Kindred Pens

Media Kit

Catherine Donaldson, author of

The Captains Marshall: A Promise of Freedom

Table of contents

The Captains Marshall synopsis
Author Bio (with photo)
Book review
The Captains Marshall excerpt
Press Release
Book cover
Author contact info

I. Synopsis

Despite being wealthy heiresses, cousins Saoirse and Giselle Marshall have been having a difficult time of late. Both their fathers, shipwrights and owners of Marshall Ships, have been killed at sea. Their grandmother, who now holds too much power over them, has arranged marriages for them. This is too much. The girls were raised with too much freedom and knowledge and love. It spoiled them and deluded them into thinking they could have more and do more with their lives than submitting to their grandmother’s wishes. They must be crazy; this thinking is way too advanced for 1661.

They formulate a plan of escape, stealing the last ship built by the Marshall Brothers with the help of their dearest friends – the boys who worked for their fathers. Once on the seas, piracy is their only option to support themselves; especially after getting caught in the horse latitudes and depleting most of their rations. After crossing the wreckage of a merchant ship attacked by pirates, they encounter the villains themselves. They fight both for justice and the supplies the ship will provide. Unfortunately, it happens to be the Teufel, the ship of the heartless pirate Captain Dunkelherz. He does not respond well to being bested by females and does not forget the humiliation after they release him and his crew.

The crew of the newly christened Tristan’s Bride journey on, forgetting Dunkelherz and establishing their own reputation as a pirate band. They travel to the buccaneer base of Tortuga, meeting their ally and reuniting with their spurned rival. Dunkelherz attacks the cabin boy, Peter (whom Saoirse regards as a son), nearly killing him. The girls and their men do not forget about him this time. They are overcome by grief and anger and dedicate themselves to hunting him down.

With the help of a sailor that defected from Dunkelherz’ crew, and their new ally, they track their enemy. After feeding on his superstitions and fears they finally do battle, defeating the villain, but lose some friends and their own youthful innocence in the process. The battle marks the end of the book, but not the end of their story. There are two sequels in progress.

II. Author Bio

For Catherine Donaldson, writing is not a job but a passion. The twenty-three year old resident of Baltimore, Maryland graduated from Western Maryland College with a degree in Communication. Despite studying TV and film, she eventually gravitated to the written word. As the daughter of a reporter, it was probably inevitable. The Captains Marshall: A Promise of Freedom is Catherine’s first published novel, but she is diligently working on the next installment of The Captains Marshall trilogy.

III. Review of The Captains Marshall by Catherine R. Donaldson - August 23, 2006

Saoirse and Giselle Marshall are not typical 17th century English young ladies. They can sail, navigate, and wield a weapon as well as any man, having learned from their fathers, the owners of Marshall Ships. When their fathers pass away and they are left under the supervision of their uncaring and authoritative grandmother, the two cousins escape on a Marshall ship, enlisting the help of their fathers’ crew. They embark on an adventure that takes them to the mysterious islands of the Caribbean, where they must engage in piracy to defend themselves from piracy. Perhaps most notable about The Captains Marshall are the memorable characters; Giselle and Saoirse (pronounced SEER-sha, for those wondering, as I did initially) are cunning, strong, yet loving and compassionate. The novel excels at conveying the unity among the characters as they live, work, and grow together as a family in their mission for freedom.

Review by Cassandra Zaruba, author of

“Liquid Bones”

ISBN# 1-4137-9962-0

www.cassandrazaruba.com

IV. Excerpt (from the first chapter)

There had been no sound of warning to precede the storm that was coming that disillusioning day, only words that seemed to appear from thin air. “I have just heard some distressing news.”

Saoirse and Giselle both jumped at the sudden voice that came from the open doorway. Giselle dropped her book while Saoirse spilled ink all over her Latin translations. They had heard no footsteps in the hall as they sat studying in the library. Turning to see their grandmother standing there with a letter in her hand, their heartbeats only quickened. Ill news for her, they knew, could not possibly be good for them.

The deceptively feeble-looking woman waved the paper in front of her. “I have just received a note from Mrs. Crawley,” she said in a failed attempt at her sugary sweet voice that ended up sounding nothing but shrill. “It seems that she spotted my granddaughters in the company of several young men, unsupervised at the docks. And what is more, she said she saw you working. Oh let us see, what does it say again?” she angrily tore the paper open, ripping the corner as she did so. “‘Dresses hiked up to expose all from the knee down and carrying large burdens like common pack mules’,” she read aloud. Her eyes were wild and darted back and forth between the two girls.

Clearly the old woman wanted some kind of reply, but Saoirse and Giselle did not offer any. They had not moved. Saoirse had not even tried to stifle the ink flow, even as it now dripped down her dress. They both sat paralysed with shocked terror.

“Fine,” Lady Marshall said. “If you wish to behave like servants, you shall be punished like servants.” She crossed the room in several strides and grabbed Saoirse by the arm. The old woman was not exceptionally strong, but the surprise alone was enough to force Saoirse to submission as she was pulled from the room.

“Giselle!” Lady Marshall snapped, “You as well.”

Giselle came running after, but more for Saoirse’s sake than to obey her grandmother. She had never seen her grandmother punish the servants, but realized that she probably did it in private to uphold her façade of kindness.

Lady Marshall stormed down the corridors with Saoirse in tow and Giselle behind. She rounded a corner and knocked Anne out of the way with little notice. When they reached Giselle and Saoirse’s room the old woman threw Saoirse inside. As soon as Giselle had come up beside her, she shoved her in as well and slammed the door behind them. They heard the lock click and stared in silence for a few moments.

“Do you think she will just leave us here?” Giselle asked, almost hopefully. Saoirse did not reply. Neither of them was stupid enough to really believe this was over. Still, their stomachs sank when they realized they were right. Before long they heard footsteps returning.

The door opened and they were horrified at what they saw. Lady Marshall was holding a sturdy piece of wood that looked quite worn. Giselle could not help but wonder just how often her grandmother punished the servants.

“I am sorry, Saoirse,” the elderly lady said, not sounding very sorry at all, as she brought the board forcefully across the girl’s back. Saoirse yelped and was knocked down onto her bed by the blow. The pain stabbed through her. It was rather impressive the amount of force an old woman can conjure with the proper leverage. Giselle shrieked and reached out for her cousin. She did not know what to do but felt she had to do something. Before she got the chance, she was knocked back by her grandmother’s arm coming back for another assault on Saoirse. Giselle was struck in the face and stumbled backward, her mind too blurred to react. Lady Marshall did not seem to take any notice as she pummelled Saoirse a dozen more times and left the room, locking them in once again.

V. Press Release

BALTIMORE AUTHOR RELEASES DEBUT NOVEL

The Captains Marshall: A Promise of Freedom by Catherine R. Donaldson

BALTIMORE, MD – Catherine R. Donaldson is pleased to announce the publication of her debut novel, The Captains Marshall: A Promise of Freedom. An Ellicott City native, Catherine has lived all over Maryland, in four different counties. After graduating from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) in Westminster, she traveled back toward the Baltimore area, where she now calls Parkville home. The Captains Marshall is now available by order from local bookstores, or online at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, or www.publishamerica.com.

This historical fiction is the story of cousins Saoirse and Giselle Marshall, who never fit into their life of high-class society, much to the dismay of their oh-so-proper grandmother. They want nothing more than to emulate their fathers’ lives on the sea. After both of their fathers are lost on voyages, the time has come for Saoirse and Giselle to break free.

Running away into a wide world of unknowns is a bold move for anyone, but it is especially daring for young ladies in 1661. They steal the last ship built by their fathers and set sail with their friends, employees of Marshall Ships. Engaging in piracy seems their best option for survival, but they find obstacles and heartache while they make their name, face their enemy, and try to rule their ship with love and respect.

“The novel excels at conveying the unity among the characters as they live, work and grow together as a family in their mission for freedom,” says author, Cassandra Zaruba.

A synopsis and excerpts can be viewed at www.kindredpens.com. A companion guide will be posted shortly, including a pronunciation key and translations of the small sections of foreign language.

BOOK SUMMARY:

Title: The Captains Marshall: A Promise of Freedom

Author: Catherine Donaldson

Publisher: PublishAmerica

ISBN: 1-4241-4810-3

6x9 softcover, 206 pp., $16.95

The Captains Marshall is available by order from local bookstores, or online at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, or www.publishamerica.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Catherine Donaldson

240-321-1620

catdonaldson@kindredpens.com

http://www.kindredpens.com/catdonaldson.html