But wait! Pieces are missing! For a jigsaw puzzle, I usually find them on the floor, or in the hall closet if the cats have been playful. A missing piece in a plot means I’ve hit a spot that requires research. Maybe I need more info on Breton mythology or how fast nuclear submarines travel. I try to find what I need online, or in those notebooks I filled with facts before I started
my current WIP (work in progress). When that fails, it’s time to get off my duff and go to the library—unless what I need concerns Ireland.If it does, I drive to Boston and visit The Aunts. Both have been avid collectors and readers of Irish books for as long as I can remember. Their frequent trips to Ireland over the years have filled their home with other treasures—Belleek pottery and Waterford crystal, copper sculptures and paintings of the Aran Islands—but it’s the books that draw me when I visit.
From Geraldine’s side of the shelves, my choices include poetry, literature, ancient laws and customs, or mythology. Kathleen’s side offers modern history, biographies, politics, and current events. The Aunts’ interests overlap, of course, which is great for me. I find all the puzzle pieces any author of Irish fiction could ever want, as I did while writing A Band of Roses and Fiery Roses.
The Aunts generously share the treasures in their magical library. My current "check out" (pictured) is The Romance of Irish Heroines, an antique whose thick yellowed pages overflow with wonderful old Gaelic names like Gormflaith, Meave, Macha, and Dervorgilla. Pirate Queen Grace "Grainne" O’Malley, the inspiration for my current WIP, is in there, but The Aunts, alas, were born too late for inclusion in this wonderful showcase of distinctive Irish ladies.
Retracing The Aunts' book-hunting footsteps in Ireland is difficult. Many of the bookstores they haunted are gone. Still, I enjoy browsing in Ireland’s bookstores knowing I’m seeing things I won't find in New Hampshire. In Dublin, I’ll make the rounds from Waterstone’s and Hodges Figgis near Trinity College to Eason’s on O’Connell Street, stopping somewhere along the way for tea and a chocolate muffin. I’ve found wonderful bookstores in Cork, Galway, Killarney, and Westport (pictured).
Book hunting isn’t the only reason I visit Ireland. It certainly isn’t the only reason I visit my guardian angel Aunts. It is a great adventure, though, and as they say in Ireland, "Seeking one thing often finds another."
8 comments:
Dear Pat!
I’m still looking for a way to indulge myself with a copy of your “Band of Roses” without paying a fortune in postage charges!
Amazon.co.uk say “You must be joking” (or words to that effect!)
Can I buy it direct from your site, using PayPal? Preferably autographed???
Irish Heroines.
Have you come across the Irish version of the “star-cross’d lovers” legend? Here’s an extract from an early chapter of one of my WIPs, based on historical research into my family background. In the following scene, the main characters are being told the tale of Una Bhàn and Tomàs Laidîr Costello by the seanch’ai which (as I’m sure you’re aware) is the most honoured and respected role of Storyteller, usually held by the Eldest Inhabitant.
***
The group decamped to a more comfortable, informal setting in easy chairs grouped around the open turf fire.
“The tale of Una Bhàn, daughter to Cormac, King of Moylurg and her would-be suitor Tomàs Laidir Costello is well-known in these parts. It is as true as it is tragic” Michael began, staring into the dancing flames as if this helped him concentrate on the words.
“Una Bhàn was very beautiful, and had extremely long, fine blonde hair which cascaded down her back almost to her knees. Cormac was proud of her, as any father might be, yet as King he felt he had a duty to vet all her would-be suitors. None of them were ever good enough to satisfy him.”
“One was a close neighbour, a handsome and affluent young man whose affections were sincere. Cormac, however, considered Tomàs not good enough for his beloved daughter, and had her confined to The Rock, as Trinity Isle was often called at the time. Tomàs was banished from the area.”
“Una Bhàn sickened from day to day, falling into a melancholy, and lay dying of grief.
Tomàs heard of the situation and went to see her, in defiance of Cormac’s ban. When he left, he vowed that unless Cormac sent word that he might return before he reached the river which marked the boundaries between their estates, he would never come back. Cormac repented, and word was sent, but it did not reach Tomàs until after he had crossed the river. Being a man of honour, he held to his word and refused to return.”
“Una Bhàn died of a broken heart and was buried on Trinity Isle. In his grief, Tomàs used to swim out to keep vigil at her grave every night. Eventually he caught pneumonia: realising he was dying, he requested of Cormac that he be buried alongside Una Bhàn. His request was granted. Tradition says that two rose trees grew from the lovers’ graves, entwining above them, and can still be seen today.”
The spell woven by Michael’s recital of this tale created an atmosphere of peace. Several seconds of contemplative silence ended with a sudden crackle and flare from the turf fire as it burnt lower and settled under its own weight.
Pat, How wonderful to have such inquisitive ladies in your family. Their home sounds like a great place to be lost for hours. Maybe with a cup of tea? Enjoy the treasure trove!
Hi Paul! Thanks for crossing the pond to visit :-) And thank you for the excerpt. I look forward to enjoying a sample of your fine writing.
Dawn, thanks for coming by. I always enjoy visiting The Aunts. A well-rounded experience every time.
How lucky you are to have The Aunts--not to mention their vast and varied collections. Reading your post has me missing my Gran in a big way.
{{{hugs}}}
the "other" Pat ;-)
Hi "Other" Pat! You're so nice to stop by. I think the great thing about collections is the stories and memories we associate with them. They keep fond memories alive for us. Thanks for your comment!
I've always been fascinated by the writing process. I think the puzzle analogy is an excellent way to explain it to a non-writer such as myself. Thank you for the insight!
Hey Shag! Glad you enjoyed the post and the puzzle, neither of which you'd be reading about if not for your fine web designer talents. Thanks for being my online guardian angel!
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