My
Husband’s Sin is the début novel from Mary T Bradford.
She is an Irish author, married and mother of four children. She has been writing
short stories for many years with which she has enjoyed publishing success in
Ireland and abroad. While working on a story it happened that the story kept
getting longer and the word count continued to climb, resulting with Mary
having her novel.
My Husband’s Sin is published by Tirgearr Publishing at tirgearrpublishing.com
Recently Mary has dipped into play-writing and one
of her plays was shortlisted in the Claremorris Fringe Festival in April of
this year and was performed by the Half A Breakfast Theatre Group. Another of her
plays had a Staged Reading in July at Friar’s Gate Theatre in Kilmallock,
Limerick in Ireland. Her short story collection, A Baker’s Dozen, is also available on Amazon.com.
When not writing,
Mary enjoys crafts. In particular, she enjoys crochet and cross-stitch and
catching up on her reading from the stack of books on her bedside locker.
I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Mary to my blog and wish her all the best with the launch of My Husband's Sin. I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this and even in those early days knew what a gem this was going to turn out to be. Now that it's all polished up and on the shelf, I can't wait to read the finished copy - all the best with it, Mary x.
DK: So Mary, tell us what is My Husband’s Sin all
about?
MB: My début novel is centred about the Taylor family.
Lacey, the youngest of the family is dealt a horrible blow at the reading of
her mother’s will. She is devastated and the knock on affect on her three
siblings shakes the family unit. Lacey has questions that need answering and at
one stage she must leave Ireland to search for some of the answers. Will the
Taylor’s come together and unite or do they fall apart and remain so?
DK: What are the main themes in your book?
MB: In my novel, My Husband’s Sin, there are a few
themes but the main one is loss. Losing a parent or indeed any family member is
a difficult time for everyone concerned. Lacey Taylor, suffers loss greater
than the others when after her mother Lillian’s funeral, a letter she is given
destroys her life further. She now suffers betrayal as well. But it only takes
a small crack to appear in a family for it all to come crumbling down
DK: If you were casting for the screen version of
My
Husband’s Sin, who would you choose for the leading roles?
MB: I would love the young actress, Amanda Seyfried,
play the part of Lacey in my debut novel. The solicitor, Mr. Philip Sherman,
played by Jeff Bridges, then Sally by Michelle Pfeiffer and finally Robert, by
Jason Stratham. The other characters, Willow and Cora I have no idea.
DK: Tell us about a hidden talent you have
that most people don’t know about?
MB: I enjoy public speaking. I have my CC (Competent
Communicator) from Toastmasters International and I started the advanced
manuals. I also represented my local club Fáilte Toastmasters in competitions.
Unfortunately, I no longer have the time to participate but I may go back to it
another time.
DK: What are you currently working on?
MB: I have my fingers worn to the bone at present
because I have three projects on the go. Yes I am a nut to take it all on. I am
writing my second novel which is totally different from My Husband’s Sin; it is
not even in the same genre. It is a good V evil story, a priest who is sent to
do battle with the devil and it all takes place inside a locked room. So who wins? That is a question I have not
yet answered LOL.
I am also writing a western novella for a group that
I am involved in. The group are called Writers of the West, it is an exciting
project. Finally, I am busy seeking a home for a play I have ready for
production.
DK: What would your perfect day be?
MB: A perfect day, let me think, it would be warm, not
too hot, by the sea, with a picnic of cold meats/ white wine/salads. A book of
course and would I want company? Well if, Kevin Costner or Charles Bronson were
available, or maybe Michael Bublé, he could serenade me right?
You can find out more about Mary here on her social media links...
A Brief Excerpt
JULY
Lacey fled the Sherman and Jones Solicitors’ office
in turmoil, only pausing to catch her breath before descending the cold
solid steps. The appalling words kept ringing in her ears. How the
bloody hell could a mother do this to her child? A bitch, that’s what
she was. Lacey should have trusted her instinct all through the years. The pleasant July day was lost on her. Without thinking further, she sought solace in the bar further down the street. In the dimly-lit pub she was the only woman.
Lacey Turner didn’t drink alcohol this early, but placed in front of her now was a double vodka with bitter lemon. Taking the glass in her trembling hand, she drank swiftly. The sour liquid made her shake her head. God, it was unpleasant. In one corner, two elderly men were sipping their stouts. Another up at the bar was reading the day’s paper.
The barman came over to where she sat and smiled. “A tough morning so far then?” He wiped down the glass-topped table and replaced some beer mats with fresh un-tattered ones.
Lacey didn’t reply. She couldn’t. The shock of this morning’s events was still gripping her tight. Christ, her life had been turned upside down in the stroke of a pen. Her hands still shook.
Looking the barman up and down, she acknowledged he was kind of cute. If times were different, she might even flirt with him; his tight black t-shirt groaned across his chest, but she didn’t have time to daydream. Reality had her gripped in its cold heartless hand.
“Can I have another?” Lacey called out to the bar attendant as he moved on to wiping down other tables. He nodded and went to the bar to get her fresh drink.
Her mind was swimming with horrible thoughts of her mother. Dear Lord, she mustn’t think like that any more. She was Lillian, not Mother. Where do you start to pick up the pieces of your life after something like that? Her mobile phone rang: it was Sally. Lacey snapped at it, turning it off in one quick touch. Bloody family. Her bloody family!
The fresh glass was placed in front of her. He seemed to linger for a moment, waiting for Lacey to make eye contact. She really did not want his company but he wasn’t going anywhere, judging by his stance before her. She looked up at him. Yep, definitely cute.
“You could try talking. This will only lead to a headache and misery.” The guy smiled encouragingly, but all she did was stare back at him, confusion and anger in her eyes. Throwing a twenty on the table, she stood up and paused.
“Maybe misery is what I deserve.”
Her taupe Guess handbag and caramel jacket hung on the chair. She shoved the bag onto her shoulder, took her jacket, and walked out. Kind, attractive barmen were not what she wanted. She desired space and freedom to take in and assimilate the horrible rotten words that she’d heard today. Who would believe it? Who would have thought when she’d wakened this morning at seven, that five hours later her life would have crashed down around her? With her mind troubled, she wandered without direction through the busy streets.
Lacey’s world had stopped, yet around her cars passed by beeping their irritation with the slow traffic, people pushed and chatted without a concern for the young woman in their midst. She strolled along, not fully noticing life around her. Those words, those poisonous words, kept swirling in her mind. The look of horror on her siblings’ faces would be etched on her memory forever. She couldn’t face them right now. What must they think of her?
“Watch it.” The woman grunted at Lacey.
“Sorry.” Lacey didn’t know what she was apologising for, but it startled her into realising she needed to get home. It would be safe there.
.
Well that's it folks, I hope you'll enjoy My Husband's Sin, keep an eye out on Mary's links I have it on good authority she's planning on doing a few give-aways in the not so distant future.
All the best,
Daniel Kaye x
