Interview with Julie Shackman - author of 'The Secret Castle in the Highlands'
Release date: August 30th, 2026
🪻
Interview with Julie Shackman - author of 'The Secret Castle in the Highlands'
Tell us about The Secret Castle in the Highlands , what inspired it, any historical
background, has the story gone through any changes since inception?
It was actually the video for Everywhere, by one of my favourite bands, Fleetwood Mac, which gave me the idea. It's based on the gorgeous poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes and is about a highwayman's romance with the daughter of an inn keeper. There is passion, love, romance and betrayal and it was the combination of both, which sparked the idea for this book. It was edited by my wonderful agent Selwa Anthony, before it went to my then editor at One More Chapter, Jennie Rothwell, who along with the copy and line editors, has sprinkled her magic on it!
There are some wonderful design ideas in the novel— especially in the makeovers of
the cottages. If you had to design one room each for Mason and Poppy that reflected
their personalities and interests, what would these rooms look like?
Oh what a great question! For Poppy, an artist, her room would be light and bright, with lots of yellows and blues to reflect the beach, the sun and the sea, which she loves. There would be ornaments of seashells, lots of pretty scatter cushions and her beloved seascapes on the walls.
For Mason, he’s an historian, so I think lots of polished bookshelves to contain his many publications. He'd also have a classic, four poster bed to illustrate his love of history, an ornate Tiffany lamp or two and a comfy bug dog basket for his Old English Sheepdog pooch, Darwin to sleep in!
Describe Poppy and Mason’s relationship at the start of the novel and how it evolves.
Things are rather tense between them to start off with. Poppy is very protective of The Scarlet Highwayman story and believes that he was unjustly blamed for things he didn't do. Journalists have sniffed around Port Starr before, so she's very guarded when Mason arrives and wonders what his motives are.
At the same time, Mason thinks Poppy is a little deluded over The Scarlet Highwayman. He also thinks she's a bit of a dreamer and wears rose tinted spectacles. But over time, he starts to see a passionate, kind and caring person she is and he begins to see in Mason, that he just wants to uncover the truth. She also begins to notice how and allows herself to register how gorgeous he is!
Creating the perfect villain can be fun or challenging. What was your experience like
and tell us a bit about him?
I had real fun creating the Lapley family, They really are a nasty bunch! They have a hidden agenda and you see right from one of their ancestors in the flashbacks, that they can't be trusted and are ruthless. But don't forget that karma exists...
Was it hard to plot the mystery in the novel that reflects both the past and present and
what kind of resources did you use to help with ideas?
It was a bit daunting to begin with, so I conducted research on that time period, made lots of notes and read up about Highwaymen at that time. I wanted the reader to feel like they were stepping back in time whenever they read one of the flashbacks.
Were there any themes or messages you consciously set out to explore in The Secret
Castle in the Highlands or did they happen as the story unfolded for you?
I think one of the main themes that I started with, was to believe in yourself and your own convictions. Poppy is the epitome of that. She's very empathetic and passionate and wants to do the right thing and stand up for those who don’t have a voice. Then the other themes of resilience, heartbreak and hope evolved from there.
Describe some Scottish features of this novel that you hope are noticed by readers
from other countries? (Setting, atmosphere, attitudes, folklore, etc)?
The weather (!) the stunning, mysterious, crumbling castle, the wild heather, abundance of wildlife... Port Starr is a pretty, historical, seaside town in the Highlands and I hope I've managed to capture the chilly water, the bobbing boats in the harbour and the former miner's cottages.
Why did you choose the male lead to be an Australian? Tell us about Mason.
That was my agent Selwa's idea and I loved it! She's from Oz and I just thought it added a nice, additional international touch to the story. He's a very enthusiastic historian, who is fascinated by the story of The Scarlet Highwayman. He had his heart broken back in Australia and it’s his time to start over too. Together with his dog Darwin, they make a formidable and very cute team!
Can you share a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting fact about the creation of
this book?
Whenever I felt like I needed some inspiration while writing it, I'd play the Fleetwood Mac video Everywhere and lose myself in it! Seeing the highwayman and his true love, helped me to channel images and push on with the story. I also mooned over photos online of highwayman concealed behind their masks, with just their amazing eyes on show and that helped too!
What three novels have you read this year that you would highly recommend to your
audience?
I would definitely recommend Accidentally Wedded to Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor.
It's wonderful, romantic story - fun and escapist. Loved the setting of Claw Haven too!
My second book recommendation would be Close Knit by Jenny Colgan. It’s about a knitting circle up in the Highlands and the characters who make up the group and their lives. I lost myself in it. Just such a perfect read and the characters are so memorable.
The third book I'd recommend is another Jenny Colgan (she's one of my all tie favourite authors_ and it's The Secret Christmas Library. It's full of old books, a handsome young laird and has all the festive feels. Definitely one to cosy up with as the nights get darker earlier!
Are you working on a new writing project and can you share a bit about it?
Yes, I am. I'm currently writing Book 13 for the Scottish Escapes series and have almost finished the first draft. It features a fashion designer and a gorgeous, moody rock star....
Thank you for all your great questions, Cindy!
Thank you, Julie, for providing such wonderful information on your novel! We wish you much success on the release of The Secret Castle in the Highlands!
Drop by Julie’s website to read more about her writing.
