Today I’m thrilled to have Susan Macatee, author of The Physician’s Irish Lady, with me in the Blue Rose Writing Room.
Do you use a pen name/pseudo name?
No.
If so, why. If not, why did you decide to write under your own name?
I write under my married name mainly because I’d like people to know it’s my writing. And it’s my married name because I’d been married several years before I started writing for publication.
Can you tell us how long you have been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in about the third grade, but I started writing seriously toward publication when my youngest son began school. That would be about 1994, nearly twenty years.
I’ve taught third grade and am amazed at the young writers I’ve seen.
Why did you choose to write in this genre?
I’ve always loved reading historical romances and spent about ten years as a Civil War civilian reenactor with my husband doing the military side. That’s why so many of my romances are either set during or center around the American Civil War years.
Have you ever written any other genre?
Yes, I write contemporary love stories for women’s magazines and some of my historicals delve into the paranormal, as in my time travels or stories featuring vampires.
Wow, you are diverse!
Do you plan on doing so in the future?
Besides the short stories, I’m planning a contemporary baseball romance series. I’m a big baseball fan and would love to incorporate that love into my romances.
What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
I would love to have met Clara Barton, because she was such an inspiration in crafting so many of my historical heroines.
Tell us one unusual, weird, or curious fact you discovered while researching this book.
I’ve learned that Victorians were very much into the occult and spiritualism. That’s why one of the minor characters in The Physician’s Irish Lady—the hero’s aunt—claims to be able to predict future events. She’s also highly superstitious when the heroine brings a black kitten into the house, declaring it a bad omen.
What are you most proud of about your writing?
For most of my life, I’ve been entertained by the fiction I’ve read. That’s always been my goal as a writer to entertain and delight readers with my stories and characters. I’ve had some reviews that ensured me that readers are entertained by my stories and happy to go along for the ride.
How do you respond to negative reviews?
I’ve had a few of those too. I read them and take away any advice that will help improve any future stories, but mostly, I choose to ignore them. Not everyone is going to like my writing. Nothing I can do about that.
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Answer in three words or less. Ready? Go!
Favorite Disney Character? Captain Jack Sparrow
Favorite Fruit? strawberry
Favorite Hero? my husband
Favorite Eye Color? brown
Best Vacation destination? Ireland
Food you can’t stand? celery
What annoys you? opinionated people
Coffee, tea, or something else? tea
Nightgown or Jammies? Jammies
Prefer dogs or cats? dogs
A bit about Susan
She’s spent many years as a Civil War civilian reenactor with the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. She’s a wife, mother of three grown sons, and has recently become a grandmother. She spends her free time inhaling books, and watching baseball games and favorite old movies.
The blurb about The Physician’s Irish Lady
As Dr. Elliot James travels by train from Philadelphia to York, a young woman faints at his feet. He’s sworn, as a physician, to aid the sick and injured, but fears this woman requires more than medical help. Enchanted by her beauty and touched by her dignity, despite appearing to be alone in the world, he buys her a meal and offers to find her a place to stay in his small Pennsylvania town.
A mysterious Irishman pursues her to the idyllic town surrounded by farmland. Is he an abusive husband come to claim his runaway wife, or someone more sinister?
Enjoy an excerpt from The Physician’s Irish Lady.
The doctor led Keara into the dining car. Small tables with bench seats were set in rows by the windows with an aisle between. He seated her on one side of a table and took the bench opposite.
A waiter approached. “What might I get for you, sir?”
The doctor glanced at Keara and winked. “The lady and I would like a bowl of soup and whatever cut of meat you’re serving today.”
The waiter nodded. “The soup for today is potato and beans, and I’ll bring a plate of roasted beef.” He glanced toward Keara.
She nodded not sure what she should say. Her gaze drifted over the other diners, and her stomach grumbled at the aromas of soup and cooked meats the passengers had set before them.
The waiter returned with a tray and placed bowls of soup and spoons on the table. “I’ll return with your plate of meat and other delicacies in a moment.”
Keara glanced at the doctor and wrinkled her nose. “Other delicacies? You shouldn’t be spending so much on me.”
“You need food,” he emphasized. “I can’t have you fainting in the aisle again, now can I?”
She sucked on her lower lip, suddenly ashamed in the presence of so refined a gentleman.
He motioned toward her spoon. “Now, eat. Doctor’s orders.”
She grinned and lifted the soup spoon. Taking care to delicately sip and not gulp her soup, Keara ate slowly and studied her companion. His gaze barely left her, causing a tightening in her stomach not caused by hunger. His sculpted lips tilted pleasantly into a smile as he gazed at her. His hands appeared strong, but fine, not work-roughened, like the men she’d known.
“I suppose, since we’re dining together and sharing a seat on the ride, I should introduce myself. Doctor Elliot James.” He studied her as if expecting her name in return.
She swallowed. “I’m Miss Keara Fagan, and I’m very grateful you came to me aid, Doctor.”
“My pleasure, Miss Fagan.” He grinned, and her stomach fluttered with pleasure. “So, your relatives live in York, you say?” He lifted a spoonful of soup to his lips.
She had trouble concentrating.
“Ah—yes, in York.” She hoped he didn’t see through her lie. She planned to find any hovel she could for a night’s stay, then continue her travel by foot, if she had to. She’d disappear into the countryside so Rogan would have no chance of finding her.
I’m giving away one ebook copy of The Physician’s Irish Lady. Just leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the drawing. Winner will be announced here tomorrow in the comments. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you.
Here’s how you can contact Susan:
Twitter: @susanmacatee
Thanks again, Susan, for joining me here today.
Thanks for having me, Collette!
Buy links
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Physicians-Irish-Lady-ebook/dp/B00FDXQ684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380111260&sr=1-1&keywords=the+physician%27s+irish+lady
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5497
Don’t know when you’ll be setting up the blog, but I won’t have any links other than Amazon and the coming soon link from TWRP until the 22nd or shortly thereafter. But you can direct readers to my website http://susanmacatee.com for more information if you don’t want to patch in links at the last minute.
