Gloria
For all intents and purposes, Gloria Harrison has the perfect life: a rich
husband, a beautiful home, and all the free time she needs to work on her
art. And yet, she is deeply unhappy. Initially resigned to be pushed around
by her snobbish, manipulative husband, Greg, she discovers a shocking truth
about him she simply cannot ignore, and has to get out.
As Gloria’s world unravels around her, she has to team up with friends new
and old to escape not only her husband’s clutches, but also the country,
even if that means giving up everything.
Gloria must rediscover who she used to be and realise her true worth to
finally free herself from Greg’s stranglehold forever, or risk losing the
person she holds most dear in the world – her daughter.
Purchase Links
https://mybook.to/GloriaAmazon
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/gloria-73
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/gloria/id1574984606
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gloria-robert-shaw/1108724822?ean=9781838378608
Author Q&A
1. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what
would it be?
Stop doubting yourself! You don’t need to hold
off until you’ve thought of a world-changing, unique, never-before-written
concept – you’ve got good ideas that people will want to read, just go for it.
2. What book do you feel is under-appreciated? How about
overrated?
Mark Haddon’s The Red House is in my top 3
novels of all time, but it has very mixed reviews which I don’t understand
because I think it’s brilliant! It’s one of those stories that has a
deceptively simple premise, but is a wonderful exploration of human beings and
their behaviour, and is a book I’ll never forget. I’m quick to recommend it to
anyone and everyone.
3. Favorite childhood memory involving books?
My grandma, who sadly passed away in 2018, used
to read to my sister and me when we were going to sleep as kids. When we got to
ages where we were going to bed at the same time, she would leave our bedroom
doors open and sit on the floor in the hallway reading loudly so we could both
have a bedtime story. It’s a perfect example of her caring nature, and I’ll
always love her for that.
4. Did you want to be an author when you grew up?
Yes. I can honestly say I don’t remember a time
when I didn’t want to write. I’ve been working on stories, poems and even plays
since I was a little girl, and it feels amazing to be finally realizing that
dream.
5. What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Probably that I like writing on the sofa in
front of the TV! I know a lot of writers like to hide away in an office or
quiet room, but I get much more work done when I’m comfortable with my laptop
on a cushion in front of me.
6. Have you ever met anyone famous?
I went to see Ian McKellen perform his one man
show in 2019 (which was amazing), and afterwards he was collecting money for
charity in the theatre foyer. We lined up to donate and he met each of us
individually, pausing to laugh at my Magneto t-shirt, which was a lovely
moment.
7.
What is the first book that made you cry?
I can’t remember the first, but I do know which one made me cry
the most – One Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It’s an exceptional,
poignant book focused on two women in Afghanistan during the time of the
Taliban, which is still as relevant as ever.
8.
How do you select the names of your characters?
This might sound cheesy, but I just name them whatever feels
right. I always have names right from the start of any story – I couldn’t be
one of those writers who puts a placeholder in and changes it later! The only
time I do agonize about names is when they have a different heritage to me, and
I do some research to make sure they’re appropriately named for their age,
nationality, etc.
9.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Go for it! There’s an amazing online writing community that can
support you, and a huge collection of resources you can use to hone your craft,
form a network and get your book published.
Also, don’t be afraid your ideas aren’t special enough – you’re
telling YOUR stories YOUR way, and they will resonate with readers, you just
need to get them out there.
10.
What is your favorite genre to read?
I’m a sucker for anything post-apocalyptic/dystopian, whether
the story has a thriller, sci-fi or fantasy slant. I also love anything that
involves a character or group of people rising up to defeat oppression, whether
in a contemporary setting or otherwise.
11. What’s a typical writing day like for you?
I write around my day job, so that means I have
to be flexible, and fit in my writing during lunch breaks, after work and on
the weekend. This means each writing day is different, but I’m happy as long as
I reach my target word count for the week!
12. Do you listen to music when writing?
I can’t work in silence, so I have to listen to
something, whether that’s TV noise (it must be a TV show I can mostly ignore!),
music or the background buzz of a coffee shop.
13. If you could travel anywhere in the world to write, where
would you go?
Although I live in a rural village, I absolutely
love visiting cities, and can easily write in the middle of the hustle and
bustle of a busy city centre. I would love to tour the beautiful cities of
Europe, writing in coffee shops and pubs along the way.
14. How do you choose your book covers?
I’m extremely lucky that my sister is an
incredibly talented artist, so once I share my ideas and favourite on-market
covers with her, she creates stunning artwork that I fall in love with right
away.
15. What’s one thing you’d like to say to your readers?
Just a great
big thank you! There are more stories and authors out there than ever before,
so I appreciate every single person who takes a chance on my work. It honestly
means the world to me.
Author Bio –
Katherine Shaw is a multi-genre writer and self-confessed nerd from
Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, spending most of her time dreaming up new
characters or playing D&D. She has a passion for telling the stories of
underdogs who must rise up to defeat the hardships they have been dealt in
life, often with a focus on female protagonists. She is currently working on
her debut novel Gloria, a contemporary domestic thriller launching in
September this year, alongside several short story projects that are in the
works. You can find out more at her website (www.katherineshawwrites.com), and she is always happy to chat on Twitter (@katheroony).
Social Media Links –
https://twitter.com/katheroony
https://instagram.com/katherineshawwrites
https://www.facebook.com/katherineshawwrites
Giveaway to Win a Signed Paperback of Gloria and more (Open to UK
Only)
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Please try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.