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. 📚👑
Pinned
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.
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
Research rabbit hole update: Started looking up 1820s buttonholes, ended up reading about the Duchess of Devonshire's gambling debts. It's 2 AM. The chapter remains unwritten. #HistRomWriter
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Research rabbit hole update: Started looking up 1820s buttonholes, ended up reading about the Duchess of Devonshire's gambling debts. It's 2 AM. The chapter remains unwritten. #HistRomWriter
Sophie Germain taught herself mathematics, submitted work under male name, contributed to number theory and elasticity. Never formally educated. Pioneering mathematician. #WomenInMath #France
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Sophie Germain taught herself mathematics, submitted work under male name, contributed to number theory and elasticity. Never formally educated. Pioneering mathematician. #WomenInMath #France
Editor: "Make her more likable." Me: "She's brilliant, brave, and fights injustice." Editor: "Yes, but does she have to KNOW it?" *screams into Regency bonnet* #StrongWomen #AmWriting
November 23, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Editor: "Make her more likable." Me: "She's brilliant, brave, and fights injustice." Editor: "Yes, but does she have to KNOW it?" *screams into Regency bonnet* #StrongWomen #AmWriting
Today's mood: My heroine's frustration with Regency limitations + my frustration with word count limits + too much coffee = chaotic writing energy. The chapter is GOOD though. #AuthorLife
November 23, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Today's mood: My heroine's frustration with Regency limitations + my frustration with word count limits + too much coffee = chaotic writing energy. The chapter is GOOD though. #AuthorLife
Writing sex scenes in the Regency era: He's stunned she knows what she wants. Historical note: Women always knew. They just couldn't SAY. Big difference. #Romance #AmWriting
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Writing sex scenes in the Regency era: He's stunned she knows what she wants. Historical note: Women always knew. They just couldn't SAY. Big difference. #Romance #AmWriting
My editor says my heroine is "unrealistically bold" for 1815. I send her a list of actual women from that era. Editor retreats. Heroine stays bold. #HistoricalAccuracy #StrongWomen
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My editor says my heroine is "unrealistically bold" for 1815. I send her a list of actual women from that era. Editor retreats. Heroine stays bold. #HistoricalAccuracy #StrongWomen
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.
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
November 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
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.
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
candid-mountain-92332.myflodesk.com/qxggkn76a8
Sirimavo Bandaranaike became world's first female PM in 1960 Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Shattered that glass ceiling decades before most countries considered it. #WomenLeaders #History
November 23, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Sirimavo Bandaranaike became world's first female PM in 1960 Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Shattered that glass ceiling decades before most countries considered it. #WomenLeaders #History
Rani Lakshmibai led Indian Rebellion of 1857 with her infant son strapped to her back. Fought British forces on horseback. Died in battle at 29. Legendary. #IndianHistory #Warriors
November 22, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Rani Lakshmibai led Indian Rebellion of 1857 with her infant son strapped to her back. Fought British forces on horseback. Died in battle at 29. Legendary. #IndianHistory #Warriors
Writing tip from historical women: If you can't fight the system directly, work around it. My heroine has learned this. She's terrifying. #CharacterDevelopment #StrongWomen #AmWriting
November 22, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Writing tip from historical women: If you can't fight the system directly, work around it. My heroine has learned this. She's terrifying. #CharacterDevelopment #StrongWomen #AmWriting
Research break: Learning about Regency divorce laws. Absolutely horrific. Now my heroine needs a secret escape plan, £500 sewn into her hem, and three fake references. #HistoricalRomance
November 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Research break: Learning about Regency divorce laws. Absolutely horrific. Now my heroine needs a secret escape plan, £500 sewn into her hem, and three fake references. #HistoricalRomance
The best villains are historical accuracy: poverty, lack of rights, social ruin, childbirth mortality. My fictional villain pales in comparison. #WritingLife #HistRom #RegencyReality
November 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The best villains are historical accuracy: poverty, lack of rights, social ruin, childbirth mortality. My fictional villain pales in comparison. #WritingLife #HistRom #RegencyReality
My heroine is refusing a marriage proposal from an earl. "But he's rich!" "He's boring." Fair point. Even Mary Wollstonecraft wanted passion AND equality. #CharacterDevelopment #WritingLife
November 22, 2025 at 5:40 AM
My heroine is refusing a marriage proposal from an earl. "But he's rich!" "He's boring." Fair point. Even Mary Wollstonecraft wanted passion AND equality. #CharacterDevelopment #WritingLife
Njinga Mbande (another spelling) dressed as a man, had male concubines wear women's clothing, led her own army. Gender-bending 17th century African warrior queen. #AngolanHistory
November 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Njinga Mbande (another spelling) dressed as a man, had male concubines wear women's clothing, led her own army. Gender-bending 17th century African warrior queen. #AngolanHistory
My search history: "Can you ride a horse sidesaddle at full gallop" "1820s divorce laws" "how to poison someone with hemlock" I'm on a list somewhere. #WriterLife #HistRom
November 22, 2025 at 3:47 AM
My search history: "Can you ride a horse sidesaddle at full gallop" "1820s divorce laws" "how to poison someone with hemlock" I'm on a list somewhere. #WriterLife #HistRom
Reposted by Catherine Kerrigan, Author
Author events are 90% “So what’s your book about?” and 10% you dissociating while trying to summarize 80,000 words into one compelling sentence that doesn’t make you sound unhinged.
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Author events are 90% “So what’s your book about?” and 10% you dissociating while trying to summarize 80,000 words into one compelling sentence that doesn’t make you sound unhinged.
Mary Anning discovered fossils that changed science in the 1800s. Working-class woman, no formal education, taught herself geology. Men took credit. She persisted. #WomenInScience
November 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Mary Anning discovered fossils that changed science in the 1800s. Working-class woman, no formal education, taught herself geology. Men took credit. She persisted. #WomenInScience
Deadline in 3 days. My characters just decided they hate each other again. We were at 75% done. I'm eating chocolate directly from the box. Send help. #AuthorPanic #AmWriting
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Deadline in 3 days. My characters just decided they hate each other again. We were at 75% done. I'm eating chocolate directly from the box. Send help. #AuthorPanic #AmWriting
In 1650, Anne Greene was hanged for infanticide, then woke up during her autopsy. She survived, was pardoned, and lived another 15 years. History is WILD. #StrongWomen #History
November 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
In 1650, Anne Greene was hanged for infanticide, then woke up during her autopsy. She survived, was pardoned, and lived another 15 years. History is WILD. #StrongWomen #History
My characters are finally communicating honestly. Historic women couldn't always do this. That's why I write the longing glances, the coded language, the loaded silences. Repression = tension. #AmWriting
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 AM
My characters are finally communicating honestly. Historic women couldn't always do this. That's why I write the longing glances, the coded language, the loaded silences. Repression = tension. #AmWriting
Aphra Behn, first professional female writer in English (1640-1689). Spy for Charles II, playwright, novelist, feminist icon. Buried in Westminster Abbey. #WomenWriters #Restoration
November 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Aphra Behn, first professional female writer in English (1640-1689). Spy for Charles II, playwright, novelist, feminist icon. Buried in Westminster Abbey. #WomenWriters #Restoration
She's not "feisty." She's angry about systemic inequality and limited by social constraints. Let's use better words. #WritingTips #StrongWomen #HistoricalFiction
November 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
She's not "feisty." She's angry about systemic inequality and limited by social constraints. Let's use better words. #WritingTips #StrongWomen #HistoricalFiction
Grace O'Malley met Queen Elizabeth I in 1593 as an equal—pirate queen to monarch. Refused to bow. Negotiated in Latin. Sailed home to keep pirating. Irish legend. #PirateQueen #Tudor
November 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Grace O'Malley met Queen Elizabeth I in 1593 as an equal—pirate queen to monarch. Refused to bow. Negotiated in Latin. Sailed home to keep pirating. Irish legend. #PirateQueen #Tudor
The hero wants her to "trust him." She wants legal protection first. Smart woman. Inspired by the fact that marriage = legal death for Regency women. Romance with REALISM. #AmWriting
November 20, 2025 at 5:27 AM
The hero wants her to "trust him." She wants legal protection first. Smart woman. Inspired by the fact that marriage = legal death for Regency women. Romance with REALISM. #AmWriting
Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher in 4th century. Taught publicly, remained unmarried, advised leaders. Murdered by Christian mob for being too influential. #AncientHistory
November 20, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher in 4th century. Taught publicly, remained unmarried, advised leaders. Murdered by Christian mob for being too influential. #AncientHistory