"Brimming with history and intrigue... a story that will linger long after the last page." - Breanne Randall, New York Times Bestselling Author
The Mackay Rules: Never Tell and Never Leave
In a village in northwest Scotland crofters whisper about the house at the end of the street: a witch and her brother live there. It's Margaret Mackay, they grumble, who unleashed the plague; it's she who cursed the animals and the land. But the year is 1997 not 1560 and Margaret and Hugh barely believe in the plague; it's the strath's four ghosts they want to keep secret. As summer draws to a close a mysterious Londoner arrives in pursuit of gold buried in a loch. Louis sets his sights on the vulnerable, lonely Margaret Mackay.
As myths become reality and gold, ghosts, and the plague become entangled, Hugh and Margaret are forced to confront the reality that failure will mean the destruction and death of everything they've ever known.
Hello and Welcome! My name is Rachael and I’ve been writing novels for a decade. I have degrees in both Political Science and History (with an emphasis on British History) and I live in Colorado with my spouse and two children. In addition to writing novels I’m also a journalist, writing for The Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics, exploring the issues facing rural areas, ranchers and producers, and small businesses. I am very passionate about Scottish history, mythology, and culture and bring as much of my love for the country and its people as I can into my novels. Some of my favourite things are: The Rest is History, a cuppa of great tea, Manchester United, and cherry bakewell tarts (in winter this changes to mince pies).
I am finishing the final edit of my next book, tentatively titled MISTRESS MORRIGAN, which will be going on submission to publishers early 2026. If you’d like to read my Query Tracker interview about the process of signing with a literary agent you can find it here or if you’d like to listen to my most recent podcast interview please visit A Cuppa and a Natter.