PRESS RELEASE: NEW RELEASE FROM DEBUT AUTHOR – CATHERINE DUFFY

Cairns, Queensland, Australia – 10th July 2025 – Bowerbird Publishing’s Crystal Leonardi shares news of a new title by debut author, Catherine Duffy.
Runaway Cecilia is the story of a missing princess, an honourable knight and a quest for identity combined in this fast-paced retelling of Rapunzel, as you’ve never seen her before.
When a Calgarian princess disappears without a trace from behind palace walls, there is little hope for her safe return. But when word reaches the king that his daughter may be living in an enemy kingdom, he will do anything to get her back.
Cecilia Alarcon can’t remember a time before she came to live in Avinada as a noblewoman’s orphaned ward. Raised under the calculating Duchess Frida, she has lived her life in forced solitude, yet her heart yearns for adventure.
Marcus Cervantes’ highest duty is to protect the Calgarian crown, even at the cost of his own life. When the king tasks him to retrieve his long-lost daughter, it is an offer he cannot refuse.
Thrown together by duty and danger, Marcus and Cecilia must navigate pirate battles, secret identities, courtly drama and daring rescues if they are to make it across the ocean alive. With friends and foes watching their every move, what will they sacrifice for their freedom?
Catherine Duffy is an Australian author and journalist based in Far North Queensland. With a background in creative writing, English literature, and journalism, Catherine brings a thoughtful and imaginative voice to her work.
A lifelong lover of stories, she enjoys reading across genres—particularly fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary fiction. Her love of travel was sparked early, adventuring across the country with her English father and Salvadorian mother, an experience that continues to inspire her storytelling.
When she’s not writing, Catherine can be found at the beach, curled up with a good book, or affectionately annoying her dog.
Her debut novel, ‘Runaway Cecilia’, marks the beginning of an exciting new voice in Australian fiction.
Launch details: Catherine is excited to be joining the line-up of authors at the inaugural Douglas Shire Book Festival on 2-3 August 2025. There, she will launch ‘Runaway Cecilia’ before planning further launch events in the region.
For inquiries, please contact Catherine on [email protected]. Alternatively, contact the publisher on [email protected] or 0412 779 889.
Book details:
Title: Runaway Cecilia
Author: Catherine Duffy
Publication Date: 1 August 2025
ISBN (paperback): 978 1 7640739 1 2
ISBN (ebook): 978 1 7640739 2 9
RRP: $30.00AU paperback / $8.99AU ebook
Trade price (55% discount): $13.50AU paperback
Find Bowerbird Publishing Online:
Website: www.crystalleonardi.com – Facebook: /Bowerbird Publishing
Instagram: @Bowerbird_Publishing – YouTube: /Bowerbird Publishing


