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As part of National Novel Writing Month, I decided to write the third and final installment of the Maeve Kenny series. The story picks up a few years after A Sudden Gift of Fate ends. It was great to spend another month at Keuka Lake (in my imagination, that is—drat!) writing about the further adventures of Fergal, Brídgeen, Maeve & Andy.
I just finished the first draft. My process is to walk away from the book for a few months now and work on other editing before I go back to it. There are some great new plot lines and more than a couple twists. Can’t wait to get this ready for my readers.
Just wanted to let readers know that my new novel will be available soon. Here’s the description:
In this loose parody of Dante’s Inferno, four Irish traditional musicians get lost in the backwoods of upstate New York the week before St. Patrick’s Day. On the journey, the band descends through nine hellish circles of American-style 3/17 revelry: Step-dancing princesses. Bobbing shamrock headbangers. Green beer bacchanals. Shillelagh-wavin’ geezers. (WARNING: Abandon hope, all ye corned beef-allergic who enter here.)
This novel also has a list price of $20 and will be available at all of the same outlets as my first two.
I have created a web site for all of my writing.
It’s called marypathyland.com. Consider it a clearinghouse for all
of my works, including digital versions of my new and already
published novels. Stop by and let me know what you think.
My display at Barnes & Noble in 2008.
On Tuesday, Sept. 21, I’ll be participating in my first “-palooza” event.
Barnes & Noble in the Town Square Mall, Vestal, N.Y., is hosting a local authors event called “Authorpalooza” that evening at 6:30. About 15 authors will be sitting at café tables around the bookstore selling and signing their books. (Books are bought at B&N checkout.) It should be a fun event with special drawings for guests.
I think my new novel, 317, will be published by then. I’ll let you know.
Last night I discussed A Sudden Gift of Fate with a delightful crowd at the George F. Johnson Memorial Library in Endicott. The Friends of the GFJ Library sponsor these books reviews on Tuesdays twice a year, for the months of April and October.
Afterward, I had the opportunity to speak with a woman who was a member of a book club that read the novel as their second selection. It was great to get her feedback on what they thought of the book (most had not read the prequel, The Cyber Miracles) especially in terms of the characters and their actions. (Can’t divulge too much here, lest I spoil the plot for others.)
I appreciated getting her frank feedback, and welcome it from other readers of the book. If you’d like to share yours, or if you have any questions about the plot and characters, please send me an e-mail here.
As part of the Friends of the George F. Johnson Memorial Library Book Review Series, I’ll be discussing A Sudden Gift of Fate on Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the basement meeting room. Come at 7 p.m. for free refreshments. I’ll have copies of the novel for sale ($20 + $1.60 sales tax) and signing.
The talk occurs during National Library Month. Fitting. I owe so much to this library. I took my first book out there (Horton Hears A Who) and learned a lot about writing and editing through other books I checked out.
Hope you can join us!
Irish author Eddie Stack (who helped me give an accurate County Clare flavor to my novel) cuts the edge of literary technology today by launching his collection of terrific short stories, “The West,” as an iPhone app. The app includes Eddie reading his works and music by trad greats Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill. Learn more at the Apple iPhone app store. It’s an incredible bargain @ $1.99!
I recommend highly this book that captures vividly a certain time in the West of Ireland, with characters whose desperate, insular lives will haunt you.
I entered A SUDDEN GIFT OF FATE into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest just now.
We had to submit a pitch, excerpt (from the first 5,000 words) and the complete manuscript.
The first round cut will come after reading the pitch. Say some prayers, light a few candles or keep your fingers crossed. Better yet, do all of the above!
Should I win, the book will be picked up by Penguin USA. Now THAT would be a sudden gift of fate…
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