Danita Minnis

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Margaret Izard will be awarding a Stone of Destiny Swag Box to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Author Interview: Margaret Izard

1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?
I gravitate toward romantasy because I crave escape and intensity. I believe in instant connections, soul-deep bonds, and love that feels etched into fate itself. That pull toward destiny-driven romance shaped Stone of Destiny from the start. The story grew out of my long fascination with prophecy, choice, and what happens when love collides with ancient obligation. Kat and Ceallach have circled one another across the series, bound by magic, duty, and timing that never quite aligned—until everything finally comes due.

At its heart, Stone of Destiny explores love under pressure: what survives when prophecy tightens its grip, what must break for the future to change, and what people will risk when destiny demands sacrifice. As the final book in the Stones of Iona series, it closes the arc not by offering easy answers, but by forcing love to stand, fight, and claim its place against the weight of fate itself.

2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a  firstborn, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world?
I grew up as the middle child—the odd sheep, as I like to say. My family leaned heavily toward intellect and logic, so I carved out space by leaning hard into creativity. While others thrived in academics, I built worlds in my head and populated them with characters long before I learned how to put them on paper.That middle-child perspective sharpened my instincts and taught me to watch people closely. It also gave me the confidence to embrace being different, which seeps into every story I tell.

3. Where is your favorite place to write?
I once tried writing from the main chair in our great room, which functions like Grand Central Station in our house. Chaos won. After a stay in an incredibly cozy vacation rental, inspiration struck. We transformed an old wet bar in our game room into a small study-and-beverage nook, and that space became my office.

It stays open to the rest of the house, but it belongs to me—and every corner of my romantasy universe lives there now.

4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains?
I approach killing my darlings with a clear head. Every choice I make on the page—birth, death, heartbreak, or triumph—serves a purpose. I don’t write randomness. Some losses hurt to write, others feel inevitable, but each one feeds the larger arc of the world and the characters who survive it.

As for the remains… outcomes vary dramatically depending on whether the fallen walk the mortal world or the Fae one. My universe treats those endings very differently.

5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?
I’ve met one of my favorite authors in real life—Mary Morgan, who also publishes with The Wild Rose Press. I read her books well before I took writing seriously, and when I finally decided to pursue publication, I paid attention to where she placed her work. That choice guided me straight to the publisher I eventually queried.

After my first book released, I felt genuinely honored when she invited me to appear on her blog, Mary’s Tavern, and spotlight my work. You can find my feature here: https://www.marymorganauthor.com/single-post/spotlight-new-release-stone-of-lust-by-margaret-izzard. She writes with warmth and heart, and she has become not just an author I admire, but a generous friend in this writing community.

6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows.
I collect earrings—far more than my jewelry box wants to admit. I adore musical theatre and will sing along to nearly any cast recording. And when I step away from writing, I happily disappear into cooking videos because I genuinely love being in the kitchen. That combination explains my particular brand of creative chaos.

7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?
I would pack a massive notebook with plenty of pens because even stranded, I would write my way through it. I’d bring matches because survival—and atmosphere—matter. And I’d add chocolate and wine, because practicality only goes so far.

8. If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be?
I would choose healing. The ability to ease pain, mend wounds, and restore what life has worn down feels like the purest form of magic. That pull toward healing shows up again and again in my stories, so carrying it into real life would feel deeply right.

9. Favorite snack?
Chocolate. Always chocolate. I love the moment it softens, the slow melt, the way sweetness settles before richness follows. It’s my reward between chapters—and sometimes during them.

10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit?
I absolutely make a few dramatic turns at high speed. I usually know the destination, but I never crawl my way there. The story might swerve, but it gets where it needs to go.

Bound by destiny, torn by fate—their love stood unbroken, victorious over all.

Kat MacArthur still feels the loss of her brother to another time. Seeking solace, she stumbles upon Ceallach, a Fae warrior, she’s had feelings for ever since she met him. The emotion grows stronger whenever they are together. Yet he warns her to stay away from the upcoming gathering for the Iona Stones. Kat refuses—she needs to be there to help her family and Ceallach.

Ceallach is torn between duty, magic, and the ache for mortal love. His Fae soul is sworn to protect the Iona Stones during the Gathering, but his heart is lost to Kat. With the prophecy looming, he cannot promise her forever—no matter how much he longs to. The maiden of the Iona Stones now faces sacrifice, and he fears if his beloved gets too close, he cannot save her.

When dark forces rise to take the Iona Stones along with their powers, Ceallach is forced into an impossible decision—to defy destiny or surrender to love?

Read an Excerpt

Still wearing a grin, he strode forward with confidence, and a sensuality Kat had not forgotten. The man still took her breath away with one look. Ceallach arrived before her, a smile playing on his lips. As his eyes swept across her face, the expression faltered. His brows knitted together in a frown, shadowing the sudden tension in his gaze. Reaching with his finger, he lifted a tear from her cheek, gripped his fist hard, and when opened, a small, clear teardrop-shaped gemstone sat in his palm.

“Dry yer tears, sweet Kat. Yer face is much prettier without them.” He took her hand and, with his other placed the gemstone in her palm. “When ye hold the gem, yer tears will fade, and happy thoughts shall fill yer heart.” When the stone touched her skin, her mind cleared, and a sense of ease washed over her.

Ceallach released her hand and strode past her to the doors.

Kat turned, calling after him. “Wait, why are ye here?”

The attractive Fae stopped and turned. “Dagda sent me. I’ve come to meet with the guardian of the stones. All the stones have returned. The gathering and battle of good vs evil is upon us. The gods have called, and we must answer.”

He opened the heavy oak doors without effort and strode through. The doors weight closed them, leaving Kat in the shadows again. She blinked, almost not believing her eyes and the truth before her. Her secret love had just casually strolled back into her life. Gripping the gem, he’d shaped from her tears, warmth washed over her. Ceallach was here. A smile crossed her face.

Ceallach was here.

About the Author

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. 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 desire 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.

Website: http://www.margaretizardauthor.com
Buy Links: https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor
Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/mizardauthor