An engrossing Victorian Scotland Saga (Silver Sampler Series Book 2)
Is self-supporting success enough for Margaret Law or will her future also include an adoring husband and children? She might secretly yearn for that though how can she avoid a repeat of relationship deceptions that disenchanted her so much during her teenage years?
Employment as a lady’s maid, and then as a private tutor in Liverpool in the 1860s bring thrilling opportunities Margaret could never have envisaged. Though when those posts end, her educational aspirations must be shelved again. Reliance on her sewing skills is paramount for survival when she returns to Dundee.
Meeting Sandy Watson means love, marriage and starting a family - though not necessarily in that order – are a striking development though it entails a move north to Peterhead. Yet, how can Margaret shed her fear of commitment and her independence and take the plunge?
Jessie, her sister-at-heart, is settled in Glasgow. Frequent letters are a life-line between them but when it all goes horribly wrong, the contents of Margaret’s correspondence don’t necessarily mirror her awful day-to-day realities.
A conversation with Nancy Jardin
What inspired you to start writing?
In 2011, as I was approaching retirement from my career in teaching, and knowing that I would have spare time to fill, I decided to have a go at writing fiction. I’ve always been an avid reader of fiction and I’d learned some useful skills in researching, editing, and writing non-fiction materials for educational purposes, so writing fiction sounded like a good challenge.
During my teaching career with 11-12 year olds, I’d taught different historical eras so I had a basic background to work on. The choice back then was start with a Victorian Scotland setting or with one based in Roman Scotland. The Roman era won the toss and I spent the ensuing decade writing my 6-book 1st Century AD/CE Celtic Fervour Series, interspersed with three contemporary mysteries and one time-travel historical novel for teens (also set in Roman Scotland). However, the Victorian era was waiting in the wings. Book 1 of my Silver Sampler Series, Novice Threads, was published in 2024 and Book 2, Tailored Truths, was published recently on the 13th September 2025. I’m currently working on the third book.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
Lovely question! There were a few issues with Tailored Truths that meant the time spent writing it was longer than I originally anticipated. Since the fairly-sequential 3-book series is about the life of one main character, Margaret Law, I found that my original planning of her crisis points across the three novels wasn’t working out for me after I was about thirteen thousand words into Tailored Truths. That beginning was mothballed and I began anew.
Other minor issues were having to ‘kill off’ some of my lovely characters. There were tearful sessions as I worked my way through those scenes.
Although I’d done a lot of research for Book 1, I still needed to spend a good bit of time researching situations, and locations for Book 2. I love to research so it can mean a lot of happy diversions that, naturally, don’t make the cut in the story but they take up more of my ‘writing’ time. The authenticity of settings are very important to me and since I assume nothing, it often means thorough checking.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
In Books 1 and 2 there’s one main character, Margaret Law, and it’s her sole point of view that drives the action. Her best friend Jessie Morison is a lovely young woman who plays a substantial, strong, secondary character role in Book 1 – though in Book 2, Jessie plays a less prominent role.
Book 3 is already a challenge to write since I’m bringing in a second point of view early in the novel. The new point of view is a character who is introduced in Book 2, though he plays a very minor role in Tailored Truths. However, he will be a major character in Book 3. Weaving in the two viewpoints in Book 3 will be an interesting exercise!
Margaret, to date, definitely has my affections but that might change when I complete Book 3.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
Oh, I find this kind of question very difficult. I do watch movies but not so regularly that I keep up with film stars. When I was introducing my character Sandy Watson in Tailored Truths I went on a hunt for the ideal man and found an actor named Austin Butler. He’d be ideal to play Sandy. A second possibility was Trevor Donovan.
Females are harder to find for my Margaret Law but I think Carey Mulligan might do the trick. Or possibly Saoirse Ronan.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I’d want them to experience that life could be very harsh during the 1860s in Scotland, and it was often a case of sink or swim. Standing up for yourself was necessary, especially if you were an orphan, because there was no state to depend on, no government handouts and no foodbanks. Learning to deal with whatever situation you find yourself in without panicking is a good survival tool that I’m trying to nurture in Margaret Law. I’d like my readers to be as emotionally engaged in my characters as I have been while writing the story. And if I give a reader a strong sense of them being right there with my characters while the action is unfolding, then that would be fulfilling my intentions.
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