Today, I bring you a life gift, dear reader. Recently, I was invited to a Celtic retreat featuring the work of Irish poet, John O’Donohue. Oh, sweet Saint Brigid, if only I could write so beautifully. But I’m not a poet. I’m a novelist, and Shanty Gold will be out soon. For now, though, take […]
Month: June 2015
Clonakilty
I love the lilt of the names of Irish towns. For instance, there’s one in County Cork called Clonakilty. It’s one of the most delightful places I’ve ever been—great landscapes, marvelous pubs, scintillating music and dancing, and, of course, the people. The people of Clonakilty are proud of local hero, Michael Collins, who was instrumental […]
Tools of the Trade
Who knew I needed an electronic media kit? Not me, but if you’re a writer and want to get any press for your novel, you need one, too. Said EMK must have a bio about you, plus a short bio about you, the cover of the book, pictures of you in various resolutions and information […]
Angelina, Keep Your Distance
For me to love a book, it must have a strong and compassionate narrator. Preferably, female. She must have equal measures of heart and brain, with neither outweighing the actions of the other—for long. The book must also have a credible villain putting the protagonist in some dire peril. The fun of a novel is finding […]
Another Irish Joke
Now, dear reader, if you are easily offended, DO NOT READ the remainder of this post. This is but one more gross Irish joke which happened to tickle my funny bone. Maybe it will yours, too. Taking a wee break from the golf course, Rory Mcllroy drives his new Mercedes into an […]
Things I Learned While Writing
Writing Shanty Gold and Lace Curtain One of my biggest surprises in writing these novels was the state of medicine in the mid-20th century. Women in Boston were dying in droves from something called childbed fever because doctors didn’t know about germs. They’d go from an autopsy to a delivery without ever washing […]
An Interview With a Villain
Shiv McGraw is the consummate villain in Shanty Gold. An Irish mob boss in Boston’s South side, he shakes down pub owners and other Irish newcomers trying to make an honest buck for “protection.” I decided to ask Shiv a few questions: JC: Shiv, tell me about your childhood. SM: Ah, ‘twas pretty brutal, […]