Historical Fiction
Derry O'Dowd's The Scarlet Ribbon
The Scarlet Ribbon the debut novel from Derry O’Dowd is the fiction line launch novel for The History Press Ireland. In an unusual collaboration between father and daughter, Michael and Katy O’Dowd (writing under the pen name Derry O’Dowd), the novel is a romance, set during the years 1737-1742 in Paris, London, Dublin and Galway. It follows the story of a young surgeon, James Quinn, battling prejudice and suspicion in his controversial quest to become a man midwife, and the women who change his life. As Michael O’Dowd explains, ‘from the backstreets of Paris, through the glittering social whirl of London, and finally back to Ireland again, this is a story of the thorns of love and the harsh reality of life in the eighteenth century, where nothing is simple and complications of all kinds surround James Quinn, man midwife.’
In a classic case of never giving up, Katy O’Dowd explains how the publishing deal was secured. ‘I am un-agented,’ Katy explains, ‘as is Derry O’Dowd, so it was a matter of sending out the manuscript and getting rejected, sending out the manuscript and getting rejected … Thankfully, I discovered the rather marvellous writing.ie and read a post announcing that The History Press Ireland were looking for historical fiction for a new line they were launching. I sent the first three chapters of The Scarlet Ribbon, was then asked to send on the full manuscript and it was accepted! It was the best feeling in the world, ever, and when we were told it would be launching The History Press Ireland (THPI) fiction line, well, let’s just say we were a touch excited and very honoured. Ronan Colgan and the team at THPI have been lovely to work with, so we feel exceptionally lucky.’
Orna Ross: Traditional to Self Publishing
Orna Ross is a bestselling Irish author, now based in London, with novels, poems and nonfiction to her name. Ross has enjoyed both independent self-publishing and publication by Attic Press and Penguin. Her most recently published novel is After The Rising, a multi-generational murder mystery set against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War. Her much-anticipated sequel, Before the Fall, is due for release in January 2012.
Ross returned to London in 2009, having lived there in the nineties. Despite the fact that the majority of her novels to date have been set in Ireland, she feels that she needs “to live outside the country to be able to properly write about it”. Her new home inspires her creativity. “I walk the streets that Dickens walked, work in the library where Woolf worked, drink in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and feel part of a centuries-long continuum of writers,” she smiles. “I have two ‘offices’. One is at the London Library, which was founded in 1841, and has every book it ever bought (over one million titles) out on display, some going back to the 16th century. The other is the Free Word Centre, an organization that fosters literature, literacy and free expression. That’s my London: the best of the old and the new, side-by-side, all jostling together in an enormous, mad, magical mix.”
Joe Murphy - 1798, Tomorrow the Barrow We’ll Cross
1798 – Tomorrow The Barrow We’ll Cross is a mighty read. It’s what I’d call a big fat novel or to use that well worn cliché, an epic tale. It has all the elements needed to qualify as such – war, love, heroism, divided loyalties and tragedy. But as a novel it is more than just a mighty read – it is also, often, a very beautiful read, lyrical and poetic particularly in the descriptions of Wexford during that fateful and catastrophic summer of 1798.
I recently caught up with its author, Joe Murphy and began by asking him to explain the rather cryptic note at the very beginning of this, his first novel.
Joe the very first question I have to ask you is to explain your biographical note on the front of your book which says ‘Joe Murphy was born in 1979 in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford where he lived for nineteen years before dying. Then he got better.’
Explain please...
Read more: Joe Murphy - 1798, Tomorrow the Barrow We’ll Cross
Tales of Emigration: Great Writing, Great Places.
Emigration is an issue at the heart of every Irish family, not least now, as we face recession again and our sons and daughters head abroad seeking employment and opportunity. In a unique series of events, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Writing.ie have teamed up to bring you some of Dublin’s top writers in some amazing locations, a series that launched on the replica famine ship Jeanie Johnston, on a night when the wind howled down the Liffey and we witnessed first-hand, the emigrant experience.
As originator of the series and chair for this event, my English accent rather stood out as the audience began to gather below decks in the main saloon area of the ship. But my story is one of immigration too - my family are Foxs, O’Mahonys, Mellons, Murphys and McShanes - my great grandfather William Fox was born in Antrim in 1851 and travelled to the north of England in 1870; on the other side of the family, Daniel O’Mahony was born in Skibereen and emigrated to Newcastle in 1895, where he married Elizabeth Murphy. For me the creaking timbers of the Jeanie Johnston were a poignant reminder of the pain of famine but also of hope, hope that was conveyed in some spine tingling readings by outstanding writers Marita Conlon McKenna, Kate Kerrigan and author and journalist Martina Devlin.
Read more: Tales of Emigration: Great Writing, Great Places.
Patricia O'Reilly: Delving into the Past
Patricia O'Reilly has carved out a successful career in both the fiction and non-fiction worlds. From books on the craft of writing to novels exploring the lives of famous figures from history. Sarah Downey learned about Patricia's intensive research process and her love of the past.
Like most writers, Patricia's passion for literature began early in life with her love of reading. "From the time I stumbled over "The cat sat on the mat" with my Mother before I went to school, I have loved the written word. When I discovered that adults wrote books, I was determined I would be such an adult." And this determination would pay off with Patricia later working as a journalist, writing radio plays and documentaries before becoming a novelist.
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