Today, I am delighted to bring you an interview with Catherine Kullmann, a fellow Irish historical fiction author, whose novel, The Husband Criteria, is available now. (See link below)
You can follow the full tour here: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/07/blog-tour-husband-criteria-by-catherine-kullmann.html
The Husband Criteria by Catherine Kullmann
London 1817
The primary aim of every young lady embarking on the Spring frenzy that is the Season must be to make a good match. Or must it? And what is a good match? For cousins Cynthia, Chloe and Ann, well aware that the society preux chevalier may prove to be a domestic tyrant, these are vital questions. How can they discover their suitors’ true character when all their encounters must be confined to the highly ritualised round of balls, parties and drives in the park?
As they define and refine their Husband Criteria, Cynthia finds herself unwillingly attracted to aloof Rafe Marfield, heir to an earldom, while Chloe is pleased to find that Thomas Musgrave, the vicar’s son from home, is also in London. And Ann must decide what is more important to her, music or marriage.
And what of the gentlemen who consider the marriage mart to be their hunting grounds? How will they react if they realise how rigorously they are being assessed?
A light-hearted, entertaining look behind the scenes of a Season that takes a different course with unexpected consequences for all concerned.
Buy Links:
Universal Link: https://mybook.to/criteria
Interview with Catherine Kullmann
You are very welcome, Catherine, please introduce yourself:
I was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, I moved to Germany where I lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. I have worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. Widowed, I have three adult sons and two grandchildren.
I love writing and am particularly interested in what happens after the first happy end—how life goes on for the protagonists and sometimes catches up with them. My books are set against a background of the offstage, Napoleonic wars and consider in particular the situation of women trapped in a patriarchal society.
I also blog about historical facts and trivia related to this era. You can find out more about my books and read the blog (My Scrap Album) at my website. You can contact me via my Facebook page or on Twitter.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?
I have always been interested in the extended Regency period, from, say, 1795—the year of the later Prince Regent’s marriage—to 1830, the year of his death as George IV, a time when the foundations of our modern world were laid. The events of this period include the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland of 1800, the Anglo-American war of 1812 and the twelve years of war that ended in the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, all of which continue to shape our modern world.
At the same time, the ruling aristocracies were being challenged by those who saw the need for social and political reform, while the industrial revolution which led to the transfer of wealth to the manufacturing and merchant classes was underway. Powerful voices demanded the abolition of the slave trade. Women, who had few or no rights in a patriarchal society, had begun to raise their voices, demanding equality and emancipation. Still very much the age of sail, and of the horse, it was also the dawn of the age of steam. Within twenty years, railways would have begun to transform both the landscape and society.
I also love the music, literature, art and architecture of that time, the fashion—between hoops and crinolines—is still very wearable today, and indeed the Empire line is revived regularly.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?
Yes, a day without reading is a day lost. I read the Irish Times over breakfast and have various books on the go at all times. I love historical fiction, set from ancient Rome to the 1930s but no longer read novels set in the Regency unless they were written then. I read a lot of Regency related non-fiction as part of my research. I also enjoy urban paranormal novels. I do not read romance exclusively but like my novels to have a romantic subplot at least.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?
I am self-published. The Husband Criteria is my eighth novel.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?
Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?
Yes. Ireland and Great Britain have 800 years of shared history. My native city, Dublin, is very much a Georgian city, and I am very familiar with Georgian architecture, inside and out. This 1826 view from Carlisle (now O’Connell) Bridge, Dublin, encapsulates the vibrancy of the Regency.
I also studied Georgian writers and essayists such as Hazlitt and Charles Lamb and I love the Romantic poets.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?
I am a hybrid plotter/pantser and every so often I find myself saying, ‘but what happens next?’ I frequently find inspiration in the public timeline of the year in which the book is set, for example, take my characters to a particular theatrical performance.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?
Don’t confuse plot and narrative. Something must happen in each chapter.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
Mid-morning until lunch and then in the late afternoon.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?
I started writing fiction after I took early retirement. I’ll go on writing until I drop.
You have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be?
Persuasion by Jane Austen,—my favourite novel; The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien—the best quest/adventure ever; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare—all human life is there; The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss—a childhood favourite, The Translations of Seamus Heany, both for the variety and the beautiful language. All should be beautifully illustrated and printed leather-bound hardbacks.
Catherine, thanks so much for coming on the blog today. Wishing you every success with your new release. If you’d like to know more about Catherine and her work, check out her links below.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.catherinekullmann.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKullmannAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherinekullmannauthor
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/catherine-kullmann
Amazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/ckullmannamazonpage
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15549457.Catherine_Kullmann
Pam Lecky Books 
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