Monday, May 27, 2013

Cathy Mansell- Shadows Across the Liffey



Cathy will award a $10 Amazon gift card to one random commenter at the end of the tour and two $5 Amazon gift cards to random commenters during the course of the tour.



Why did you choose to write Romantic Suspense?

I am a romantic at heart.  If you have ever loved and been loved in return, then you can write about the subject with some authority.  I suppose, that is one of the reasons that I chose to write romantic fiction. 

After I had written my first novel, Where the Shamrock Grows, a rags to riches saga that included some of Ireland’s past history and America’s  depression, and getting  nowhere with it,  I began to realise that it was missing an important ingredient by today’s standards; that page turning quality which makes a reader want to read on. 

That was when I decided to try added suspense to my stories.
Shadow across the Liffey, has a villain by the name of Vinnie Kelly, a selfish, mean character, who, when he cannot win back the heart of the heroine, Oona, he becomes set on revenge with dire consequences.

Her Father’s Daughter, also has a bad guy by the name of George Milford, a rich landowner who sets out to ruin the hero, Dan, by having his thrown off the council and sacked from the newspaper.

Likewise, in my current book, Galway Girl, the heroine, Tamara has a real tough time, and is pursued throughout the book by the iniquitous Jake Travis.

I love writing and reading romantic suspense with strong plots that keep the reader hooked until the last page.

BLURB:  
A gripping story of how family secrets can wreak havoc on the present.

In 60’s Ireland life is hard for widow, Oona Quinn, grief-stricken by the tragic deaths of her husband and five-year-old daughter. Struggling to survive, she meets charismatic Jack Walsh at the Shipping Office.

Vinnie Kelly, her son's biological father, just out of jail, sets out to destroy Oona and all she holds dear. Haunted by her past, she has to fight for her future and the safety of her son, Sean. But Vinnie has revenge on his mind . ..


Excerpt:

The sun had just come out, and McNally cursed the task ahead of him. The child’s death had touched him deeply. At the station, he had seen tears in grown men’s eyes. This was, by far, the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

He parked the car outside the house with the shiny green door and well-maintained garden, and walked slowly up the path. He hesitated. From inside he heard laughter and music, and it pained him to be the bearer of such shocking news. A lump formed in his throat. He removed his hat and held it in front of him, before knocking on the door.

‘Mrs Quinn?’

Oona stared at the uniformed man on her doorstep. ‘That... that’s me.’ She clutched the door. ‘Has, has something happened?’

‘I’m Sergeant McNally. There’s been an accident. May I come in?’

Connie joined her in the hall, the smile slipping from her face.

‘Are you a relative?’ he asked.

‘We’re sisters. What is it?’

He thought Oona was going to faint but her sister’s hand guided her towards the living room.

A moment later, the two women sat on the sofa clutching hands.

‘May I sit down?’

Oona nodded. She was trembling. McNally could see a glimmer of hope in her big brown eyes.

‘I’m afraid your husband’s been in a serious accident, Mrs Quinn.’ He saw all her fears encapsulated in that one terrible moment as he delivered the news.

‘Please, tell me he’s not dead.’ 

Buy links:



Cathy is an experienced writer of romantic fiction. Her early work was competition short stories and articles published in national magazines. She was Editor in Chief of the Leicestershire Anthology, ‘Taking Off’, a book promoted and supported by Arts Council UK.

Member of Leicester Writers’ Club, Just Write workshop, Life President of Lutterworth Writers’ Group, Member NAWG, Member Romantic Novelist Association and past president of Riverside Speakers club.

In recent times, Cathy has turned to writing full-length novels that are set in Ireland/England. Her debut book Shadow Across the Liffey was published on 7th February 2013 by Tirgearr Publishing.  She was a recent contestant on the TV show Food Glorious Food to be broadcast on 27th February 2013

cathy.ashbymagna@zen.co.uk



37 comments:

Kemberlee said...

Thank you for hosting our Cathy today. Shadow Across the Liffey is an amazing story and Cathy is quite a talented storyteller. Her stories play on all emotions.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Kemberlee for your comment
and thanks so much to Paty for
hosting me today. This is an awesome
site.
I'm looking forward to the tour with
Goddess Fish Promotions.
Cathy

Margaret Kaine said...

A lovely blog Cathy, really interesting. I enjoyed your first novel Shadow Across the Liffey, and look forward to your second which is due to be published very soon.

Unknown said...

Great to hear from you Margaret and thanks for your comment.
I hope you enjoy Her Father's Daughter when he comes out next week.

Cathy
PS Commenders please leave email address with comment. thanks

Anonymous said...

Hi Cathy,
This a great advert for a wonderful book. Very much looking forward to your new book coming out next week.
I won't leave my internet address if you don't mind because of internet villains who pick up on these things.

Unknown said...

Hi - I understand.
It was for the purpose of awarding
the winner with an amazon gift card. But don't worry.

I'm so delighted that you liked by debut novel Shadow Across the Liffey and to hear that you are looking forward to reading her Father's Daughter.
Thank you
Cathy

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting today.

Anonymous said...

A blog which really whets the appetite of the potential reader, a reader who won't be disappointed, Cathy. You always explore all the emotions in your fiction and I can't wait to read 'Shadow Across the Liffey.' It sounds heart-wrenching.

Catherine Lee said...

A show called Food Glorious Food? Is that a UK show? What did you have to do as a contestant? It sounds interesting.

Unknown said...

Hi Catherine - It's a long story,but it happened by chance. At one of my writing groups we put together a cookery/story book. The story had to connect with the recipy. The book was review in our local newspaper and subsequently picked up by a reviewer for the Food Glorious Food programme.
It must have been the luck of the Irish, as I was the chosen one to go to the heats held at the county show in Malvern. If you want to know more let me know. It was great fun.
CathyX

MomJane said...

This sounds sad, but also seems to have some promise of a HEA ending.

Unknown said...

Yes, it has a lot of happy moments Jane. And a happy Ever After.

It also has suspense and things go wrong for the heroine, Oona, before she finds true happiness with Jack.
If you do buy a copy of shadow Across the Liffey,I hope you enjoy the story.
Thanks for commenting
Cathy

Stephanie said...

Cathy, your book sounds wonderful. I'm off to look it up.

Rita Wray said...

Very emotional excerpt, thank you.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Hi, Cathy. You're in a good spot, with Paty. She's a great lady and author, like you.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your lovely comment Stephanie. Lovely to hear from you.
I hope when you look it up you will also buy a copy and enjoy it.
My second book is out on 6th June.
CathyX

Unknown said...

Thank you Ingeborg - Do you like
emotional stories? This one has
happy times, but lots of suspense

Thanks for stopping by.
Cathy

Unknown said...

Lovely to hear from you Charlene.
Yes, this is a lovely blog.
I'm enjoying being here. And of course, hoping that it will bring in a few American sales.

Hope you are doing well.
CathyX

Richard Sheehan said...

Hi Cathy

Great to see how well you're doing.

All the best

Richard

Unknown said...

Hi, see your still working hard. Very proud of you. Can't wait for the new book. Be just in time for me to take to the beach with me. Xx

bn100 said...

Interesting time period for the book

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks for taking the time to comment Richard. Much appreciated.
I've really enjoyed being guest on this blog today.
Cathy

Unknown said...

Thank you Samantha.
I hope you do get to take Her Father's Daughter on holiday with with.
Thanks for your comment
CathyX

Unknown said...

Thanks bn100
I'm glad you liked the period.
It was an interesting time and I love writing about a time I grew up in.
Thanks for leaving a comment
Cathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Cathy
*Waves*
So glad to see Shadow Across the Liffey doing so well. Any chance of it coming out in print form?
Lilian B

Unknown said...

Hi Lilian - That depends on the
number of sales. But yes, we are hoping that might be a possibility.
We shall have to wait and see how things go when my second book Her
Father's Daughter comes out on 6th
June. I'm very excited about that.
Thanks for commenting.
CathyX

Isabella Connor said...

Hi Cathy - loved the book and looking forward to the next one. And I still see the lad in the MacDonalds ad as Sean!

Liv xx

Unknown said...

Hi - lovely to hear from you and to know that you enjoyed reading Shadow Across the Liffey. I love that you thought the lad in the MacDonalds ad was like Sean.
Thanks for taking the time to come and visit.
Always lovely to talk with readers.
CathyX

Mary Preston said...

That touch of suspense makes all the difference. I love it.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Unknown said...

Hi Mary - that's exactly how I feel.
I love suspense along with a strong plot.
If you do buy a copy of Shadow Across the Liffey, I hope you enjoy the journey.
Thanks for your comment.
Cathy

Unknown said...

Dear Paty,
Thanks for having me as your guest
on writing into the sunset. I've had
a wonderful time and enjoyed talking to readers and authors about my
debut novel Shadow Across the Liffey.

It's nice to interact with like minded people from across the pond.
CathyX

Andra Lyn said...

Woo! A story set in Ireland!?! I haven't read one of those! Excited!

andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

Paty Jager said...

Cathy, you're welcome. I enjoy getting to learn about new authors and books and so do my followers.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andra,
My books are all set in Ireland.
Do you like Ireland? Have you ever been there?
I hope you buy a copy of Shadow Across
the Liffey. I'd be interested to know what you thought.
Thank you for your comment
CathyX

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing the excerpt as well as some of your past titles with us

fencingromein at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Hi Shannon - you are welcome.
I'm delighted if you enjoyed the excerpt and I hope it will entice you to buy a copy from Amazon.

Thank you so much for commenting.
CathyX

Unknown said...

My, it will be so hard to choose a winner. but I'll be piking a name at random for the first $5 G.C.
tomorrow. So keep commenting.
And thank you so much
Cathy