Recommended for readers who enjoy An American Beauty by Shana Abé and When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward.
Three hearts. Lost love. One impossible choice.
A character-driven historical saga featuring the love triangle of a seaman, a governess and a wealthy speculator. Told through letters, the sweep of 19th century events like the gold rush, whaling voyages, and the streets of Manhattan unfold.
At the height of the 1840s whaling era, Catherine McGuirk arrives in Sag Harbor, New York. She has already spurned a marriage proposal from Patrick Lynch on her passage from Ireland and is confident she will find work as a governess, or at least a teacher. The local schoolmaster dismisses her with a smirk. Settling for hotel work has its upside when Cath meets a handsome seaman, Michael Heffernan. Just as she falls in love, he is off on a whaling voyage.
Spending her romance alone spurs Cath to continue her correspondence with Patrick. His ascent as a successful businessman in New York is swift, while Michael promises to give up the sea for marriage to Cath. Yet, when the Gold rush calls, he cannot resist.
A brokenhearted Cath moves to New York to revive her dream of becoming a governess. Once in Manhattan, she continues to be torn between her own ambition, her missing husband, and her former beau.
Praise for Dear Missing Friend:
"If you're into historical fiction with a strong emotional core, Dear Missing Friend is a genuinely compelling pick. It's the kind of book that stays with you—not because of grand plot twists, but because of the quiet, deeply human moments that shape Catherine's path." ~ The Gloss Book Club
"This captivating epistolary novel illustrates the hopes and hardships of 19th-century Irish immigrants starting over in America. The book is historically rich and emotionally riveting." ~ The Christian Science Monitor
"Fans of historical novels will find much to like in McGuirk's debut. An ambitious work of historical fiction." ~ Kirkus Review
Writing Interview Questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I like to say the era chose me. The whaling era of the mid 1850’s in Sag Harbor, NY is when and where my adventurous 2nd great aunt lived. When I ran into her doing random family research, I was hooked.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
It was difficult to research ordinary people who lived over 150 years ago. Most history is about important men, so I had to dig deep to find the stories of women, who often fall between the cracks. What surprised me most was what a unique place Sag Harbor was at that time. Not only did it not cause a stir that my ancestors spoke with Irish accents, but when strolling the wharf they could encounter people from all over the world. Pacific Islanders, Portuguese, Native Americans, and Free Blacks were represented on many whaling vessels. These crews lived and got along together in the 1850’s for up to three-year voyages.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
Catherine had a supporting cast of letter writers that included some famous names. There was enough circumstantial evidence, which I included in the Notes at the end of the book, that points to Cath’s possible interactions with Herman Melville and Walt Whitman.
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
a) “Determined.” Cath pursues her goals throughout her life. b) “Teacher.” Practicing her chosen profession sustains Cath through life’s travails. c) “Friend.” Cath listens, encourages, and cares for the people in her life.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
Weaving the layers of research into a coherent story that was consistent and as accurate as possible was challenging.
Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?
Actually, the opposite happened. The character of Patrick was originally included because he was documented as being on the same voyage to America and being a neighbor in a boarding house with Cath. I took him out of the story for a while until I realized there must be a reason he kept appearing – namely, he was a love interest for Cath.
What are you currently working on?
I would love to do an illustrated and annotated version of Dear Missing Friend.
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
I believe anyone can attempt to write. It can be done anywhere and anytime. Even dictating into your phone while waiting for a bus works. You don’t need permission - all you need is an idea to give it a try.
Personal Interview Questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Spend time with my family.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to work in tv or movies, which I did.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
Takeout - preferably Italian.
What would be a perfect day?
Spending it with my loved ones.
What is the best part of your day?
Early morning.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: tea
Hot or cold: cold
Movie or book: books were first, movies took over, now back to my first love.
Morning person or Night owl: morning person
City or country: city
Social Media or book: book
Paperback or ebook: ebook
Susan McGuirk posts about heroines of historical fiction books on her blog “The Storied Sisters Society” on Bluesky and Substack.
While working at HBO, she honed her writing skills composing hundreds of in-house film reviews. She also worked at Anthology Film Archives, a historical film museum.
Susan lives with her husband in New York City.
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