by: Margaret Izard
Series: Stones of Iona
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 29, 2025
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
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.
rapped 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?
Thank you for having me again. It is always a pleasure to return to blogs and connect with readers. How am I? Busy! But this is a good thing, busy in a great way. We see the release of Stone of Faith, book 6 in the seven-book series, soon the next Christmas Companion book, Highlander’s Holly and Ivy releases December 1st, and we are in final production of the last book Stone of Destiny.
A lot of thought and work has gone into your Stones of Iona series. How did you come up with the name of the series and decide on the names of all the characters?
The name Stones of Iona grew out of both history and imagination. Iona is a small island off the western coast of Scotland, famous for its monastery and its role in spreading Christianity across the Highlands. It’s also a place steeped in myth, said to be a thin place where the veil between worlds is fragile. I wanted my series to be rooted in a location that carried both reverence and mystery—somewhere readers could almost feel the ancient magic rising from the stones themselves. That’s how the concept of magical “Stones of Iona” was born: artifacts infused with power, each one tied to fate, love, and the dangerous tug-of-war between good and evil Fae.
When it comes to character names, I mix research and instinct. Some are drawn from real Scottish and Gaelic history—like Ewan, which has roots in strength and youth. Others, like Lorelei, connect directly to folklore, in her case, the siren myths. For me, every name has to feel alive, like it belongs to that world.
In the series, the MacDougalls are the main family. When you sat down to plot this series out, did you create a family tree and give each member their personalities, or did you just have their personalities show up when it was time for their story to be told?
For the most part, the family tree came together when I outlined the series during Stone of Love. I’m a big plotter, so even from the start, I knew the MacDougalls would be at the heart of the saga. In the beginning, I thought it would be just a trilogy, but as soon as I started weaving the lore of the stones into the story, I realized each stone deserved its own book. That meant every family member would eventually need their own arc and journey.
By the end of Stone of Love, most of the key characters had already been mentioned or introduced, even if they didn’t yet take center stage. I wanted readers to feel the sense of a sprawling family with deep roots, one where everyone had a place in the larger tapestry of the series. At the same time, I didn’t box them in too tightly. While the family tree and overall structure were there early on, I allowed their personalities to develop and surprise me as I wrote their individual stories. Some characters revealed traits I hadn’t expected once I gave them the spotlight, and those discoveries made the series even richer.
So, the MacDougalls were always part of a carefully mapped-out plan, but their growth, relationships, and voices came alive most fully when it was their turn to step into the narrative.
What kind of research have you done/or do you do, for the series/books?
Research is one of my favorite parts of writing the Stones of Iona series because it lets me blend real history and myth into the fantasy world. I spend a lot of time digging into Scottish history—castles, clans, folklore, and even geography—so the setting feels authentic. Many of the places in the books are inspired by real locations I’ve visited or studied, like the Isle of Iona itself or Tantallon Castle.
On the mythology side, I research Celtic and Norse legends, especially around the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Formoire, and other figures from Gaelic lore. Those myths give me a foundation, but I twist them into my own vision of how the magical stones and Fae realms could exist. For the more fantastical elements—like merpeople in Stone of Faith—I dive into folklore from different cultures and then reimagine it in a way that fits the series’ tone.
I also look into smaller details that add realism: the clothing and weapons of the time, foods, sailing terminology for the pirate elements, even Gaelic language and phrases. Sometimes I’ll research a single word or tradition for hours just to get it right. All of that helps build a world that feels layered and lived in.
Ultimately, my research always serves the story. I want readers to step into the world of the MacDougalls and feel like they’re standing on ancient Scottish soil—or swimming in the ocean depths—and believe the magic could be real.
Congratulations on the release of Stone of Faith, which, as mentioned, is the sixth book in the series. You’ve said that there will be seven full books and three novellas or companion books to this series. Then you will have at least three books in your new series Dragons of Tantallon. I just have to know, how far do you plan ahead? Do you already have outlines of what you want to do?
Aww, thank you, and I appreciate someone who has done their research! Girl, there is no end to where I can go! The Stones of Iona books are complete with the last one, Stone of Destiny, in final production with a release in early 2026. The second Christmas Companion book, Highlander’s Holly and Ivy releases December 1st. The last Christmas Companion book is complete, and I hope to see it out in 2026. As for my dragons? The first four of the books in that seven-book series are complete, and I just recently completed the draft of book 5. When will they come? Hopefully in 2026.
What can readers expect from Stone of Faith?
Readers can expect Stone of Faith to sweep them into a world of high-stakes adventure, romance, and magic beneath the waves. This story dives into the ocean’s depths, where pirates, mermaids, and Fae collide in a battle over the powerful Stone of Faith. At its heart, it’s a love story between Ewan MacDougall, a haunted Highland warrior carrying the weight of his family legacy, and Lorelei, a siren bound by dark magic who longs for freedom.
Expect dangerous quests, myth woven into history, and a richly imagined underwater realm unlike anything seen before in the series. Readers will find both swashbuckling action and deeply emotional romance—where faith in love, in destiny, and in one another becomes the key to survival. It’s a tale about breaking chains, facing sacrifice, and discovering that true power often lies in the bond between two souls.
For Stone of Faith, what was your favorite part of the book to write?
My favorite part of Stone of Faith to write was Lorelei and Ewan’s first meeting. There’s just something electric about that moment when two characters collide for the first time—the tension, the mistrust, the spark neither of them can quite ignore. With Ewan, you have this haunted Highland warrior carrying his family’s legacy, and with Lorelei, you have a siren who’s been bound and forced to use her voice against her will. Throwing them together in those opening moments gave me the perfect mix of danger and attraction.
I loved writing how Ewan saw past the enchantment to the woman beneath, and how Lorelei, for the first time, felt truly seen rather than used. That was the seed of their entire romance, and capturing that blend of magic, suspicion, and undeniable pull was thrilling. Every scene after builds on that foundation, but for me, the “first meeting spark” is always unforgettable.
Final question. Your Stones of Iona series sounds good, yet perhaps a little complex. Are the books standalone reads, or would a reader have a better reading experience starting with the first book, Stone of Love?
Each book in the Stones of Iona series focuses on a different couple and their journey with one of the magical stones, so they can absolutely be enjoyed as standalone reads. You’ll get a complete romance arc and a satisfying ending in every story.
That said, the series does weave together a larger family saga and an overarching battle between good and evil Fae. Starting with Stone of Love gives readers the richest experience—you’ll meet the MacDougall family from the beginning, see how the stones first enter their lives, and watch the legacy unfold with each new book. Many readers tell me they love seeing how earlier characters reappear and how each book layers into the next.
So, whether you dive straight into Stone of Faith or start at the beginning with Stone of Love, you’ll find a complete story—but the journey is even more rewarding if you take it from the very first stone.
Margaret, thank you so much for your time. Congratulations again on the new book.
Thank you for having me again!
As they lay on the deck, a hand touched his beard. “You aren’t a ghost?” Her whitened fingers came to her mouth, and then she licked them. “Flour?” The sight of her tongue flicking over her digits had Ewan biting back a groan. His gaze found her—electric blue eyes. Up close, white rings glowed around the edges as silver flecks sparkled in the middle. He coughed, and a puff of flour hit her face, making her scrunch her nose and then sneeze.
Ewan’s hand brushed her hair from her eyes, leaving a trail of white. “Bless ye.” He chuckled when more dust puffed at her. The flour was an old trick from his and Doug’s childhood. A prank they played on Mrs. A using her fright of Dunstaffnage Castle’s ghost to terrify her. When she discovered the missing flour and its usage, they both had to help her in the kitchen for a week. The chore wasn’t all bad. Mrs. A would take pity on them and feed them chocolate-chip cookies, their favorite.
Doug’s boots appeared beside him. “And what do we have here? A siren washed up on our deck?”
Ewan sat up, pulling the redhead with him. She followed, clinging to him as she shook.
His eyes roamed her body and found a gash on her leg. “A damsel in distress, Doug.”
Ewan’s hand brushed her hair from her eyes, leaving a trail of white. “Bless ye.” He chuckled when more dust puffed at her. The flour was an old trick from his and Doug’s childhood. A prank they played on Mrs. A using her fright of Dunstaffnage Castle’s ghost to terrify her. When she discovered the missing flour and its usage, they both had to help her in the kitchen for a week. The chore wasn’t all bad. Mrs. A would take pity on them and feed them chocolate-chip cookies, their favorite.
Doug’s boots appeared beside him. “And what do we have here? A siren washed up on our deck?”
Ewan sat up, pulling the redhead with him. She followed, clinging to him as she shook.
His eyes roamed her body and found a gash on her leg. “A damsel in distress, Doug.”
Purchase Stones of Faith from:
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The Stones of Iona Series:
You can read Margaret's Guest Post, where she discusses the world she created for the series here. This post gives detailed information on the series and characters.
Places to find Margaret Izard:
You can follow the Stone of Faith Name Before the Masses Tour here.
Thank you so much for featuring STONE OF FAITH.
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DeleteThank you for having me!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thank you so much for stopping by. I really enjoyed the interview. I'm definitely curious about the series.
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