L is for Luke

Meet Luke, the hero of Paula's second Irish book, Irish Intrigue.

Charley reached Clifden shortly before five o’clock and pulled into the parking area of the supermarket on the outskirts of the small town. Still familiar with the layout of the store, she didn’t take long to collect some basic supplies.

A tall man in a sheepskin jacket stood near the chilled cabinet of yogurts and desserts, speaking on his phone. “Kate, which yogurts do the kids like? Melissa said something about pink pots.”

She reached past him to pick up some mixed fruit yogurts at the same moment as he turned and bumped against her.

“Oops! Sorry,” he said.

“No problem.” She put her yogurts in her shopping trolley, but couldn’t resist pointing further along the cabinet. “The pink pots are those strawberry ones.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a quick smile before speaking into his phone again. “It’s okay, Kate, I see them.”

She started to push her trolley toward the cash desk, but stopped when the man said, “Thanks again, but don’t I know you from somewhere?”

With a small grimace of resignation, she half-turned back to him. She didn’t recall meeting him when she lived here, but perhaps he’d seen her on television. Or else it was a clichéd chat-up line.

“I don’t think so.” She gave him a perfunctory smile as her glance took in rugged good looks in a square face and dark wavy hair. Not exactly tousled, but certainly untamed.

The man frowned for a moment before his face cleared. “You remind me of my mother-in-law.”

“Really?” She suppressed a grin. Being compared to a mother-in-law was a novel kind of comment.

“Not really, no. Her hair’s short and straight, not long like yours, and her face is rounder.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “So I’m nothing like her?”

“You’re much younger, of course, but your eyes are the same colour. Unusual.”

“Brown eyes are unusual?”

“Kind of coppery. I’m useless with colours, but that’s what she said hers were.”

“Oh, I see.”

It seemed an odd conversation to be having with a stranger in a supermarket, but her heartbeat quickened at the attractive twinkle in his dark eyes as he smiled.

He held out his hand. “Luke Sullivan. Pleased to meet you.”

Irish Intrigue

Charley Hunter returns unwillingly to Ireland to complete the filming of a TV drama series. She still hasn’t come to terms with the tragic loss of her husband there two years previously, and the last thing she expects is an instant attraction to an Irish veterinary surgeon.

Luke Sullivan’s life is full as he tries to balance caring for his two young children with his busy rural veterinary practice. After the break-up of his marriage, he vowed to leave women well alone, but now finds himself drawn to Charley.

While Charley struggles with the re-awakening of her emotions, Luke faces a series of unexplained crises at his clinic, as well as an impending custody battle with his ex-wife.

They grow closer as their initial interest in each other develops into mutual support and then into love. But how can an English actress and an Irish vet reconcile their different worlds? And will their relationship survive when Luke believes Charley has endangered his children’s lives – and then betrayed him?

G is for Galway

Paula invites you to visit Galway in the west of Ireland, which features in all her 'Irish' books.  

Galway lies on the River Corrib where it enters Galway Bay. The Irish name for the river is Gaillimhe, meaning stony river, and the original settlement was called Dun Bhun na Gaillimhe, ‘fort at the mouth of the Gaillimhe.’

One of Galway’s nicknames is ‘City of the Fourteen Tribes’ which refers to the merchant families who controlled the city in the Middle Ages. They are remembered in the flags which fly in Eyre Square in the centre of the city, and also in the names of the roundabouts (traffic circles) on the Galway ring road.

The city thrived on international trade in the Middle Ages, especially with France and Spain, and the ‘Spanish Arch’ was constructed near the harbour in the 16th century.

There is also a legend that Christopher Columbus visited Galway. Several years later, he wrote a note in his copy of Imago Mundi, saying, ‘Men of Cathay have come from the west. We have seen many signs. And especially in Galway in Ireland, a man and a woman of extraordinary appearance have come to land on two tree trunks.’ It is said that this is what persuaded him to sail across the Atlantic, having seen the signs of a land beyond the ocean. This monument was presented by the city of Genoa to Galway on the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.

Adjacent to the city is Claddagh, originally a small fishing village outside the city walls. The thatched cottages were demolished in the 1930s, and colour washed stone houses now line the quayside.

And, of course, there is Galway Bay, one of the largest inlets on the west coast of Ireland. About 30 miles long, and between 6 and 19 miles wide, it separates County Galway in the north and County Clare in the south. Here’s the view of the bay from one of the hotels I stayed at on the promenade at Salthill, Galway’s seaside suburb.

From one of our favourite restaurants on the coast, a few miles west of Galway, we once saw a beautiful rainbow over the bay (but not the pot of gold at the rainbow’s end!).

And here, near the western end, is where the bay meets the Atlantic. If you sailed due west from here, you’d reach Goose Bay in Labrador.

One of my favourite Irish songs starts:

“If you ever go across the sea to Ireland

Then maybe at the closing of your day

You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh

Or see the sun go down on Galway Bay.”

One evening we hoped to see the sun set on the bay, but got stuck in a traffic jam on the way. Watching the sun go down on the Galway Ring Road isn’t quite the same! But the next evening, we reached the small beach at Furbo in time to see the sun going down on Galway Bay, one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.

Rainbow of Chaos

Today's Friday Friend, Pat McDermott, tells us how she creates a story out of her 'rainbow of chaos'.

Music Hath Charms…

French artist Paul Cézanne once said, “We live in a rainbow of chaos.” German scholar Friedrich Nietzsche agreed: “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.” If they’re right, the disaster that passes for my writing space means I’m well on my way to creative bliss.

My desk teems with photos of ancient amulets, Viking weapons, and medieval clothing. Books about sunken ships and Celtic mythology sit beside magazines featuring coin collections and luxury homes. The twenty odd paperbacks I bought last month in Dublin litter my bookshelves alongside statues and knickknacks. Dust covers said shelves and knickknacks, and beside my printer, stacks of bills await a home in the drawer of household files.

This is good. The best artists in my grade school classes always had the messiest paintboxes. When my writing is flying, my “paintbox” is always messy. But how can a coherent story emerge from my rainbow of chaos?

One of my secrets is, I listen to music when I write. Not the distracting sing-along stuff, but quiet, contemplative music, usually Celtic or classical. Music helps me focus on crafting not only words, but entire scenes. I’ll choose faster tempos for certain settings, such as parties or fight scenes, though most of the time, the music remains in the background, soothing and coaxing and painting pictures.

When I started writing my “autumn” romance, I decided the time had come to celebrate the music that has helped me so much. The Rosewood Whistle is a tribute of sorts to Ireland’s traditional tunes, told through the cautiously developing relationship of a man and woman offered a second chance at love. Each chapter title contains a phrase from an old Irish song.

No one needs to know a thing about Irish music (or even be Irish) to enjoy The Rosewood Whistle, and no worries if you can't guess which tunes I used. I added a neat little list the end of the book.

A whole lot neater than my desk.

The Blurb for The Rosewood Whistle:

Surrounded by Ireland’s music and myths, a widowed American writer meets a tour guide leery of love…

On her own at the end of a long and difficult marriage, Gemma Pentrandolfo still hears the critical voice of her husband taunting her from his grave. To foster her independence, she schedules a summer vacation in County Mayo intending to write her first book, and she’s counting on Ireland for inspiration. An idea presents itself when she tours Achill Island with a silver-tongued tour guide whose good looks prompt her to write more than her high-minded novel: she transcribes her years of longing in a steamy fantasy no one is meant to see.
Years have passed since an accident claimed the self-absorbed wife who scorned Ben Connigan and his music. Since then, the former tin whistle ace has avoided marriage, though he never lacked for female companionship before he traded his high-tech career for the slow-paced life of a hometown tour guide. Ben has accepted the end of his run of discreet affairs, until he takes Gemma touring. Her passion for Ireland impresses him. Her love of Irish music soon compels him to dust off his whistles. Knowing she’ll leave at the end of the summer, he sees no harm in keeping her company—until he dares to dream of spending the rest of his life with her.
But he knows it can’t be, not while the ghosts of their partners still haunt them. Not unless the music and myths of Ireland can help them find their way…

Excerpt - In a local pub, Ben has introduced himself to Gemma, whose maiden name is Keenan:

Molly set a glass of straw-colored wine on the table. “Hey, Ben. Can I get you something?”

“No thanks, love. I’m going back to my table directly. The wine goes on my tab.”

Gemma sputtered an objection, but he sent Molly off, putting paid to the matter. “It’s the least I can do after nearly drowning you. So why are you in Westport? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“I’m writing a book. Or trying to. I haven’t decided what it’s about yet. Maybe Grace O’Malley, or someone from an earlier time. Right now I’m doing research. Getting background. Thought I’d go exploring. See the scenery around Clew Bay.”

Well, that explained why she was alone, and she sounded less featherbrained now. More centered and sensible. “The Pirate Queen, eh? You’ll want to see Westport House, and the Grace O’Malley Museum in Louisburg.”

Gemma nodded, as if prompting him to continue. Should he tell her he was a tour guide? He could think of no other excuse to see her again—and he wanted to see her again.

He leaned toward her. “I could take you on a private tour.”

Her head jerked back. She glared at him. “I’ll just bet you can.” Her voice dripped with insinuation.

Ah, you’re a smooth one, Connigan! “No, not… I’m a tour guide. I do guided tours to different sites. Group tours or private tours for individuals. That’s what I meant. I can take you wherever you’d like to go.”

Her mouth tightened into a pale pink line. She backed into her chair in a way that made him feel like a bowl of rotting fruit. “Thanks, but I prefer to travel alone. You’ll have to make your sales pitch to someone else.”

Amputated. Just like that. Ah feck, who needs women anyway?

But he couldn’t blame her. She thought he’d been selling his services to a vulnerable widow traveling alone. Or worse, trying to pick her up. Well, he was, but not like a feckin’ plonker.

Maybe it wasn’t too late. Ever so slowly, he shook his head. “The offer was free of charge, Gemma. I make allowances for friends, and I hope we’ll be friends.”

She crossed her arms, hugging herself as if she were cold. Or frightened. “Speaking of friends, don’t let me keep you from yours. Thanks for the wine, Ben.”

He sighed and stood. “My pleasure. Really.” One last try. He drew his card from his shirt pocket and placed it atop her book. “If you have any questions about what you see, or if you want to know how to get anywhere, please give me a call. No charge, no strings.” He turned to go. “By the way, I recommend the fish and chips. None better in town. It was fine meeting you, Gemma Keenan.”

Boston, Massachusetts native Pat McDermott writes romantic action/adventure stories set in an Ireland that might have been. Glancing Through the Glimmer and its sequel, Autumn Glimmer, are young adult paranormal adventures featuring Ireland’s mischievous fairies. Both books are “prequels” to her popular Band of Roses Trilogy: A Band of Roses, Fiery Roses, and Salty Roses. The Rosewood Whistle is her first contemporary romance.
Pat is a member of the New Hampshire Writers’ Project, Romance Writers of America, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. Her favorite non-writing activities include cooking, hiking, reading, and traveling, especially to Ireland. She lives and writes in New Hampshire, USA.

Pat’s Web Site:
http://www.patmcdermott.net/

The Rosewood Whistle is available on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon U.S., Amazon U.K., and other online book sellers.

Thanks so much for being our Friday Friend today, Pat. I am reading The Rosewood Whistle at the moment, and loving it, as it is bringing back so many memories of my visits to Ireland, especially Westport and the coast of County Mayo. The characters are all so wonderfully Irish too - I can hear their voices as I read. Anyone who loves Ireland, and indeed anyone with a longing to visit Ireland, should definitely read this delightful story of Gemma and Ben. 

Six of my Favourite Places

I have been to so many amazing places, especially in the 15 years since I took (early) retirement. Places I thought I’d never see, places which surprised me, places which seemed so familiar because I’d seen so many photos of them, and places which made a lasting impression on me.

Impossible to pick out any six ‘best’ so I’ve decided to list some of the places I’ve used in my stories, which happen to be among my favourite places.

1. The English Lake District.

This was the setting for Fragrance of Violets and, to a lesser extent for Changing the Future, and it’s also where my current ‘work in progress’ is set. I love this area which is about 70 miles from where I live. Beautiful scenery, with the lakes and mountains, and so familiar too, as I went up there a lot over a period of about 30 years when we had a caravan there. The Langdale Valley is my favourite spot, although sitting on the shore of Coniston Water with a large ice-cream comes a close second.

2. Paris

Abbey joined Jack there for a weekend in Fragrance of Violets. I first went to Paris when I was 18, and have lost count of how many times I have been there since. It really is a beautiful city, seen best (in my opinion) from a bateau mouche on the Seine. And, of course, there are all the pavement cafes where you can sit for as long as you want. Ideal for people watching!

3. New York City

Lisa and Paul have two days in NYC in Changing the Future. New York is one of those places that always seems familiar because, of course, you see it so much in movies but I’ll never forget the first time I was there (in 1980). We walked along 59th Street from our hotel and reached a road junction where the street sign said ‘Broadway’. I could hardly believe I was standing on THE Broadway! Since then I’ve been to NYC several times, but it’s always as exciting as it was that very first time.

4. Egypt

My next release (in November), Her Only Option, is set here and the story was inspired by the Nile Cruise I did in October 2010. Although I’d been to Cairo just for a day about 20 years ago, I always wanted to see Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, so my 2010 trip was the culmination of a long-held dream. I felt I had travelled back in time when I was in the Valley, seeing all the tombs of the Pharaohs, so that’s where my hero works. The other awe-inspiring place was the Abu Simbel temples on the shores of Lake Nasser. Sunrise there was an experience I shall never forget – and of course I took my hero and heroine there.

5. London

London is the setting for His Leading Lady, especially the area known as the West End, which is the theatre district (equivalent to NYC’s Broadway). I first visited London when I was seven and remember being so excited when I heard Big Ben strike the hour. At the time, in the pre-television era, I had only heard Big Ben on the radio. Since then, I’ve been to London dozens of times but, like Paris and NYC, it always seems ‘special’. I love its tourist sights, especially the 1000-year-old Tower of London and Westminster Abbey where history seems to come alive.

6. Ireland

I haven’t set any of my novels here (yet!), but I’m including it because it featured in the first story I wrote when I returned to writing fiction about 6 years ago. I was a fan of ‘The West Wing’ and discovered the world of fan-fiction. A chance comment from a friend set me off on writing a fan-fiction story about Jed and Abbey (the President and First Lady), which I set in Ireland. As a direct result, I went to the west coast of Ireland in 2007, and have been back a dozen times since then. I love Ireland’s scenery and heritage, not forgetting, of course, the REAL Irish pubs, and the friendliness of the people. One day I will set one of my contemporary romances there.