Today I am hosting an author spotlight for Sue Barr, whose novel, Catherine, was recently released. It is great to have Sue visit and allow us to learn a bit more about her as a person. I love her willingness to share with readers, some of her personal experiences through her story about Catherine. That takes courage and I admire her for it. Thank you to Sue and Claudine for allowing me to host this spotlight.
Purchase Links: CATHERINE is available exclusively on Amazon. You can purchase your copy HERE. This book is also available through Amazon’s KindleUnlimited
Author Spotlight ~ Sue Barr
If it weren’t for my very own Top
Gun, (aka Dear Hubby), I might never have started writing. He always said I
should write a book and I’d shake my head, wondering where in the world did he
come up with that idea. I guess he knew more than me (again) because in early
2009 I came home from work and began writing. As simple as that. December 2010,
I sold my first manuscript to Turquoise Morning Press under a pen name, Madison
J. Edwards, and from there had one full length novel, four novellas, one
collection and two boxed sets published. I was basically dumped into the deep
end of the publishing pool and had to learn how to tread water or drown.
In 2014 I had all my rights reverted
and began self-publishing under my own name. Since 2015 I’ve published three
contemporary romances as well as my first #JAFF book - CAROLINE: Pride &
Prejudice continued… Book One. Not once have I regretted this choice. I’m
having a blast. I’m meeting wonderful new people every day and the #JAFF reading/writing
community is warm and inviting.
I retired in 2015 and write
semi-full-time. I say semi because for me, writing is fun and I’m pretty busy
as the full-time care giver for our grandson. Also, hubby’s work takes him out
of country so when he’s home I like to spend time with him. After thirty-five
years of marriage we still like one another’s company. In some ways this is a
blessing and at other times a detriment because when it comes to finishing the
book I need a fire lit beneath my keester. I’m not a procrastinator, per se, I
just finish things… later.
CATHERINE was an interesting story
for me to write for two things. First off, I hated that she’s always thought of
as a silly girl. Sometimes we behave in ways because it’s expected and I wanted
to round out her personality a bit more than what we’ve read in canon. The
second reason came about after I’d started her story.
We know, from the tag line that Catherine
has a deep dark secret which she believes makes her unmarriageable. As I
plotted out the story line, (gasp from all my friends who know me to be a
true-blue pantser), I struggled with what would make her think she could never
marry. Early on I decided on a course of action. Without giving away the
reason, I can tell you that I drew from personal experience. What Catherine
experienced and thought are things I’ve experienced and thought and these
actions/reactions mold your character. Like Catherine, it made me stronger.
Like Catherine, it made me have great empathy for others who have struggled
with this. And, like Catherine, I became more guarded with who I allowed close.
My husband, who I based Lord George on, was persistent and refused to let me
‘get away’. How I love that man.
Thank you for joining me in
Catherine’s launch. I hope you buy (win?) a copy and let me know what you
think.
BLURB:
Catherine
Bennet, known as Kitty to close friends and family, knows this better than
anyone. She also knows that she will never marry and it never bothered her before
she met Lord George Kerr at Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding. He’s determined to
breach the walls of defense she’d carefully constructed around her heart, and
she’s just as determined to stay the course.
Some
secrets cannot be shared
Lord
George Kerr knows this better than anyone. For five years, as a spy for His
Majesty the King, he played the part of a Rake, concealing his espionage
activities beneath a blanket of brothels, drink and loose women. Even though
he’s forced to resume his regular life within London’s finest society, he still
must keep some things hidden.
One
thing he does not hide is his attraction to Miss Catherine Bennet of Longbourn.
Enraptured by her beauty and warmth of character, he plunges headlong into
winning her heart, only to find it carefully guarded and she’s unwilling to
give him even a small pinch of hope.
Some
things are beyond your control
When
circumstances bring Kitty’s secret into the open, she fears the tenuous bonds
of friendship she’s forged with Lord George will be lost forever along with
whatever love he proclaims to have for her. With the very lives of England’s
vast network of spies working undercover in Bonaparte’s France hanging in the
balance, she’s forced to face her worst nightmare.
Her
secret is laid bare, can he love her enough to overcome what he learns?
For more information about Sue and
her books, check out her website:
From there you can follow her on
Facebook or Twitter or hop on over to her blog and find out how boring her life
really is…. While there, don’t forget to sign up for her announcement only
newsletter. No spam. Pinky promise.
CATHERINE is available exclusively
on Amazon. You can purchase your copy HERE:
Author Biography:
Sue Barr, transplanted Prairie Girl,
now lives in beautiful Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her retired Air Force
hubby, close to their two sons and families. When not busy writing she loves to
read and bake, watch cooking shows and Survivor (don’t judge).
She’s also an indentured servant to three cats and has been known to rescue a kitten
or two, or three…in an attempt to keep her ‘cat-lady-in-training’ status current. Although, she has
deviated from appointed path and rescued a few dogs as well.
or two, or three…in an attempt to keep her ‘cat-lady-in-training’ status current. Although, she has
deviated from appointed path and rescued a few dogs as well.
Sue is a member of Romance Writers of America and their affiliate chapter, Love, Hope and Faith
as well as American Christian Fiction Writers.
as well as American Christian Fiction Writers.
When Sue retired in 2015 from the London Police Service, she re-discovered #JAFF. Prior to that she’d read Pamela Aiden’s trilogy and, like all of us here, watched every movie ever made of Jane Austen’s books, as well as the spin-offs. Her favorite is Lost in Austen.
About that time, her childhood
friend (Suzan Lauder) introduced her to A Happy Assembly. It wasn’t too long
before the plot bunnies escaped and Sue began to wonder ‘whatever happened to
Caroline Bingley after Charles and Mr. Darcy became engaged to the Bennet
sisters?’ From that, CAROLINE was born, followed by CATHERINE which we are
talking about today. In the works is GEORGIANA and who knows what else will
follow….
Author Links:
Blog Tour Schedule
Giveaways
Three winners will receive a copy of Catherine. Two winners will receive eBooks
and one winner will receive an autographed paperback book of “Catherine.”
All giveaways are open to international winners.
Terms and conditions:
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog
post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name
of the blog where they commented.
post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name
of the blog where they commented.
Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
Each entrant is eligible to win one eBook or paperback book.
Each entrant is eligible to win one eBook or paperback book.
Rafflecopter
Congratulations on your new release, Sue. I wish you much success. Please come back anytime.
I am so happy that your husband encouraged you to write. I love when secondary characters are fleshed out and I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with Kitty.
ReplyDeleteWasn't this a great spotlight. I loved reading about Sue. I'm glad her husband encouraged her too.
DeleteI really enjoyed this post, Sue. I’m glad your husband encouraged you to write and Suzan introduced you to AHA. This book sounds exciting, romantic, and mysterious. I’m curious to learn Kitty’s secret. Wishing you great success with Catherine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Jan. Doesn't the book sound good! All of your adjectives are perfect! I want to know Kitty's secret too.
DeleteI am so glad that I encouraged my husband to write, always part-time until 10 years ago when we moved to Canada and then he started writing full-time
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Susan. Glad to hear that your husband writes full time now. That's great! I'll look for some of his books.
DeleteThis is my first introduction to your book and I love it! Now you have my curiosity and I, too, want to know Catherine's secret. Thanks for the preview.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind knowing Kitty's secret and how it shaped her views on marriage. It's great to know you through this author spotlight, Sue. Thank goodness your husband was there to encourage you to write. If not we may not be introduced to your version of Caroline, Catherine and (did I hear correctly) Georgiana.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! So glad you joined us here today. Catherine's secret is a painful one, but you'll soon find out she's a survivor and a strong woman.
ReplyDeleteLuthiene, my next #JAFf book will be about Georgiana Darcy and the third Kerr brother, Maxwell, the 5th Duke of Adborough. Be prepared for much angst. Oh No. I might have to hide behind the blue couch, as they say on A Happy Assembly (Fan Fiction site).
What a great, encouraging husband you have, Sue! He sounds like a keeper!
ReplyDeleteI’m looking forward to reading Kitty’s story.
The more I read about this book the more I want to read.
ReplyDeleteNow this makes reading 'Catherine' even more interesting as it will have a part of you in it! Send your husband my thanks for encouraging you to write! Thank you for a chance at the generous giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCarole, you may be the only person who could figure out the WHOLE secret as you've known me since Moses came down with the tablets....
DeleteHmm! Must admit to being very intrigued by this story's premise!! Catherine,vowing she'll never marry because of a secret she holds dear. Lord George,fully aware of the power of secrets,is attracted to her.
ReplyDeleteWill he be assweerht persistent as Sue's own dear hubby,or will he fall at the first hurdle?
Yes,my interest has definitely been piqued!!!
Best of luck with this be,Sue!
Janet,thank you for hosting this lovely post!
So Catherines story is also a very personal one. I like the sound of this book a lot & wpould like to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing some of your personal story with us, Sue. Your husband sounds as if he's an amazing guy (a bit like mine, actually!). After reading and loving "Caroline" (seems a strange thing to say about that lady, but you convinced me!), "Catherine" went on my Wish List as soon as I heard about it. "Georgiana" will be doing exactly the same. The Kerr brothers definitely make some swoon-worthy heroes.
ReplyDeleteI lurv the Kerr brothers. Fair warning, we may not like Max so much at the beginning of Georgiana's story, but I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here...
ReplyDelete