STONE OF FAITH
Margaret Izard
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GENRE: Paranormal Romance
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BLURB:
The heart’s most extraordinary battle is the one fought for love.
Haunted by a family legacy that threads magic through the ages, Captain Ewan MacDougall and his ghostly crew sail between worlds—freeing enslaved people. A worthy goal, yet he longs for what eludes him—true love. When he crosses paths with a legendary siren of the sea, bound to a cruel, power-hungry madman, Ewan finds the woman destined to claim his heart.
Trapped and forced to use her voice to lure ships into the clutches of evil, the spark in Ewan’s eyes awakens hope in Lorelei’s soul—a chance to break free and protect her Fae family. Yet, the wicked monster holding her captive will stop at nothing to kill the human who touches and loves her as no one has ever done before.
Will the fated connection they share break the chains of dark magic or claim two more victims in a quest to find the Stone of Faith?
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Excerpt One:
The cannons drowned out Low’s response as Ewan spied the woman again, standing on the bow alone—the same as she had every time he’d robbed Low. No one else seemed to see her, and the battle raged on without hitting her her once.
As the wind tossed her bright red hair, the mane spread around her head. That scent—fresh seaweed and sun-warmed air—washed over him, just as it did every time he saw her. Her cream-colored skin glowed. When their eyes connected, a blush rose on her cheeks. She possessed Fae eyes, a brilliant white-blue that shone on their own. A siren she was, a woman from his dreams. Someone, no one else saw but Ewan. She took his breath away each time, touching his soul and making his heart beat harder. Butterflies erupted in his belly.
He whispered, “Tha thu bòidheach.” You’re beautiful.
Doug shifted in front of him, breaking the spell. The sounds of the battle rushed back like a freight train.
His friend yelled, “Ewan, ye must shift us before the ship breaks up! We’ve taken the plunder and already freed the slaves. It’s time for Blackbeard’s ghost to disappear.”
Cannon fire broke apart pieces of his prized ship. Doug was right. It was past time to disappear.
Ewan gathered energy, concentrating on the Chapel in the Woods at Dunstaffnage Castle in the future. He thrust his hand out, opening the portal, and sent a ball of energy through. He called the ship, and all within forward in time.
The world swirled, and the ship tilted as Doug’s cheer rang in Ewan’s ears, drowning out all sound when the vessel flew through space and time, popping out of the chapel door and landing in the loch beyond Dunstaffnage Caste, rocking a bit from the force. He and Doug tumbled on the chapel floor, coming to rest, lying on their backs. The crew Ewan knew faded—spirits brought back to serve him who dissipated with his spell. Ewan lay there for a moment, allowing his body and mind to rest. Doug did too, their breaths echoing in the empty nave.
Boot steps sounded, and before Ewan could rise, his da’s angry face appeared over him, upside down. “About damn time ye returned! I’ve waited half a day for ye to get yer pirate ass home!”
His da strode away, calling out when he neared the chapel door, “Both ye sorry mongrels get yer asses into the study! And, Ewan, make that scraggly beard disappear!”
Ewan sat up, waving at his chin, the long hair fading as Doug stood. “Mr. Mac, it’s just a bit of fun, that’s all!”
Colin Roderick MacDougall stopped, straightened his back, and turned slowly.
His angry countenance was one Ewan rarely witnessed. “Just a bit of fun, Douglas MacArthur? Just a bit of fun?”
His da fisted his hands. “Yer pirate games have gone too far!” He slashed his hand to the side. “The study, now!” The last he bellowed, echoing beyond the chapel.
Ewan stood, knowing his da’s wrath did not easily rise to the surface. Even when disciplining his children, except when… “Wait, Da, what has happened?” He and his sister Evie had gotten away with so much as kids and on into adulthood. Most of the time, his da had grunted while applauding their Fae skills. But when a Fae Fable showed and a magic Iona stone needing hunting for the Fae…
His sire pointed a finger at him. “A Fae fable has appeared. That’s what’s happened!” He strode to Ewan and aimed the finger, hitting Ewan’s broad chest, jabbing when he yelled, “The Stone of Faith!”
Ewan blinked. The Stone of Faith fable had two stories they knew of—both including the Stone of Lust.
Ewan tilted his head. “Ainslie’s story or the other one of the island and treasure?”
His da folded his arms, then growled his answer. “The island of treasure.” He leaned forward till their noses nearly touched. “And the tale is not about yer ma. The fable’s one of its own, and the damn thing has an ending!” He turned and strode out of the chapel.
Ewan blinked. “The Stone of Faith has a fable?”
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Interview:
Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m Margaret Izard, and I’m proud to call Houston, Texas my hometown. Growing up under those big Texas skies gave me a love for wide-open spaces and stories that reach beyond the horizon.
Today, I’m a romance and romantasy author, where I get to blend Scottish history, Celtic lore, and a touch of magic into sweeping love stories. My series The Stones of Iona is especially close to my heart—it’s full of fierce heroines, cursed heroes, and the kind of epic battles where love always has the last word.
When I’m not writing, you’ll often find me curled up with a good book, planning my next trip, or simply enjoying time with my family. Storytelling has always been part of who I am, and I love sharing worlds that feel both magical and deeply human with my readers.
Tell us about your book? How did it get started?
Stone of Faith is the newest adventure in my Stones of Iona series. It follows Captain Ewan MacDougall, a haunted Scottish privateer sailing with his ghostly crew, and Lorelei, a legendary siren bound by dark magic to a cruel master. Their fated connection tests them both—Ewan longs for true love despite his cursed legacy, while Lorelei risks everything to break free and protect her Fae family. Together, they must face impossible odds in the quest for the Stone of Faith.
The idea of this book actually began in Stone of Lust, where the Stone of Faith was briefly recovered—only to be lost again at sea. That moment opened the door for this story to be tied deeply to the ocean. I knew I wanted to explore what it would mean for the fate of this stone to rest beneath the waves. My research led me into siren lore and the haunting legends of Lorelei, a figure whose voice was said to lure sailors to their doom. From there, the threads came together—an ocean-bound stone, a siren imprisoned by dark magic, and a privateer captain whose heart longed for more than freedom. That blend of myth, history, and romance became the heartbeat of Stone of Faith.
How do you create your characters?
My characters usually start with a spark—an image, a line, or a single trait I can’t shake. From there, I build out who they are inside: what they want most, what they fear, and what they’d sacrifice for. Since I write romance, I always create them in pairs, so their strengths and flaws push against each other. In Stone of Faith, for example, Ewan’s haunted longing for love and Lorelei’s fight for freedom clash in a way that makes them both stronger—and that’s where the magic happens.
What inspires and what got you started in writing?
I’ve always been a storyteller at heart. I grew up loving books and daydreaming my own adventures, but it wasn’t until later in life—after raising triplets and working in the performing arts—that I finally gave myself permission to sit down and write them. What really inspires me are the questions I can’t shake: What if love could outlast death? What if magic and history intertwined? What if sacrifice was the true key to happily-ever-after? Those questions send me digging into folklore, Celtic myths, and Scottish history, where I often stumble across a legend, artifact, or place that sparks a whole story.
At the core, what keeps me writing is love—love of words, love of characters, and love of weaving hope into dark, magical worlds. My inspiration always circles back to that feeling of being transported by a story, and wanting to give readers that same sense of wonder.
Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)
I used to write in a chair in the great room right off the kitchen—which in our house is basically “grand central station.” With my adult triplets, my husband, and the pets constantly passing through, I learned pretty quickly that writing in the middle of all that chaos wasn’t going to cut it.
While on vacation, I fell in love with this little cozy nook in our rental, and it sparked an idea. When we got back, we looked at our very 90s, ugly wet bar in the game room and thought, why not? We flipped it into a study-beverage nook. It’s still technically open to the rest of the house, but being tucked away makes all the difference. It’s my little corner of quiet—and my favorite place to disappear into a story.
My favorite writing companion – my Dammit Doll. She’s been with me for many years and after my triplets finished school, I put her away thinking her work was over. In a recent deep clean I found her again and she’s by my side. What does she do? The Dammit Dolls are cut and weighted perfectly for slamming against the edge of a desk. 😊
How do you get your ideas for writing?
Ideas often find me in the most unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s through research—diving into Celtic myths, Scottish history, or old legends and stumbling across a detail that sparks a what if question. Other times, it’s as simple as a song lyric, a piece of art, or even a place I’ve visited that stirs a whole storyline.
For the Stones of Iona series, many of my ideas have come from digging into folklore. For example, when the Stone of Faith was lost at sea in Stone of Lust, I started researching ocean myths and siren legends, which led me straight to Lorelei’s story. Often it feels like the characters are waiting for me inside the history and myths—I just have to find them and give them a voice.
At the heart of it, I look for inspiration in the blend of history, myth, and love. Once I find that spark, the story begins to unfold.
What do you like to read?
Romance is my goto always.
What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?
Read, read, read. Some of my best ideas came from reading history or another story. Material other than your own fires a creative spark and generates the mind to develop “what if?” and then answer it. Research has given my stories so many gifts that has inspired so much.
Write. Get your story on the page; even if the draft stinks, write. You can always edit words after. Writing is a practiced technique. Storytelling is a practiced art. They go hand in hand, but to learn how, one must practice.
Don’t do this alone. While writing is solitary, crafting and creating great stories isn’t. Take a class, find a writing group, or join a critique group. Find your tribe and jive with them.
Feedback is a gift. This is the hardest one. Feedback in all its forms, negative, positive, constructive, and coaching, is set to provide the creator with something that helps them improve. Not all the feedback I’ve had is easy to take, but at its core, feedback has something to contribute to my creative process. Use feedback to move your journey forward in becoming a better writer without letting it hold you back. That is where I find the gift of feedback.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Make sure and check out my socials for any parties, appearances and events. Keep up with me here -> https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.
Readers can email me at: info@margaretizardauthor.com
Or www.margaretizardauthor.com
Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/mizardauthor
https://www.instagram.com/mizardauthor/
https://bsky.app/profile/mizardauthor.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@mizardauthor
The Stone of Doubt Book Swag Box
Inside the box
Teardrop Lab Sapphire Necklace
Signed copy of the book.
Large Stone of Doubt book bag
Small Stone of Doubt book bag
Insulated wine glass with Stone of Doubt logo
Dublin shot glass with etched Stone of Doubt logo
Stone of Doubt bookmark
Stone of Doubt recipe card
Wild Rose Press (publisher) 2025 calendar (While supplies last)
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Margaret Izard will be awarding a Stone of Faith Book Swag box (a $100 value) to a randomly drawn winner.
1 comment
Thank you for having me!