Gabaldon. Moning. Grandberg?

Diana Gabaldon of the Outlander series and Karen Marie Moning of the Highlander series are two of the top bestsellers in the Scottish time travel romance genre.  As my friends and family adjust to me being an author I often get the question, "Who's your competition?"  Some are surprised to find I don't necessarily think of authors like Gabaldon and Moning as competition.  I'd much rather think of them as companions and mentors.  Good books cause readers to look for more books with a similar theme.  Through years of hard work and fantastic writing, they have laid a foundation for new authors like me to build upon.  It is my hope that through the same process I can create a legacy others can build upon as well.  My task is just beginning with the upcoming release of The Laird of Loch Fyne.  Reader and professional reviews alike have been overwhelmingly positive and provide momentum as I continue work on the second in my series.  I have already experienced friends and family who have never read a time travel travel romance, enjoy The Laird of Loch Fyne so much they asked for recommendations of more in the same genre.  It's an incredible feeling to have your story ignite that type of fire in a reader.  Will the name Brandy Grandberg ever be uttered in the same sentence with the likes of Gabaldon and Moning?  Will the Laird series become a no-brainer recommendation for the Scottish time travel romance genre?  Only my creative mind, time, lots of hard work, and you the reader will tell.  I know this, I am up to the task.  After all, there was a point in time for Gabaldon and Moning where there was no series.  There was just a book with overwhelmingly positive feedback shining a tiny light on what the future might hold.

Why time travel?

I love it when I get that question. Usually the person asking has such a confused look on their face I find it amusing. Out of all the countless numbers of books I've read, I have to say it's the time travel themes that have always caught my attention. There is something about an innocent person being flung into the past or future for reasons unknown. I enjoy reading the characters reactions. Are they horrified or completely in awe of their situation? What do they say? How do they blend in to a time that isn't their own? So many times while reading a good book, or any book for that matter, I've asked myself 'How would I have written this scene if I were the author?' I can't help it. Guess it's the author within. A good habit of mine I like to think. I believe a story about time travel is one of those subjects that either a person likes, or simply doesn't. It can be a great book, but if the person reading isn't very open to the idea it kind of puts a downer on the whole reading experience. The first time I picked out a book on time travel romance I thought 'Ya right. We'll see where this goes.' It took me weeks until I finally took the opportunity to open it up and begin reading. Guess I was sold on the whole idea. Look at me now. Not only do I read about time travel, I write about it.