Catherine Kerrigan, Author
@catherinekerrigan.bsky.social
Historical romance author ✍️ Writing strong-willed women who would’ve been called “difficult” in their time. Regency rebel wrangler. Tea drinker. Resurrecting forgotten heroines, one scandalous chapter at a time. 📚👑
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I finally have my email list sign-up form ready! Let's be scandalous women and spill all the tea in the comforts of our screens and over-worked thumbs.
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Real talk: Writing a marriage of convenience where they actually DISCUSS terms, expectations, and boundaries before the wedding? Revolutionary. Also should be standard. #WritingTips #HistRom
January 10, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Real talk: Writing a marriage of convenience where they actually DISCUSS terms, expectations, and boundaries before the wedding? Revolutionary. Also should be standard. #WritingTips #HistRom
Tomyris, 6th century BCE queen, defeated Cyrus the Great. When he killed her son, she promised to give him his fill of blood. She did. Literally. Don't mess with warrior queens. #AncientHistory
January 10, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Tomyris, 6th century BCE queen, defeated Cyrus the Great. When he killed her son, she promised to give him his fill of blood. She did. Literally. Don't mess with warrior queens. #AncientHistory
My hero's character arc: Thinking he's superior → Realizing she's smarter → Panic → Admiration → Love. It's the only acceptable trajectory. #CharacterDevelopment #HistoricalRomance
January 10, 2026 at 3:47 AM
My hero's character arc: Thinking he's superior → Realizing she's smarter → Panic → Admiration → Love. It's the only acceptable trajectory. #CharacterDevelopment #HistoricalRomance
Isabella of France invaded England with an army, deposed her husband the king, ruled as regent. 'She-Wolf of France.' 14th century. Women have always known how to fight back. #MedievalHistory
January 9, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Isabella of France invaded England with an army, deposed her husband the king, ruled as regent. 'She-Wolf of France.' 14th century. Women have always known how to fight back. #MedievalHistory
Currently writing a scene where they argue about philosophy while dancing. This is what happens when both your leads are intellectuals. Footnotes in a romance novel? Maybe. #AmWriting
January 9, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Currently writing a scene where they argue about philosophy while dancing. This is what happens when both your leads are intellectuals. Footnotes in a romance novel? Maybe. #AmWriting
Nanny of the Maroons led guerrilla warfare against British colonizers in Jamaica for decades. Never defeated. Negotiated her own peace treaty in 1739. Legendary strategist. #BlackHistory
January 9, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Nanny of the Maroons led guerrilla warfare against British colonizers in Jamaica for decades. Never defeated. Negotiated her own peace treaty in 1739. Legendary strategist. #BlackHistory
The spectrum of how my characters follow my outline: Villain (perfectly compliant) → Hero (mostly) → Heroine (has notes) → Heroine's best friend (has REWRITTEN IT). #AuthorLife
January 9, 2026 at 4:06 AM
The spectrum of how my characters follow my outline: Villain (perfectly compliant) → Hero (mostly) → Heroine (has notes) → Heroine's best friend (has REWRITTEN IT). #AuthorLife
My search history today: 'Regency-era poisons that look natural' 'how long does arsenic take' 'symptoms of hemlock' I write ROMANCE, I swear. #WriterLife #HistoricalRomance
January 9, 2026 at 3:02 AM
My search history today: 'Regency-era poisons that look natural' 'how long does arsenic take' 'symptoms of hemlock' I write ROMANCE, I swear. #WriterLife #HistoricalRomance
Sitt al-Mulk ruled the Fatimid Caliphate in the 11th century. Brilliant politician, possibly had her brother assassinated. History is... complicated. And fascinating. #HistoricalWomen #Medieval
January 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Sitt al-Mulk ruled the Fatimid Caliphate in the 11th century. Brilliant politician, possibly had her brother assassinated. History is... complicated. And fascinating. #HistoricalWomen #Medieval
The duke thinks he's in a romance novel. The heroine knows she's in a mystery. I'm letting them figure it out together. This is fine. #PlotProblems #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
January 8, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The duke thinks he's in a romance novel. The heroine knows she's in a mystery. I'm letting them figure it out together. This is fine. #PlotProblems #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
Charlotte Corday assassinated a revolutionary leader in his bathtub. Walked calmly to the guillotine. Her last words: a request that someone paint her portrait. 1793. Icon energy. #FrenchRevolution
January 8, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Charlotte Corday assassinated a revolutionary leader in his bathtub. Walked calmly to the guillotine. Her last words: a request that someone paint her portrait. 1793. Icon energy. #FrenchRevolution
Writing tip: If your Regency heroine needs to eavesdrop, remember servants' corridors existed. Also, ladies knew them well. Ask me how I know. (Research. So much research.) #WritingTips
January 8, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Writing tip: If your Regency heroine needs to eavesdrop, remember servants' corridors existed. Also, ladies knew them well. Ask me how I know. (Research. So much research.) #WritingTips
My characters are slow-burning so hard they've been in the same room for 6 chapters without touching. The YEARNING. This is the good stuff, people. #SlowBurn #HistoricalRomance
January 8, 2026 at 2:16 AM
My characters are slow-burning so hard they've been in the same room for 6 chapters without touching. The YEARNING. This is the good stuff, people. #SlowBurn #HistoricalRomance
Zenobia of Palmyra declared herself Empress of the East, conquered Egypt, challenged Rome. It took Emperor Aurelian himself to stop her. 3rd century power move. #HistoricalWomen #Ancient
January 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Zenobia of Palmyra declared herself Empress of the East, conquered Egypt, challenged Rome. It took Emperor Aurelian himself to stop her. 3rd century power move. #HistoricalWomen #Ancient
Fun fact: Aspasia of Athens (5th century BCE) ran a salon, taught rhetoric, influenced Pericles' speeches. Socrates literally credited her. We've always had brilliant women. Always. #History
January 7, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Fun fact: Aspasia of Athens (5th century BCE) ran a salon, taught rhetoric, influenced Pericles' speeches. Socrates literally credited her. We've always had brilliant women. Always. #History
Today's mood: My heroine's rage at being called 'hysterical' when she's actually just CORRECT about the financial crisis she predicted three chapters ago. #WritingLife #Regency
January 7, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Today's mood: My heroine's rage at being called 'hysterical' when she's actually just CORRECT about the financial crisis she predicted three chapters ago. #WritingLife #Regency
The hero just apologized for mansplaining. In the year 1820. I've broken historical fiction. Or fixed it? Time will tell. #CharacterDevelopment #AmWriting
January 7, 2026 at 3:20 AM
The hero just apologized for mansplaining. In the year 1820. I've broken historical fiction. Or fixed it? Time will tell. #CharacterDevelopment #AmWriting
Research discovery: Regency ladies hid love letters in their music sheets. My heroine is hiding financial ledgers and escape plans. Priorities have evolved. #HistRom #StrongWomen
January 7, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Research discovery: Regency ladies hid love letters in their music sheets. My heroine is hiding financial ledgers and escape plans. Priorities have evolved. #HistRom #StrongWomen
Writing a ballroom scene where absolutely nothing happens except meaningful eye contact and the slow removal of one glove. This is peak Regency tension and I'm HERE for it. #WritingLife
January 6, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Writing a ballroom scene where absolutely nothing happens except meaningful eye contact and the slow removal of one glove. This is peak Regency tension and I'm HERE for it. #WritingLife
My heroine just demanded a prenuptial agreement. In 1818. The duke is horrified. I'm taking notes. She's teaching ME about feminism. #AmWriting #HistoricalRomance
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
My heroine just demanded a prenuptial agreement. In 1818. The duke is horrified. I'm taking notes. She's teaching ME about feminism. #AmWriting #HistoricalRomance
Writing strong-willed women means they argue with YOU, the author. Lady Adelaide refuses to faint on cue. "I've survived childbirth twice," she says. "A mere scandal won't fell me." Touché. #WritingLife
January 6, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Writing strong-willed women means they argue with YOU, the author. Lady Adelaide refuses to faint on cue. "I've survived childbirth twice," she says. "A mere scandal won't fell me." Touché. #WritingLife
Empress Theodora of Byzantium went from actress to co-ruler. Changed laws to protect women, banned forced prostitution, could have men executed with a glance. 6th century boss. #Byzantine
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Empress Theodora of Byzantium went from actress to co-ruler. Changed laws to protect women, banned forced prostitution, could have men executed with a glance. 6th century boss. #Byzantine
Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "Vindication of the Rights of Woman" in 1792. While pregnant, unmarried, and scandalizing London. Mother of feminism AND Frankenstein's author. Icon. #Feminism
January 6, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "Vindication of the Rights of Woman" in 1792. While pregnant, unmarried, and scandalizing London. Mother of feminism AND Frankenstein's author. Icon. #Feminism
My characters are having a heated argument about propriety while I'm writing in pajamas, eating cereal for dinner. The irony is not lost on me. #WriterLife #HistoricalRomance
January 5, 2026 at 5:59 PM
My characters are having a heated argument about propriety while I'm writing in pajamas, eating cereal for dinner. The irony is not lost on me. #WriterLife #HistoricalRomance
Her: "I don't need rescuing." Him: "I can see that." Her: "Then why are you here?" Him: "Moral support?" FINALLY. Growth. #CharacterDevelopment #RomanceWriter
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Her: "I don't need rescuing." Him: "I can see that." Her: "Then why are you here?" Him: "Moral support?" FINALLY. Growth. #CharacterDevelopment #RomanceWriter