The Twins of Strathnaver

Outlander meets Ghost Whisperer

Book Title: The Twins of Strathnaver, by Rachael Wright

Genre: Magical Realism and Speculative 

Release Date: 23rd of September, 2025

Where to Buy It: Find out more here

From the Blurb: 

The Mackay Rules: Never Tell and Never Leave.

The Witching Mackays have endured centuries of suffering and ostracism all because of their powers and the ghosts they can see. As August 1997 draws to a close, and Hugh and Margaret Mackay enjoy a more peaceful life than their ancestors, a mysterious Londoner arrives in desperate pursuit of fame and long-lost Jacobite gold. 

Louis Talbot is much more than a treasure hunter wielding a metal detector. Armed with a strange book and its tantalizing account of a family who can speak to ghosts; Louis sets his sights on the vulnerable, lonely Margaret Mackay.

As sides are chosen, Hugh and Margaret are forced to confront the reality that the gold isn’t all the ghosts are protecting and that the consequence of their failure will be nothing less than the destruction and death of everything they’ve ever known. 

About the Author:

After attaining two BAs (Political Science and British History) from Colorado Mesa University, Rachael Wright has spent the last five years writing professionally for two newspapers, Colorado Politics and the Colorado Springs Gazette and The 1745 Association’s magazine The Jacobite. In 2014 Rachael Wright began writing fiction and has completed seven novels.

More About Rachael Wright:

How long does it take you to write a book? How long does each stage of the process usually take?

It really depends. The Twins of Strathnaver required a lot of historical research and then also required massive re-writes before I found my current publisher. All told I was working on it for three years, the last year was the whole querying process. But usually I would say it takes a year from initial idea to first draft (3 months), a month off, editing (first round) 2 months, Beta Readers 2 months, Edits Second Round (2 months), and then final read through with readers.

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What is your favourite type of character to write?

I like writing what other people call the strong female character--or in my view--a woman who faces challenges in life and has to move through them. I don't think I'm that brave at all and I like to write women who have more gumption than me. I want to see them try and fail and succeed to remind me, and my readers, that that's real courage. 

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What do you do when you find yourself in a bit of a writing rut? Is there any strategy you find works for you to help the words start flowing again?

I recently found a good article that said to name your brain and that when you find your brain being mean to you or determined to have a bad day you tell them to stop and sit down. I honestly live for writing so by writing I get out of a writing rut. Either that or I pick up Lord of the Rings--immersing myself in magic helps.

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What is something you wish you had known earlier on in your writing career?

I wish I had known how long it would take to get to the level that I wanted my writing to be at. It's taken a decade. But also I'm so grateful that I've had the opportunity to get better. And as the old saying goes--the time passes anyway.

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Do you mine your own life for ideas, settings and/or characters?

The Twins of Strathnaver is set in a small town in the highlands of Scotland which is the only time I've encountered love at first sight. This place, to be is absolutely magical. I try and visit as often as I can and I've made some wonderful friends there.

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What is your favourite writing resource?

SCRIVENER. I would die without it.

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What authors or books inspire you the most?

J.R.R. Tolkien. He's a masterclass in practically every aspect of writing. Every time I read his books I unearth something new. I've done a lot of Great War research just because it's obvious the impact that the war had on his writing.

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What's next for your writing?

I just finished a novel that I'll be querying agents with this summer. It's like Far From the Madding Crowd meets Claire Fraser. It's my best work yet.