Angela MacRae ShanksAngela MacRae Shanks was born in Garmouth, a village near the mouth of the River Spey in northeast Scotland. The maternal side of her family comes from Strathavon, a remote highland glen. Here, Angela first heard tales of the area's dramatic history,its people, and their struggles, and became fascinated by it. Growing up in Moray, a beautiful part of Scotland known as "malt whisky country", an interest in the area's illicit past took hold, particularly whisky smuggling and the reasons behind it, sparking off ideas for a series of novels. Her fascination with the natural world and the folklore of the Highlands, combined with her training in natural therapies, prompted a desire to weave herbal lore into her tales. Those who healed using plants and the wisdom of nature, usually women, were often branded witches; she felt compelled to explore this injustice. Themes of love, betrayal, and the power of kinship are explored in the Strathavon Saga. Read More Read Less