I tell myself sternly that I’m not superstitious.  However, the fact that my latest novel is my thirteenth does cause a slight rattle in my ribcage.  Just the number in a sentence casts a shadow on the other words.  Still, here’s whistling bravely in the dark. I’ll do what I’ve done many times before and tell family and friends that I’m bringing out a new novel. Harriet Now and Then is now available in paperback and as an ebook on Amazon for anyone who likes reading mid-list novels; that is, entertaining stories woven around thoughtful topics that float between mass market popular genres and top rank literary masterpieces. 

Shouting my wares doesn’t come easily. My early novels came out to resounding silence, as far as I was concerned.  We were living on a Greek island at the time and we barely knew what month it was, let alone day of the week.  I had no idea what my nice editor at Michael Joseph had put in place in the way of publicity or promotion for my first few novels.  I was contentedly ignorant of any PR machinations going on for me in London.  This nonchalant attitude was fine at the time. My first career as a novelist came to an end in the 1990s when I turned to using whatever talents I have with real people in the real world.  I trained and practised as a counsellor and psychotherapist.  When I returned to fiction in the 21st century, I was without a publisher and, since then, I have self-published my fiction.  I may not have a fan base but I believe the people who do find and read my novels enjoy them, which to me is the whole point. If you are one of these precious people, I hope you enjoy this latest one.    

It’s about about two women who share the name Harriet.  They take alternate chapters to tell their individual stories.  The first Harriet lived in the west country in the second half of the eighteenth century; the other is alive today. The first Harriet wrote poetry and married a man who had a good reputation as a poet. The second Harriet is a cellist and, through meeting an American professor of literature, becomes involved in research into the life of the first Harriet. The circumstances of the two women’s lives may be different but the challenges they face as women artists are similar. The 18th century Harriet does as well as she can, within the confines of a woman’s life at the time. Today’s Harriet was widowed young and left with an emotionally disordered son. She might have become a talented composer and concert cellist but has to gain a steady income while giving her son, now adult, a home and care. Both Harriet meet men who may make a difference to their lives but fail to do so, for different reasons.

 At 83 I don’t think I’ll manage anything of novel-length again.  Short stories next.   So, if you read this latest, last, full-length novel, please let me know if you enjoy it.  Thank you!

Track it down on Amazon Books – Harriet Now and Then, by Susan Barrett, paperback and ebook.