Below, you’ll find the full transcript of today’s episode, in case you prefer to read or want to reference something we talked about.

The Loch Ness Monster isn’t the only recluse seeking a Scottish haven.

If you love pre-WWII historical romantic suspense, you’ll be sure to enjoy The Recluse’s Vindication.

Bieldfell. Scotland, 1933—Falsely accused of murder sixteen years ago, American cowboy Benjamin Ford has chosen to hide out in the Scottish Highlands. Reclusive and not afraid to die, he rescues children out of an increasingly dangerous Germany. When his childhood best friend appears at his door, he’s not the boy she remembers.

Eleanor Finch’s life ended sixteen years ago. In one horrible day, she lost her dreams, her reputation, and her heart. However, she never gives up the hope of finding her friend, so when she learns of Ben’s whereabouts, she leaves all that is familiar to convince him to return home.

But Eleanor isn’t the only person searching for Ben. Hunters follow her trail. The thin veil of gossip and rumor may be their only chance of a future … unless the Loch Ness Monster is real after all.

?Welcome to a Spot of Story with Danielle Grandinetti. Cozy up with your favorite beverage, and we’ll chat about sweet romance, page-turning suspense, and fascinating history. Perhaps you’ll find your next read in one of these stories.

On this episode of a spot of story echoes of history, we’re stepping back into the 1930s to explore the Lochness monster.

This is a fun topic and a fun one, especially to have as my first echoes of history topic. It was not one I would’ve expected to research for my stories. When you think of the Lochness monster, it doesn’t. Necessarily bring up, uh, stories and ideas of the 1930s. However, the 1930s were a very key point in the Loch Ness monster’s history.

The reason I began researching the Loch Ness monster was. A rabbit hole. I was researching the 1930s in Scotland for my upcoming book release, The Recluse Vindication. As I was researching big news events that were happening at the time that I planned to set my story, which was in 1933, I planned to have my main character rescue children out of Nazi Germany at the time.

My hero was falsely accused of murder. However, he does have blood on his hands as he rescues children out of Germany, and he will do whatever it takes to accomplish saving the innocent. Out of that, he sees himself very much as a monster. But before I delved too deeply into that, I discovered the. The rumor of the Loch Ness monster had a significant turning point in 1933.

The fact that I already had my story planned for 1933, and I discovered this, the pairing was way too good to pass out. The Loch Ness monster, according to the British online archives, has been around since the first couple of hundred AD. So it’s, it’s been around for a very, very long time. That’s perhaps its first, you know, with a legend and the myth of it began.

So again, 1933. What does that have to do with the Loch Ness monster? In May of that particular year, a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Mackay, but especially Mrs. Mackay, claimed to have spotted the whale-like creature that appeared in Loch Ness, and an article quoted them as having spotted the Loch Ness monster.

The Inverness Courier was the first to print their telling of the tale of seeing Nessie. From there, the story grew in the area. Yes. There was always the myth and the legend of Nessie, but it became a global phenomenon because of Mr. and Mrs. Mackay’s story in the Courier. From there, it grew to international travelers wanting to stop by, whether in Inverness or other points along Loch Ness, to see if they could spot the Loch Ness monster.

It truly grew into its own story and myth, and legend from there. In the years since, as technology has changed, they’ve tried. Sonar and other ways of trying to see if they can spot the Loch Ness monster to track it down. There are reported pictures of the Lochness monster that are wrapped up in the stories and myths as well.

Whether there actually is a Loch Ness monster, it depends on who you talk to. Some firmly believe that Nessie is real. Other people believe. She’s just a myth. Who am I to disagree with either side? However, in my story of rumors and monsters and second chances, Nessie. Isn’t the only recluse seeking a Scottish haven?

The ability to pair my hero, who saw himself as a monster, with Nessie, who the world claimed was a monster, was again, too good to pass up, to be able to have the rumors of Nessie’s first sighting itself. Printed in the papers at the same time as my hero is facing his own past. I had a lot of fun pairing my hero and Nessie.

Does Nessie appear in my story? Well, there are rumors, there are monsters. You’ll have to read the story and find out.

A little about the story itself. The Recluse Vindication is set in the fictional town of Bidfell, Scotland, in the Scottish Highlands, in 1933. Benjamin Ford, an American Cowboy falsely accused of murder sixteen years ago, has chosen to hide out in the Scottish Highlands, reclusive and not afraid to die.

He rescues children out of an increasingly dangerous Germany. When his childhood best friend appears at his door, he’s not the boy she remembers. Eleanor Finch’s life ended 16 years ago, and on one horrible day, she lost her dreams, her reputation, and her heart. However, she never gives up hope of finding her friend.

So when she learns of Ben’s whereabouts, she leaves all that is familiar to convince him to return home. But Eleanor is not the only person searching for Ben. Hunters follow her trail. The thin veil of gossip and rumor may be their only chance of a future, unless the Loch Ness monster is real after all.

Thank you for joining me today for the inaugural episode of Echoes of History. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing more about my research into the Loch Ness Monster and the myths and legends of Nessie. I loved being able to put the rumor of her in my story.

If you visit my website and the post in this particular episode, I will include links to the research that I conducted so that you can read more about the stories themselves. Both from the Inverness Courier, as well as the History Channel, which always has some really fascinating points on history.

I look forward to our next historical event, and be sure to grab a copy of The Recluse Vindication so you can see the rumor of Nessie in action. Thanks for joining me today.

Thank you for listening to a spot of story with Danielle Grandinetti. We hope you enjoy today’s conversation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Discover more information about today’s book by visiting a spot of story online at daniellegrandinett.com/podcast.

Happy reading.

Research Links:

British Online Archives

History.com

Inverness Courier