About Margaret Amatt

Scottish Romance Author

Well, since you've made it this far, let me tell you some things about me.

I'm Margaret Amatt, a Scottish romance author writing cosy contemporary romance filled with beautiful Scottish settings, quirky characters, community spirit, second chances, banter, plenty of romance and, of course, happy endings.

I live in Highland Perthshire, one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, and the landscapes and communities around me provide a constant source of inspiration. Forests, mountains, lochs, winding country roads, historic villages and the wonderfully nosy nature of small communities all have a habit of finding their way into my stories.

Although my fictional town of Glenbriar isn't on any map, it's very much inspired by the Scotland I know and love.

And if you ever spot me staring into space in the supermarket, I'm probably not ignoring you. There's a good chance some completely unrelated scenario has just burst into my head and I'm wondering whether I can somehow turn it into a book!

I've been making up stories for a very long time...

I started writing when I was just five years old. I wish I could remember what those early stories were about. My head's permanently full of nonsense and I'm pretty sure that started before five years old. Just ask my mum!

In 1999, I wrote my first full-length novel. It will never see the light of day, but finishing it taught me something incredibly important: I could actually write a novel from beginning to end.

Over the years, I wrote more stories, started countless others, won a short story competition and slowly learnt the craft of writing. It wasn't until 2019 that someone finally gave me the push I needed to take the next step and publish.

I published my first novel in 2021.

And things have rather snowballed since then...

Thirty books (and counting!)

I'm now the author of thirty+ published novels across my Scottish romance series, with many more stories still waiting in the wings.

My books include:

The Glenbriar Series - cosy contemporary romance set in a fictional Highland Perthshire town, where everyone knows everyone, friendships run deep and there's always another love story waiting around the corner.

Scottish Island Escapes - heart-warming romance set on the beautiful Isle of Mull, inspired by the real island, its landscapes and its communities.

Love on the Edge – Barra - atmospheric island romance set on the Hebridean island of Barra, where dramatic scenery and close-knit island life provide the backdrop for new beginnings and love.

And the Glenbriar world is continuing to grow with The Glenbriar Castle Series, bringing new romances and familiar faces to Dairvin Castle on the shores of Loch Briar.

Every book tells a complete love story, so you can dip in and out wherever you fancy. But if you read the connected series from the beginning, you'll have the added fun of meeting familiar characters, spotting little connections and discovering how the fictional communities evolve.

My office is basically a book hoard

When I look around my little office, I see shelves filled with books.

Fiction books. Fact books. Colouring books. Craft books. And more books.

Yes, I hoard books.

Sorry, Marie Kondo, but your method doesn't apply in this instance. My books are my books and I won't part with them.

The best bit is that some of the books on those shelves were written by me.

It never gets old seeing them there. Especially when they sit alongside the scribbled and worn notebooks where some of the ideas started.

Because that's the slightly surreal thing about being an author. One minute there's a vague idea scribbled in a notebook, and eventually there's an actual book sitting on your shelf.

And then someone else gets to read it.

That's the bit I really love.

Why I write romance

I love stories about people finding their way back to themselves — and sometimes finding each other along the way.

My romances often feature new beginnings, second chances, friends becoming something more, unexpected relationships, close-knit communities and characters who discover that life doesn't always turn out the way they planned.

But perhaps the most important thing is that I want my books to be somewhere readers can escape to.

A beautiful Scottish island. A cosy Highland town. A loch-side hotel. A village café. A bookshop. A country road. Somewhere with friendly locals, lovable animals, a little drama and, naturally, a happy ending.

Come and escape to Scotland with me

The wonderful thing about writing is that I get to create these places and then invite readers in.

I love nothing more than escaping into the pages of my own books with the characters I've created — and I desperately hope you'll enjoy doing the same.

My Scottish romance novels are available in ebook, paperback, and on Kindle Unlimited. The Glenbriar Series also has audiobooks in production - you can check Audible for current availability.

You can also find my books through other booksellers, or order signed paperbacks directly from me.

If you're not sure where to start, take a look at my reading order, explore the different series, or try my free short story, New Beginnings in Glenbriar, for your first taste of the cosy Scottish romance world.

And if you'd like to keep up with what I'm writing, sign up to my mailing list. I'll send you news about new books, what's happening behind the scenes and, occasionally, whatever nonsense I've been getting up to lately.

Also, feel free to get in touch any time.

Just remember I can't guarantee anything you tell me won't be used in evidence against you...

Or, I should say, get put in a book!

Thanks for dropping by.

I hope you'll stay for a while — and perhaps come and visit Scotland with me.

Margaret x