ONE WOMAN.
TWO MEN.
ONE DREAM.
About Dear Missing Friend
For fans of the epistolary genre like The Correspondent.
Sag Harbor, NY 1845: Catherine McGuirk leaves Ireland and a shipboard suitor behind for a new life. At the height of the 1840s whaling era, she marries a handsome sailor who promises to forsake the sea. Instead, he leaves for the gold rush, spurring on her quest to become a governess in Manhattan. Cath continues to be torn between her ambition, the missing seaman she married, and the now wealthy former beau she didn’t.
About Susan
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.
Early Praise for Dear Missing Friend
“Dear Missing Friend has been recognized as a #1 NEW RELEASE in Epistolary Fiction on Amazon during its pre-order campaign.”
—Amazon Badge
“Fans of historical novels will find much to like in McGuirk’s debut. An ambitious work of historical fiction.”
—Kirkus Review
“If you’re into historical fiction with a strong emotional core, Dear Missing Friend is a genuinely compelling pick. You slip directly into Catherine’s thoughts, fears, and hopes in a way that feels incredibly personal. 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
“In Susan McGuirk’s epistolary novel Dear Missing Friend, letters go where the heart is meant to travel, enabling a kind of freedom that feels unattainable in daily life.”
—Foreword Reviews
“McGuirk creates a powerful foundation for a story that embraces many elements, from history to mystery, using Catherine’s strengths and character to bring this era to life. Recommendable to book clubs.”
—Midwest Book Review
Read Susan's Latest Substack Post
