In the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish Catholic children attended school to learn English and arithmetic. In densely populated areas, school might be held in an abandoned barn or building, but in the country, the children literally sat in front of the hedgerows that separated one small croft from another. There were few, if any, … Continue reading The Hedgerow Schools of Ireland
An Interview with Gifford MacShane
My Book Place was nice enough to publish an interview I did with them a bit ago... Advice, writing habits, influences, and more about my books is covered. If you have questions they didn't ask, don't hesitate to post them below!
EILEEN OG: An Irish Song
by Percy French (1854-1920) Every once in awhile, authors latch onto a word and it becomes so popular, you virtually can’t get away from it. Lately, one of those words is “petrichor”, meaning the earthy scent of rain that’s fallen on dry soil. Each time I see or hear it, though, it brings this song … Continue reading EILEEN OG: An Irish Song
WHISPERS IN THE CANYON Review: Entrada Publishing
Whispers in the Canyon is a fictional romance set in 1800s Arizona. It’s a story about hardship, love, and the importance of family and neighbors. Most importantly, it’s a story about true love and the difficulties couples can face. The novel follows the Donovan family, a large, prosperous Irish immigrant family. They are a clan … Continue reading WHISPERS IN THE CANYON Review: Entrada Publishing
Writer Resources
I recommend the following websites to fiction writers, whether you're in the first stages writing or all set to query or publish. Please note, some of these resources may require a log-in or membership. QUERY LETTERS How to write a query letter Examples of Successful Queries QueryShark LITERARY AGENT LISTINGS Writer's Digest Guide to Literary … Continue reading Writer Resources
WHISPERS IN THE CANYON: Quotes from Reviewers
WHISPERS IN THE CANYON: Quotes from Reviewers ON AMAZON: from Lainey: I stayed up all night and this morning to read this whole take in one go... If they make it a series [or] trilogy though, count me in. This is a full length novel, my favorite kind. No short story here. from Heidi V: … Continue reading WHISPERS IN THE CANYON: Quotes from Reviewers
Western Trivia: African-Americans in the Old West
History tells us that at least 15%, and possibly up to 33%, of cowboys in The Old West were African-American. Among them was William Pickett, who invented the trick we now call bull-dogging—catching and throwing a steer—though Bill’s habit of biting the cow’s lip to control it is no longer practiced. (Not too surprising, IMHO.) … Continue reading Western Trivia: African-Americans in the Old West
How Do You Explain a Character’s Moral Code?
Before WHISPERS IN THE CANYON was published, I received an agent's critique of my query letter and first ten pages that was pretty positive. She said it did a nice job of presenting a complicated plot succinctly. However, she felt the “stakes” weren't quite high enough. If you've read the first article that comes up … Continue reading How Do You Explain a Character’s Moral Code?
WHISPERS IN THE CANYON: Donovan Family Saga Book 1
A valiant young woman haunted by abuse. An empathic Irish immigrant determined to help her. The tragic secret that stands between them. 1880s Arizona Territory Shunned by the village for her outlaw brother's deeds, Jesse Travers is not sorry to hear he's been killed while robbing a bank. Strangely enough it’s Adam Donovan, the man … Continue reading WHISPERS IN THE CANYON: Donovan Family Saga Book 1
DONOVAN FAMILY SAGA: Cast of Characters (3)
You can read about the main characters in WHISPERS IN THE CANYON here, and about the Donovan elders here. Now let me present: The Siblings John Patrick and Molly Donovan had ten offspring, Adam and Brian being the eldest and twins (see Cast of Characters 1). When her sons were born in Ireland, Molly had … Continue reading DONOVAN FAMILY SAGA: Cast of Characters (3)
