From time to time, I run a 6Ws feature to give fellow authors and their books a bit of promotion. Catherine Brooks is next. (With a nod to my former life as a journalist, I opted for the 6Ws of the business: who, what, when, where, why and how, which counts as it ends in W.) I will let Catherine tell you about her writing, specifically about her new release, The Soldier and the Swan. By the way this post is part of the Bittersweet Book Tour.
Who is Catherine Brooks?
I’m a photographer and registered nurse turned author. I live in Arizona with my husband, our two kids, and far too many adorable animals—a dog, a kitten, two birds, and a tortoise. I love the heat (good thing), swimming, hiking, being outdoors, cooking … and pretending someone else is going to clean up afterward.
What is your latest book?
The Soldier and the Swan is an emotional love story set in 1940s San Francisco, inspired by Swan Lake. It follows a former prima ballerina who gives up everything for her wounded husband, only to find that the only man who truly sees her is the one she can never have.
When did you begin writing?
I started writing about five years ago during COVID. I wish I could say I was born with a quill in hand, but writing wasn’t something I seriously considered until much later in life.
How do you write?
In a cozy cardigan and fuzzy socks. Usually with a bowl of frozen cherries drizzled with honey nearby. If not that, pistachios and chocolate chips.
Where do you write?
I have a tiny writing nook in the corner of my house. It’s basically a giant cushion that looks suspiciously like a dog bed, but it’s my favorite place to write.
Why do you write?
Sometimes I wish I could stop! I write because I have so many stories floating around in my head. I’m fascinated by people; what they say, what they don’t say, how past experiences shape them, and why they do and say the things they do. Writing gives me a place to explore all of those questions through characters and stories.
BLURB FOR THE SOLDIER AND THE SWAN
She gave up the stage for love.
Now the man she married barely looks at her.
A love story inspired by Swan Lake.
San Francisco, 1943: Vivienne Hartley was once San Francisco’s most celebrated prima ballerina. But when her husband, Charlie, returns home wounded from the war, she gives up her dreams to care for him. The man she married has become a shell of the man she once loved. As Charlie withdraws further into himself, Vivienne tries to become the wife she believes he needs until she barely recognizes herself anymore.
When Charlie’s younger brother, Danny, returns home, he sees the woman beneath the caregiver and challenges her to audition for Swan Lake. As rehearsals begin, Vivienne rediscovers the life she thought she’d buried forever. But the more she finds herself again, the harder it becomes to ignore the impossible truth.
The only man who truly sees her … is the one she can never have.
LINKS TO BUY
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
https://www.catherinebrooksbooks.com
Instagram: @catherine.brooks.author
TikTok: @catherine.brooks.author
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