Susan McGuirk

Susan McGuirk posts about heroines of historical fiction books on her blog “The Storied Sisters Society,” on Substack. Her debut novel, Dear Missing Friend, from Sea Crow Press, has been recognized as a #1 NEW RELEASE in Epistolary Fiction on Amazon during its pre-order campaign. While working for several years in HBO film programming, Susan honed her writing skills, composing hundreds of in-house reviews. She worked at Anthology Film Archives, a historical film museum, where she received its Film Preservation Award and serves on the Board of Advisors.
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During her years leading a media mentoring program at City College of New York, Susan served on the board of the Humanities and Arts division and accepted the President’s Award. She earned a BA and MA in Media Studies from the New School, where she was elected to the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society. Susan lives with her husband in New York City.
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“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

How does the epistolary format (letters between characters) deepen the emotional intimacy of Catherine McGuirk’s story compared to a traditional narrative?

I spent years working in film programming for television and a museum, so dialogue and images are how I thought about stories. Once I had my own to tell, letters seemed the natural way to express it because they resemble dramatic writing. There seems to be a rekindling of interest in the genre with the popularity of The Correspondent and The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Maybe it has something to do with how much digital is competing with authenticity.
    
In what ways does Catherine’s identity as an Irish immigrant shape her sense of belonging, ambition, and self-determination in 19th-century society?

Catherine and her brothers arrive in New York City several years before the Irish Potato Famine diaspora, but still faced much discrimination, though more directed at all immigrants. In Sag Harbor, they find a measure of tolerance because of the prevalence of the whaling business. There were folks walking the streets of the small town from all over the world, and free Blacks and Native Americans were full participants in the trade. Employment that supported the industry was available, enabling Catherine to secure work at a hotel for whalemen. The experience of making an independent living emboldens her, in returning to the city, to finally win a teaching position.

How do the physical distances—oceans, ships, and Manhattan streets—mirror the emotional distances between Catherine and the people she loves?

I learned how much people far apart had to be patient. They had to wait for a letter to make its way for weeks or even months to arrive. They had to persevere without answers to vital questions. Uncertainty was a fact they had to live with, regardless of the eventual outcome. It was a very different existence than today’s AI world.

What does Catherine’s torn heart between her seafaring husband and former suitors reveal about the tension between security, passion, and personal choice?

The two men were so different that they presented a stark contrast on their own. Patrick is a practical man determined to build a life from any foothold he can obtain in the new world. Michael is a dreamer who follows circumstances instead of dictating them. Catherine has traits that mirror both but was not wholly dependent on either, as she had her love of teaching to fall back on. 

How might Catherine’s refusal of a past suitor continue to influence her present decisions, and what does that suggest about the long reach of regret?

When Cath first refuses Patrick, she is a sheltered teenager. She is so naïve that she doesn’t understand what she is giving up pursuing her teaching ambition. When another proposal from Patrick with heavy strings attached presents itself, Catherine regretfully reinforces her original decision. She has the wisdom and the fortitude to accept that her fate lies elsewhere, no matter how much she it tempted to say yes. Cath willingly shoulders the burden of being reminded of the cost every day for the rest of her life.

How does the act of writing letters serve as both connection and self-revelation for the characters involved?

The act of letter writing was the only choice to communicate with loved ones at a distance. There was no other form of communication. The characters in Dear Missing Friend had to wait a long time for return letters. Finding answers to questions such as if someone were alive or dead, required patience and acceptance. It is no mystery why the word “forbearance” is no longer used much. 

In what ways does the novel explore the limitations placed on women in the 19th century, especially in relation to love, independence, and ambition?

Many Irish immigrant women travelled alone to the United States, so they already had experienced some independence. They were ususally from farming families, so hard work was no deterrent. After crossing an ocean, fanning out across the country seemed a logical next step. They were looking for one opportunity, from which a life could be wrought. These were energetic, optimistic, and resourceful women. Cath found a teaching opportunity but was discriminated in the wealthy household where she worked. She was qualified  in more subjects than the male teacher working there, yet he had the title of “tutor’ while she was relegated to “nurse.” 

How does Catherine’s inner conflict reflect the broader struggle between duty to others and loyalty to one’s own dreams?

One way Cath deals with all these struggles internal and external is to put her head down and keep trying. She leaves her homeland to come to America, learns every job in two hotels, befriends two famous authors, hangs out with a former slave turned actual saint, fulfills her professional teaching ambitions, and helps support many nieces and nephews. In the end, Cath is able to balance these competing forces through sheer hard work.

What role does resilience play in Catherine’s journey, and how is it tested differently by love, loss, and migration? 

 Cath’s chosen work, teaching, means the world to her. It is what she trained for and deeply believes she can do. When it is finally her profession, teaching sustains her through heartbreak, loss, and joy. As long as she has pupils to teach, Cath can find a measure of peace.

At its core, what is the story suggesting about whether we can ever fully separate who we are from the relationships and choices that shaped us?

Cath has a reckoning when she hides in the back of an empty church to escape her turmoil over Michael trying to find her again. She almost hears the voice of her wise older friend, passed on for years, who spent time there. His old lectures about mercy finally seem to be taking root in her. Forgiveness is finally beginning to soften her hardened heart. By letting go of her anger at Michael for leaving, Cath is finally her own person.

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Substack: https://susanmcguirk.substack.com/welcome
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/susanmcguirk.bsky.social
Website: https://susanmcguirk.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_mcguirk​ 

Link to purchase the book: 
https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Missing-Friend-Susan-McGuirk/dp/1961864541/