Goodreads asked P.M. Terrell:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

P.M. Terrell My most recent book, Clans and Castles, is the first book in the new Checkmate series - and a departure from my suspense. My bestselling book has always been Songbirds are Free, the true story of Mary Neely's capture by Shawnee warriors, followed by River Passage, the true story of the Neely's river journey to Fort Nashborough. In researching the Neely family ancestry, I discovered a grandfather 10 generations back (about 3 generations prior to Mary Neely) that left Scotland for Ulster in 1608. I became fascinated with the records concerning that timeframe, particularly since he was given land with Sir William Stewart that adjoined Cahir O'Doherty's land holdings. Cahir's family had been kings of the Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland for more than a thousand years, and he was known as The Queen's Doherty for his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth I. But he was on a collision course with Sir George Paulet, the new Governor of Derry, which would lead to O'Doherty's Rebellion. My ancestor, William Neely, would witness courage and cowardice, loyalty and betrayal, romance and death... and ultimately would play a part in Ireland's future.

flag