encouragement to the reader.
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