I've been to these places and now feel comfortable writing about them
Millmount - Drogheda
Creevelea Abbey - Dromahair
Parke's Castle - Leitrim
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Credentials
A while back I posted a question on this blog, asking, 'Why Not Me?'
Well, since then, two important things have transpired.
#1, my DNA suggests that I am 38% Irish.
#2, Marilyn and I spent a month in Ireland in 2016, and I validated many of the things in my novel by visiting places I wrote about. Drogheda, Creevelea Abbey, Rivers Shannon, and Boyne and many others. So the research dictated a few minor adjustments in my descriptions of the landscape. Overall, I am satisfied that I have met my goal to minimize the misappropriation in the book.
Well, since then, two important things have transpired.
#1, my DNA suggests that I am 38% Irish.
#2, Marilyn and I spent a month in Ireland in 2016, and I validated many of the things in my novel by visiting places I wrote about. Drogheda, Creevelea Abbey, Rivers Shannon, and Boyne and many others. So the research dictated a few minor adjustments in my descriptions of the landscape. Overall, I am satisfied that I have met my goal to minimize the misappropriation in the book.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Progress Report
Looking at publishing options (particularly with publishers that welcome first-time authors who are unrepresented by an agent. Some ask for a query in "Writers' Market 2016", but their websites say something different. It's a crazy business. Any published author out there with some advice to share or suggestions, I'd appreciate your input. I'm torn between sending mss or just a query to the publishers mentioned above or sending a query to agents who invite my genre. I'm resisting just settling to pay to 'self-publish'.
WIP (work in progress)
Finished a copy editing venture on draft #2, and embarking on draft #3 to compress some of the shorter chapters. Decided to declare that my novel is a literary historical, multicultural novel that is targeted to readers whose interests include coming of age in tumultuous time. Add a spin of military history and 17th-century politics with a dash of social justice issues. This mix is likely to interest young men or Irish and Choctaw history buffs of either gender.
I characterize my novel as a well researched, well-written adventure story with plot twists and ongoing tension and release episodes. And a book that deals with some little known historical information from the period.
One overarching theme is the similarities of these two cultures in those times.
I welcome questions you might have about this or other works of mine. I will soon resume posting some of my poetry as part of my reenergizing my blog
Stay tuned
FAR
WIP (work in progress)
Finished a copy editing venture on draft #2, and embarking on draft #3 to compress some of the shorter chapters. Decided to declare that my novel is a literary historical, multicultural novel that is targeted to readers whose interests include coming of age in tumultuous time. Add a spin of military history and 17th-century politics with a dash of social justice issues. This mix is likely to interest young men or Irish and Choctaw history buffs of either gender.
I characterize my novel as a well researched, well-written adventure story with plot twists and ongoing tension and release episodes. And a book that deals with some little known historical information from the period.
One overarching theme is the similarities of these two cultures in those times.
I welcome questions you might have about this or other works of mine. I will soon resume posting some of my poetry as part of my reenergizing my blog
Stay tuned
FAR
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Prologue to "The Saints Lost Their Way"
Prologue - Ireland - A Bit of History
___________________________________________________________________________
Ireland has known little peace. In truth, legend, and myth, it has been a land of battles, invasions, treachery and war for eons. From the time the British Isles separated from the European continent to the retraction of the ice age glaciers, to the countless invasion, conquests, assimilations, and plantations, Ireland has been in turmoil.
From the Caspian and Galacia, they came with strange names like Firbolg and Tuatha De Dannan. From Scandinavia came the name Eriu which morphed to Eire, Éireann, Erin, and Ireland. The Norse pillaged but started commerce in an agrarian land. From Gaul came a language, the Gaelic which became Irish. The Romans avoided Ireland since they were spread too thin and rebellion in Rome called them home. The origin of the Celts is still disputed.
The invaders brought culture, spirituality, and fierce competition which evolved into myths and magic. Over time, English royalty brought the influence of the Saxons, the Normans, the Parliamentarians, and the Dutch. Infighting among the Irish clans gave an advantage to the invaders; some of whom assimilated into the Irish culture.
And into this land of shifting alliances, Mathe O’Doole was born and came of age.
Can a blog respond to CPR?
Can a blog respond to CPR? I'd like to breathe life into this seemingly dead document. I'm inspired by Neolithic Irish art and Choctaw art. I see representations of the 'circle of life'. I have discovered many parallels between the two cultures. Some have been posted in the past. I've discovered many more while this blog fell under the curse of a wicked bean si.
Finally finished the first draft of my novel and done a comprehensive copy editing of draft # 2. Searching the tedious world of publishing, sorting through the many variations. Got some leads of publishers who welcome first time authors, but their turn around time to give a response to an mss submission may take longer than I'm alive. I'd hate to have a posthumous best-seller.
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