Everyone expected me to write children’s books, but that didn’t appeal one bit. I took early retirement from teaching to concentrate on my writing. Perhaps that’s why I’ve set four of my six romance novels in Scotland-a magical, mystical place where anything can happen: creatures in the mist, myths and legends, clootie wells, Jacobite treasure and water horses. Until, that is, I read my first Jilly Cooper novel and became hooked on contemporary romance. Having no luck in finding them, I discovered the romance of history: castles, knights and feisty princesses prepared to give any dragon a run for its money and I never looked back. In the nearby woods I went in search of faeries under toadstools, nyads at the bottom of wells and dryads hiding in the trees. Growing up in the Central Belt with the Ravenscraig Steel Works literally at the bottom of my garden (so not romantic!) I created an alternative reality. It was a no brainer to set my novels north of the border and to remind myself what my Scottish heritage means to me. Although I no longer ‘sound’ Scottish, I soon find my accent when I’m in the midst of my family and start using the ‘Old Scots’ words: scunner, peely-wally, dreich and swally. I’ve never lost that connection with Scotland and when we cross the border and I see the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ sign I feel tingly all over and I know I’m home. Lizzie lives in Leicestershire (UK) with her husband, David.I was born in Scotland and lived there until I was eleven years old. What's not to like? As for the years she spent as a teacher, they haven't quite gone to waste as she is building up a reputation as a go-to speaker on indie publishing, and how to plan, write, and publish a debut novel. She has further Scottish-themed romances planned and this summer will tour the Scottish Highlands in her caravan researching men in kilts.

Lizzie latest romance Take Me, I'm Yours is set in Wisconsin, a part of the USA which she adores. Lizzie is a founder member of indie publishing group - New Romantics Press, and has co-hosted author events at Aspinall, St Pancras and Waterstones, Kensington, talking about writing and the research which underpins her novels. Her next novel, Girl in the Castle, reached #3 in the Amazon charts. Although much of her time is taken promoting her novels she published Scotch on the Rocks, which achieved Best Seller status within two weeks of appearing on Amazon.

She joined the Romantic Novelists' Association's New Writers' Scheme, wrote Tall, Dark and Kilted (2012), quickly followed by Boot Camp Bride. After teaching her 1000th pupil and working as a deputy head teacher in a large primary school, Lizzie decided to pursue her first love: writing.

Tall, Dark and Kilted by Lizzie Lamb