Fiery Roses is on Kindle Friday, March 12, 2010 News for those of you who enjoy your Kindles: Fiery Roses has finally joined A Band of Roses on Amazon Kindle!
YAY!!! I'm recommending your wonderful books to my colleagues at work. Here's wishing you the very best of luck with Fiery Roses!!!
By Donna Goode, at
March 30, 2010 10:54 PM
The Roses of Prose - My First 2010 Interview Saturday, January 2, 2010Why not take a break and read an excerpt from Fiery Roses at The Roses of Prose? This fine blog is hosting my first 2010 interview all day today and sponsoring a contest. To enter, leave a comment including your favorite Irish proverb, and you could win a copy of A Band of Roses!
Good Luck to Us All in the New Year! Friday, January 1, 2010The past year has seen both the re-release of my first novel, A Band of Roses, and the Christmas Eve debut of the sequel, Fiery Roses. Not bad! I also wrote a novella entitled By the Light of My Heart, which will appear in the forthcoming anthology, The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance. Click here to see the gorgeous covers and read an excerpt or two.
What about 2010? Early in the year, I'll finish Salty Roses, the third book in the "Roses" trilogy. I should have the first chapter posted on my web site soon. I'm thinking of trying something different and may give the Young Adult genre a try. If in the process I make as many new and wonderful friends as I have over the last year, I will consider myself blessed. And I hope to visit Ireland once or twice.
I wish you all health, happiness, and prosperity. Happy New Year, everyone!
Fiery Roses - The Story Behind the Story Wednesday, December 23, 2009Fiery Rosesdidn’t start as a sequel. Having brought A Band of Rosesto a happily-ever-after conclusion, I envisioned my second book as something different, a story based on the horrors of raging, out of control flames. When I was eight, such an inferno nearly destroyed my family’s new house, ruining our Christmas, injuring firefighters, and leaving me waking in the middle of the night smelling smoke for years. And so, knowing I had what it takes to complete a novel, I set about channeling all those nightmares into one heck of a scary story.
Early in 2005, I started researching arsonists (a very young firebug started the fire in my family’s home) and brought a preliminary character sketch of a fire-setting villain to my writing class. Meanwhile, I was monitoring the Irish news online, vicariously living in Ireland, the country with which I’d fallen hopelessly in love during my first visit in 2004. I noted rumblings concerning plans to harvest the natural gas discovered in the Corrib Gas Field, a section of the sea fifty miles off the northwest coast of County Mayo, in October 1996.
The arsonist I'd created began to merge with the characters in A Band of Roses. With my imaginary Irish royal family still fresh in my mind, I couldn't help wondering how the indomitable descendants of High King Brian Boru would deal with the political tangle the Corrib gas find had become.
The main problem seemed to stem from the objection of certain Mayo residents to the planned installation of pipelines that would run raw gas from sea to land and across unstable bogs. These people also objected, and still do, to the construction of a refinery to treat the gas ashore rather than at sea. Both sides of the argument have voiced concerns, and the tangle has spun into a snarling web far too complex for the scope of this blog. (For anyone interested in learning more, Shell to Sea has posted a timeline of events on their website, and a history of the Corrib project is available on the website of Ireland's Petroleum Affairs Division.)
My husband and I had planned a trip to Ireland in the summer of 2005, and we decided to visit County Mayo. We spent a week in Cork with friends, and after seeing them off at Shannon Airport, we continued north (by bus - we weren’t brave enough to drive on the opposite side of the road back then). Late on Sunday afternoon, June 26, we checked into our hotel in the lovely west Mayo town of Westport, three-time winner of Ireland’s Tidy Town award.
The Corrib protests appeared to be centered in Rossport, a remote village on the north Mayo coast. The hotel receptionist said we could reach it by bus, "but you can’t get back the same day." Disappointed but undaunted, we hired a driver named Simon and headed for the bogs.
Early on the morning of Tuesday, June 29, Simon drove us north through the village of Newport, then west through Mulranny. Rain showers had his windshield wipers clicking now and then. Soon after passing the old hotel overlooking Mulranny Bay, we turned north again. We entered some exquisitely scenic country, the ocean to our left, the Nephin Mountains to our right.
Just past Castlehill, we reached the bogs, which resembled rolling meadows at first glance. Gullies interspersed the expanses of green scraw, the layer of tough fibrous sod that covered the peat, or turf, as it’s called in Ireland. Cows, sheep, and flocks of blackbirds roamed everywhere, the sheep marked with different colors on their wool to show who owned them. Rows of shrubbery rather than stone walls divided the bumpy land into square patches. Masses of white bog cotton and yellow buttercups painted the scraw. New homes and crumbling old cottages dotted the landscape. We passed tree farms and quarries and soon saw black squares of turf set in rows to dry. Some of the dark blocks stood in tepee-shaped stooks to let the air at them.
Black swaths throughout the bogs marked the sections from which turf had been cut over the years, by hand with a tool called a slean, Simon told us, pronouncing the word shlane. The cuts were obvious, neat vertical banks that looked like tiny dark cliffs topped with the omnipresent scraw. In many places, water filled the bottoms of the cuts. Simon parked so we could see the turf up close. We stepped over a low barbed wire fence. The ground was spongy, and in some places quite soaked. I lost my balance and tore my jeans on the barbed wire, not one of my most graceful moments.
On we went, continuing north, passing southbound trucks transporting goods from local businesses. Turf cutting machines were busy at a commercial turf harvesting company in Bangor Erris, where we also passed a limestone quarry. We took a break in Belmullet, a bustling market town situated on a narrow neck of land between Broadhaven Bay and Blacksod Bay. Ancient black cauldrons filled with colorful flowers sat along the sidewalks. In true Irish fashion, Simon struck up a conversation with the ladies who ran the tea shop. They asked where we were going, and when he answered "Rossport," they said we’d better keep our heads down.
From Belmullet we drove east and soon saw a sign for the Corrib Gas Terminal. Men in hard hats were hard at work behind a chain link fence. Down the road, large sections of blue pipe awaited installation.
We turned north at Glenamoy. Sheep and cows wandered everywhere. At one point, we had to stop when a small herd of cows blocked the road. Simon eased through them like a pro.
Before we reached Rossport, we turned onto a road leading to another Shell construction site. Protestors sat in cars along the road. They had pitched a tent and set out hand-painted signs that said things like, "We are Irish citizens, not Shell subjects." We viewed the construction site—trucks, men, and small buildings surrounded by a chain link security fence—and turned around.
The tiny Gaeltacht village of Rossport ran down to the water, presenting a very pretty picture. There wasn't much to the place. A cottage housed the post office. We didn’t see a church, or even a pub. Scattered mountains surrounded the stark but lovely area.
Mission accomplished, we left Rossport behind, passing bogs and goat-infested ruins, traveling east until we reached the steep coastal cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. We drove by the Céide Fields archaeological site and through the towns of Ballycastle and Killala, at last stopping for a late pub lunch in Ballina. Simon found a bookstore for me, and I picked up two books about the local bogs.
The next morning, Wednesday, June 29, we learned that Royal Dutch Shell had sought and obtained a court order for the arrest of five Rossport area men who refused the company access to their land. The men, who became internationally known as the Rossport Five, spent ninety-four days in prison.
As I worked on Fiery Roses, an imaginary story with fictitious villains and heroes, I followed the Irish news online, waiting for some resolution to the increasing hostility in the Rossport area. I finished writing the book a year ago, after spending more than three years tidying up all the fanciful plot twists with the help of make-believe characters. I filled my tale with action, adventure, and romance, and achieved another happily-ever-after ending. Sadly, the real situation in north Mayo remains unresolved, and I am truly sorry for the trouble in that quiet, spectacular land.
The pictures are lovely!! I have never been to Ireland and I am sure will never get there. I enjoyed your post about your trip!! Congrats on your book release.
By Judy, at
December 23, 2009 3:35 PM
Very interesting post. I love Ireland and got to live there for a little while.
what an interesting story to say the least Pat; I love the pictures and especially the one of the bridge and the flower pots hanging. I'd be interested in reading your book and thanks.
By robynl, at
December 23, 2009 4:18 PM
Wow, what an adventure behind Fiery Roses, Pat! Thanks for sharing some of that!
Happy release day, and glad you'll have the chance to celebrate this!
What beautiful pictures..thanks for sharing. Ireland has always been a place I hope to visit but can't see it in my future. Happy to hear about your book release and hope to read it some time. Merry Christmas also. susan L.
By susan, at
December 23, 2009 11:36 PM
I love those pictures! i didnt know band of roses wa sin print would be awesome to win i dont read manyebooks but this ones been on my wish list for a while have a wonderful day
By SiNn, at
December 24, 2009 5:55 AM
Great post on your inspiration for FIERY ROSES. The lovely pictures of the area set the scene beautifully. I'm looking forward to reading the final version of your story and will keep the snap shots in my mind's eye while I read. Good luck with sales!
By Dawn Marie Hamilton, at
December 24, 2009 9:58 AM
Wonderful pictures and fascinating story, Pat! I love that kind of hands on, exploring research. I enjoyed getting first-hand knowledge of the bogs in Scotland and seeing the stacks of cut peat drying. Interesting! Congratulations on your book release!! Merry Christmas!!
By Nicole North, at
December 24, 2009 10:34 AM
Lexi, glad you enjoyed the pictures. Maybe we’ll meet up in a pub in Ireland some day!
Judy, hello! Never say never. Maybe you’ll meet Lexi and me in that pub!
JW, nice to meet you. If your TBR list is like mine, it’s endless! I hope you’ll read both Fiery Roses and A Band of Roses some day. They’re both fine stories loaded with adventure and romance. Enjoy the rest of the Christmas season!
Valerie, I’m jealous you got to live in Ireland. We stayed for a three-week stretch twice, and neither visit was long enough for me. I’d love to visit Germany some day too. As for that champagne, it’s chilling now!
Robyn, that picture is one of my favorites. The bridge is in Westport, Mayo, and I have to say that the photo doesn’t do the town justice. Flowers were hanging on two bridges and on the walls lining the river between them. Such a lovely sight!
FL Chen, welcome to my blog. Fiery Roses has lots of adventure, as it should, being the sequel to A Band of Roses. I love hearing people say they couldn’t stop reading A Band of Roses until they finished, and I’m hoping they’ll say the same for Fiery Roses. I’m so glad you stopped by!
Susan, I’m glad you stopped by, too. As I said to Judy above, never say never. You just might get over there some day. We didn’t go until our kids were grown up and in college, and it was worth the wait.
SiNn, hello. A Band of Roses isn’t currently available in print. It was first published in paperback, but the publisher closed down and the present publisher decided to release it as an e-book. I still have a few copies of the original release. Thanks for wishing!
Tracey, having a new release is very exciting. It took a few years to write each book, and I’m happy to see them out in the world. I’m glad you liked the post and pictures!
Anna, I want to visit lots of places, but I visit Ireland most. It’s addictive! The pictures on the blog really don’t capture the true beauty of the scenery. Maybe you’ll see for yourself some day!
Dawn Marie, I hope the book is in better shape than it was when you first saw it! Our visit to Mayo was truly inspiring, as I’m sure it has been for storytellers through the ages. Some of it’s downright spooky! I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Nicole, as you know, hands-on research is unbeatable, even with all the information available online. And we never know how what will pop up and influence our stories. Seeing the bogs in Mayo certainly changed my plot around more than a little!
I’m grateful to all of you for taking time from your busy schedules to visit. I’ll announce the winner of the book Sunday. Until then, I wish you the best. Thank you for your good wishes, and Happy Holidays!
By Pat McDermott, at
December 24, 2009 4:42 PM
Thanks, Maeve. The pictures remind me of a song about Americans who visited Ireland - We ate a lot of hog, drank a lot of grog, stepped on a bog, and came home in a fog. Glad you enjoyed them!
By Pat McDermott, at
December 26, 2009 7:35 PM
Pat,
Many happy returns on the book release! I look forward to learning more about the new book (and eventually reading them both!)
Seriously awesome pictures. And a really interesting story. Always fun to know the process behind a book!
By Britt, at
December 27, 2009 11:26 AM
Keith, hello! Thanks for taking time from your travels to pop in. I appreciate your good wishes!
Britt, I wish the players involved in the real-life situation could tidy things up as neatly as I did in my make-believe tale. I keep an eye on County Mayo and keep hoping their story turns out for the best, and soon. Thanks for stopping by!
By Pat McDermott, at
December 27, 2009 1:58 PM
WINNERS - We had so much fun rolling the dice, we didn't stop at one winner. Books are already in the mail to SiNn and Anna Shah Hoque. FL Chen, please contact me with your snail mail address. Thank you, everyone, for visiting "Put the Kettle On." I hope to see you again soon!
By Pat McDermott, at
December 28, 2009 12:19 PM
Fiery Roses - The Cover Has Landed! Wednesday, November 4, 2009The cover is out for Fiery Roses, and it's gorgeous! My sincere thanks to talented cover artist Shirley Burnett. Fiery Roses, the sequel to A Band of Roses, is scheduled for release in e-book format December 24th from Red Rose Publishing. Here's what "Fiery" is about:
The discovery of gas off the coast of northwest Ireland ensnares Irish Princess Talty Boru and her devoted champion, Neil Boru, in a web of blackmail and murder. County Mayo's residents object to a pipeline crossing their pristine boglands, but an arsonist tries to change their minds by setting homes and land ablaze. One of his fires sends newlyweds Neil and Talty to an ancient world at the mercy of a waking volcano. While they struggle to outwit a tyrant with a shocking secret, King Brian locks horns with a ruthless tycoon who will stop at nothing to become a high roller in the oil and gas game. The resulting conflict proves fatal for the Boru clan, whose members once again close ranks to thwart the latest threat to the kingdom they are sworn to protect.
BTW, am I guess correctly that your web designer is your son?---clue 'snag a meal and do his laundry'. I had to laugh when i reread that part. Sounds like mine. Julie
By Julie Robinson, at
November 15, 2009 5:39 PM
Thanks for stopping by, Julie. Most folks know that my web designer is indeed my son. He's a talented young man who's taught me lots about maintaining my web page and blog. And I enjoy cooking for him! BTW, he does his own laundry :-)
By Pat McDermott, at
November 15, 2009 5:45 PM
Novelspot Review for "A Band of Roses" Monday, October 12, 2009What a delightful surprise to find this review today! The reviewer is Rob Shelsky, and he posted his review of "A Band of Roses" on Novelspot. Here's an excerpt:
"As with all alternate reality books, one must accept with a willing suspension of disbelief that such a universe can exist, and would be the way it is in the story. At accomplishing this, some authors are better than others, and Ms. McDermott is one of those better authors. She weaves a fast-paced tale in a believable setting, one filled with action, adventure, intrigue, and strange twists . . . A Band of Roses is a well-rounded, action-filled novel, one with a strong element of romance, and a book that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I highly recommend A Band of Roses by Pat McDermott. This story thoroughly deserves a 9 out of a possible 10 rating, for it is a nearly perfect read!" Thank you, Mr. Shelsky, for brightening my day!
Hi, Britt! How are you? I'm happy to hear from you. As you can see, reviews for A Band of Roses are still popping up. Red Rose Publishing has given the sequel, Fiery Roses, a release date of December 24. Ho ho ho!
By Pat McDermott, at
October 13, 2009 12:49 PM
Howth Therapy Saturday, August 22, 2009"Howth is Magic" says the current tourist brochure for Ireland's maritime gem on the northern fringe of Dublin Bay. I love visiting Howth, but we almost didn't make the nine-minute train ride this trip. We've been there so often, I thought perhaps we should try someplace different. But Mike said "Let's go," and after a late breakfast at Bewley's on Grafton Street, we caught the DART at Pearse Station. The decision was a good one. There's no better cure for jet lag than a walk out on the east pier followed by a visit to the venerable Abbey Tavern for classic Irish refreshment.
Howth is a picturesque village on the peninsula of Howth Head, which juts out over the northern part of Dublin Bay. Once a small fishing village, Howth has evolved greatly over the years. The boats still bring in the freshest seafood around, yet upscale restaurants and shops lure tourists from all over the world. The grounds of Howth Castle now include a luxury hotel and the largest golf course in Ireland. A marina filled with sailboats graces the harbor. And the scenery . . . oh, the scenery.
The cliff walks have lured many hikers, including me, to view sights that haven't changed in ages. When Mike and I trekked along those heathery cliffs a few years ago, I easily pictured Viking ships hurtling in to attack as they did in the ninth century. No need to do battle nowadays, however. Howth's property prices would knock the wind out of those Viking sails in a flash. In fact, I chose Howth as Prince Peadar Boru's fictitious home in A Band of Roses. Peadar's imaginary mansion would fit right in with the elegant homes overlooking Balscadden Bay from Howth Head.
One of my favorite stories about Howth concerns Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley. According to the legend, she was cruising home from England in 1576 and stopped to lodge at Howth Castle for the night. The Earl of Howth turned her away. Infuriated by the breach of hospitality, she kidnapped the earl's grandson and heir and sailed home to Mayo. She returned the boy once the earl met her unique ransom demand: he must never rebuff unexpected guests again. To this day, the gates of Deer Park, the earl's demesne, are always open, and an extra place is set each night at the castle's dinner table.
Our Dublin adventures continued today. Stay tuned.
Thanks for dropping by, Gwynlyn. I truly hope you get over here one day. Maybe we'll meet up in a pub :-)
By Pat McDermott, at
August 22, 2009 5:04 PM
Gorgeous pics, Pat! Makes me want to go back to Ireland. We visited Howth briefly on our way to our B&B in Raheny, just outside of Dublin. We had a fabulous view of Dublin Bay from our bedroom, and we watched the ferries go by.
By Cynthia Owens, at
August 23, 2009 4:11 PM
Hi, Cynthia. Raheny and the surrounding area is so lovely. I have to catch up on your travels. Hope you got to Cobh. Thanks for visiting!
By Pat McDermott, at
August 24, 2009 1:43 AM
Lisa, I have to admit I take a zip-loc bag of Lyons Teabags with me when I travel. Topped it off in Dublin, of course. Thanks for the proverb! I'm sure there's a comparable one in Italian.
By Pat McDermott, at
September 9, 2009 5:46 PM
Great load of info about Ireland and Liverpool/Scotland. I enjoyed the pix and video. The Giant's Causeway pictures were fascinating!
By Mike in New England, at
September 25, 2009 12:23 PM
"A Band of Roses" Trailer Takes First Place! Sunday, August 2, 2009The winners for the July 2009 You Gotta Read Videos Trailer Contest have been announced. I'm thrilled that "A Band of Roses" finished in first place. My sincere thanks to everyone who voted for us!
Virtual Book Tour Schedule - July, 2009 Friday, July 31, 2009Monday, July 6 - I started off my first Virtual Book Tour with a fabulous 5-star review from Confessions of a Book Habitue and a guest author post at The Book Faery.
Manic Readers Review Wednesday, June 3, 2009Reviewer Dawn D. had some glowing words for A Band of Roses. Check out her review on the Manic Readers review site!
This is by far the best review of your book that I've seen yet. I am impressed that the reviewer took the time to summarize the plot rather than just copy/paste the official blurb. Congratulations!
By Shag, at
June 4, 2009 2:16 PM
Thank you, Dawn. I liked it! Thank you too, Shag. I think a few other reviews have been equally well done. Perhaps it's the last one that stays in your mind. In any case, I appreciate your kind words :-)
By Pat McDermott, at
June 9, 2009 6:00 AM
Book Wenches Interview Thursday, May 28, 2009My interview with Bobby Whitney, the "Book Wench" who recently gave A Band of Roses such a stellar review, appeared on the BookWenches' site on May 27, 2009. My thanks to Bobby, and to everyone who stopped by!
Action! Thursday, May 21, 2009The debut of the book trailer for A Band of Roses has me positively airborne! Starting with the few rough ideas I offered, my ingenious web designer, Rick Shagoury, has brought my story to life in a way I never imagined possible. Treat yourself to a peek!
I must say, that did come out looking pretty good. Next time it will be even better. I very much enjoyed the collaborative process on this, I think we make a good team.
By Shag, at
May 21, 2009 2:09 PM
That trailer rocks!! It really captures the feel and romance of Talty and her adventures!! I look forward to a "Fiery Trailer..."
By Anonymous, at
May 27, 2009 5:16 PM
New Reviews for A Band of Roses Friday, May 8, 2009Popping in quickly to share excerpts from two 5-Star reviews A Band of Roses received this week.
BD Whitney of Book Wenches Reviews (5/3/09) says: "A Band of Roses combines political intrigue, adventure, science fiction, and romance into a well-written and fascinating package that will appeal to a wide range of readers. . . the tension pulls so tight that it positively vibrates, and I found myself holding my breath and reading faster to keep pace with the action numerous times."
Denisse Alicea of The Pen and Muse (5/4/09) says: "Pat's work has become one of my favorites and sure fire book to recommend to others. This is an author to keep on your watch lists for more works to come."
Visiting Imaginary Friends Wednesday, April 8, 2009
With all the information available these days, writing about places an author has never seen requires little more than clicking on real estate ads and vacation sites or opening one of the many geographical guides tailored for writers and armchair travelers. The Writer's Guide to Places is a good one. And did you know the CIA keeps a World Factbook online and updates it every two weeks? Country profiles, maps, flags, governments, and a wealth of other information are just waiting to inform and inspire.
With enough research, I can create the places my characters visit, even if I haven't been there myself. It isn't necessary to see the scene in person. Or is it?
During a recent visit to northern California, the Mendocino coast lured me to see if I'd done a good job describing the home temporarily occupied by the star of my alternate Irish history novels: Taillte Rosaleen Boru, the Crown Princess of Ireland. The house Talty shared with buddies Richard and Nick doesn't exist, of course, but the rugged coast of Mendocino certainly does.
Visiting John and Diane, my dynamic uncle and gracious aunt, is always a pleasure for Mike and me. Last week, they again installed us in the guestroom of their lovely Santa Rosa home. We spent a few days basking in their generous hospitality, touring Napa Valley and Bodega Bay before commandeering one of their cars and heading north. Vineyards and vineyards later, we hunkered down for the night in Fort Bragg and dined in Noyo Harbor watching seals frolic in the small sparkling inlet.
The next day, we invaded the town of Mendocino, an enchanting New Englandish array of houses, shops, and water towers situated on a scenic stretch overlooking the blue, blue Pacific. I pictured Talty strolling there, shopping for groceries, browsing in the bookstore. She might return from Ireland one day for a visit, I thought, and decided that seeing the setting for a story in the proverbial flesh is preferable to surfing the web for real estate ads "fer sure." Not long after, I found the site of Talty's house, cliffs, beach and all!
Well, not really. Only in A Band of Roses. I did imagine dropping in on Talty and the guys for tea, which was enough to make my visit to Mendocino more than worthwhile. That and the armies of redwood trees we passed on our way back to Santa Rosa and Diane's Chicken Osso Buco.
Hi Pat, Hopefully Sydney will be as strong and an awesome person like Talty:) Happy blogging!
By Martham0615, at
April 8, 2009 6:36 PM
Hi Pat, I do think you're doing a smashing job with your blog! Lots of interesting information in this post! Totally enjoyed it!! Keep up the good work! Beautiful pics!!
Thank you so much, Andrea. Praise from you is praise indeed. I hope you realize you'll be on my favorite blog list next time it's updated!
By Pat McDermott, at
April 8, 2009 8:48 PM
I'm glad Mendocino was so inspiring! If Talty gets a chance to visit her old stomping grounds, we get to read book #4 by Pat McDermott! Yeah!!!
You may be writing fiction, but maybe focusing so hard on a place eventually brings you there. Perhaps you've taken creative visualization to the next level. I'll be disappointed if you don't end up going on a luxury submarine vacation soon!
By k8, at
April 8, 2009 10:11 PM
Pat! I love your blog! I am so glad you finally started one! And what great references you gave! I am writing them down. I would have loved to stopped and had tea along with you w/Talty and the gang.
I too travel online and through books to get a picture of my setting, but I long to ACTUALLY see some of them, I think it really will help bring the places more to life. I know from some settings I've seen and used they do seem to pop more visibly on paper than others.
No question about it, Eliza. Walking on on a bog in County Mayo is a lot different from reading about it. Same with visiting NYC. You can't imagine all the nuances unless you're there, but we poor writers must do the best we can. Thanks for stopping by!
By Pat McDermott, at
April 9, 2009 8:18 AM
Great blog, Pat. Wouldn't it be great if we, as writers, could visit every setting we plop our novels into? And historical writers have additional challenges to make their readers feel as if they're actually living in the worlds we create. But that's part of the challenge and joy for us to imagine and creatively illuminate our stories so readers can lose themselves and experience those happily ever afters.
By Angela Johnson, at
April 9, 2009 4:12 PM
Hey Pat, I enjoyed the post and links. Thanks for sharing. Now, if only I could fiqure out how to travel to 16th century Scotland!
By Dawn Marie Hamilton, at
April 10, 2009 9:21 AM
Dawn, Your "Garden Gate" series will take many readers to 16th century Scotland. Close enough! Thanks for visiting.
By Pat McDermott, at
April 10, 2009 9:42 AM
King Brian's Stats Thursday, March 26, 2009I’m lost in a storm of marketing my first book while trying to complete my third. The realization that I have a responsibility to promote A Band of Roses doesn’t diminish my enthusiasm for the third book in the "Roses" trilogy, but it definitely cuts into the time I’d like to devote to figuring out how Talty and company will thwart the bad guys. I can’t help wondering how the original Brian Boru would have dealt with such a dilemma. Marketing was all important to the ambitious King Brian, who dubbed himself "Imperator Scotorum," the Emperor of the Irish. I suspect he would have gloried in the internet.
I had great fun changing history in A Band of Roses by imagining that King Brian survived the Battle of Clontarf and established a dynasty that still rules Ireland. The fun continues, and I’ve heard from many fellow dreamers who wouldn’t mind if this scenario had actually occurred. While we High King proponents might enjoy a moment’s fantasy about how things might have been, I'm seeking ways to deal with how they are.
A Band of Roses first hit the proverbial streets in March 2008, released in paperback by a now defunct publisher. I got so far as to enjoy wonderful reviews and a book signing at the Barnes and Noble near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but I lost my marketing momentum. Months passed before I found a new publisher. Red Rose Publishing released the story as an e-book in February 2009, and I’m hoping my baby will return in physical form soon. The sequel, Fiery Roses, is in the Red Rose editorial staff’s queue. My heartfelt desire now is to plow forward with Salty Roses, the third book in the trilogy. Yet marketing for A Band of Roses lurks in the background, compelling me to check my web site’s stats each day and making me wonder if I’ve done all I can do to "get it out there." The technology available to authors nowadays is intimidating, at least to me, and though I’ll continue to try, I suspect I’ll never have done enough.
