Written by Katherine Shaw
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For my second post today, I am delighted to welcome Katherine Shaw to my blog, and thank her for providing a short extract from her debut Crime Thriller, Gloria.
Gloria is currently on a Blog Tour organised by Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources and there's a raffle at the bottom of this post to win a signed copy of this novel.
Gloria is currently on a Blog Tour organised by Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources and there's a raffle at the bottom of this post to win a signed copy of this novel.
The blurb:
GloriaFor all intents and purposes, Gloria Harrison has the perfect life: a rich husband, a beautiful home, and all the free time she needs to work on her art. And yet, she is deeply unhappy. Initially resigned to be pushed around by her snobbish, manipulative husband, Greg, she discovers a shocking truth about him she simply cannot ignore, and has to get out.
As Gloria’s world unravels around her, she has to team up with friends new and old to escape not only her husband’s clutches, but also the country, even if that means giving up everything.
Gloria must rediscover who she used to be and realise her true worth to finally free herself from Greg’s stranglehold forever, or risk losing the person she holds most dear in the world – her daughter.
Crime Thriller
A short extract from Gloria by Katherine Shaw
In this extract, Greg (Gloria’s husband) catches Gloria talking to a stranger after she sneaks off from a corporate party with his judgemental colleagues
Gloria took the hand he offered and shook it, enjoying Harry’s easygoing nature. It was a breath of fresh air after the suffocating pressure of the party. ‘Gloria Harrison, housewife and...artist, I suppose.’
‘You don’t sound very sure.’ Harry’s response sounded like a question, and Gloria wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t really feel qualified to call herself an artist, but introducing herself as only a housewife felt wrong somehow. Like she was selling herself short.
‘Well, it’s just a hobby,’ she said, trying not to sound awkward. ‘But I love it. I spend most of my days painting.’
‘Sounds a damn sight better than sticking your arms down toilets and plug ‘oles all day!’
Gloria began to laugh, but her amusement was short-lived as a cold voice cut across their genial conversation, grinding it to a sudden halt.
‘Gloria.’
The word was sharp and laced with warning. Gloria looked over Harry’s shoulder and saw Greg standing by the driveway of the house, his face thunderous. She glanced from him to the man she had been enjoying a friendly conversation with, unsure how best to react. Greg’s usual charming exterior was nowhere to be found, replaced by a figure of steely hostility, and Gloria felt reluctant to approach him. He was her husband, her protector, but in that moment she felt afraid. She was rooted to the ground, her feet lead as a voice in her head whispered at her to run. As if in answer, Greg walked swiftly to where Gloria and Harry were standing and grabbed her roughly by the wrist.
‘It’s about time we were going home,’ he said coolly, with a sidelong glance in Mr Stubbs’s direction. Gloria barely had time to scoop up her forgotten shoes before she was dragged off towards the waiting Mercedes. She offered an apologetic smile to Harry, who remained on the grass, concern creasing his gentle features. Greg’s grip on Gloria’s arm was uncomfortably tight, and she struggled to keep up with his brisk pace. He ignored her protestations as he pulled her across the driveway, her bare feet scraping painfully on the gravel.
When they reached the car, Greg virtually threw Gloria into the passenger seat before pacing around to the driver’s seat and climbing in.
‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’ he spat, turning to face his wife, eyes blazing with fury.
Gloria recoiled at the venom in his voice and the ferocity of his question. She had barely begun to stammer out a response when Greg cut her off.
‘And who the hell was that?’
‘Just a-a friendly worker from the house,’ Gloria managed to stutter. ‘I was just having a break from the party.’
‘A break from what?’ Greg threw up a hand in frustration and leaned in close to Gloria, his right hand gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles started to pale. ‘From free food and champagne? From interesting conversations with my colleagues and friends? From having to make an effort for once in your fucking life?’
‘Now that’s not fair!’ Gloria fired back, stung by his last question.
‘I always—’
‘You’re always showing me up, that’s what you’re always doing.’ Greg leaned in even closer, his face now only inches from hers. ‘Do you know how important the clients are at this party? I bring you here to show off my darling wife, and you wander off to chat up some labourer by the river! Do you know how stupid you’ve made me look? How embarrassing this is? Do you?’
Gloria shrank back into the car seat, taken aback by Greg’s tirade. Her throat tightened, and when she tried to reply, she could only muster a choked sob. Greg shook his head in disgust and started the engine. They drove home in silence.
| Author Bio – Katherine Shaw |
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 Katherine Shaw is a multi-genre writer and self-confessed nerd from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, spending most of her time dreaming up new characters or playing D&D. She has a passion for telling the stories of underdogs who must rise up to defeat the hardships they have been dealt in life, often with a focus on female protagonists. She is currently working on her debut novel Gloria, a contemporary domestic thriller launching in September this year, alongside several short story projects that are in the works. You can find out more at her website (www.katherineshawwrites.com), and she is always happy to chat on Twitter (@katheroony). |
| Social Media Links – | |
| Web site | |
| https://twitter.com/katheroony | |
| https://www.facebook.com/katherineshawwrites | |
| Web site | www.katherineshawwrites.com |
| https://instagram.com/katherineshawwrites | |
Giveaway to Win a Signed Paperback of Gloria and more
(Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions – UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
(Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions – UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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