Archives for January 2016

New Book Giveaway: The Angel’s Lamp By Ashby Jones

January 29, 2016 by Irish American Mom 50 Comments

The Angel’s Lamp, a new novel by Ashby Jones, is set in Ireland at the time of the Easter Rising and the tumultuous times that followed as the Irish people struggled for freedom.

Since we are marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising this year, I was delighted when Top Hat Books asked me to review this new publication.

And good news, the publisher has provided a copy of The Angel’s Lamp for one lucky reader to win. But before I share the details on how to enter, let’s explore this book together.

A Tale Of War-Torn Ireland:

The Angel’s Lamp tells the story of Johnny Flynn, an Irish-born, Bermingham-raised staff-sergeant in the 1916 British Army. Johnny is posted to Kilmainham Jail where he is in charge of the rebellion’s soon-to-be executed leaders. Johnny assists Pearse as he prepares to face the firing squad.

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2015/04/06/remembering-easter-monday-1916-plus-introducing-the-easter-commemoration-digest/ — The Stonebreaker’s Yard at Kilmainham Jail, scene of the shooting by firing squad of the leaders of the 1916 Rising.

Image Credit

Transferred to Dublin Castle to stand guard over the ailing James Connolly, Johnny meets Nora, the Rebellion leader’s daughter. Struck by her determination to take the fight to the British, Johnny faces a devastating decision when he is summoned to serve on the firing squad that executes Connolly.

Guilt ridden after the execution, Johnny sees himself as a traitor to his Irish heritage, and reaches the dangerous decision to desert the British Army. Teaming up with the ragtag Irish rebels, he inevitably crosses paths with Nora.

Their story of emotional conflict set against the bleak backdrop of guerilla warfare, culminates in an impassioned, intense encounter between Johnny and Nora.

If love can survive, together they must face the unrelenting demands of understanding and forgiveness.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicalrealist/91181864/in/photostream/ — The Interior of Kilmainham Jail, Dublin

Image Credit

Weaving Fact And Fiction:

Ashby Jones’ resonating and lyrical words form haunting paragraphs, with fact and fiction intertwined to create a compelling novel.

But what makes this book a true page turner????? I believe it’s the writer’s ability to seamlessly tell his story from the sympathetic and beleaguered viewpoint of Johnny Flynn.

From the very beginning the reader is part of Johnny’s emotional conflicts, as he dutifully faces the heinous tasks assigned to him. His internal struggles with obligation, honor, patriotism, betrayal, love and deliverance, expose the reader to the multi-dimensional forces at work in a time of violent upheaval.

Giving voice to the strife on both sides of a conflict is a difficult task. But Ashby Jones illuminates the heart-wrenching dilemmas faced by all involved in this bloody fight for freedom.

The reader is introduced to rebel leaders such as Pearse, Countess Markievicz, and James Connolly, the infamous Black and Tans, the volunteer women of Cumann na mBan, and above all, the commoners on both sides, deeply affected by an unanticipated revolution.

Historical Persons As Fictional Characters:

As a reader of historical fiction I sometimes find myself in a quandry trying to decide if I like or dislike the practice of using true, real-life historical persons as main characters in a fictionalized novel.

As I started reading this book, I was unsure of the author’s choice to name Nora Connolly as one of the main characters, thereby creating an imaginary love story to dramatize history.

However, as I progressed through the pages I came to realize the writer is taking us on an emotional journey, where our human predicaments, contrasts, achievements and radical thinking are highlighted through the art of storytelling, and not merely the repetition of known facts.

At the beginning of The Angel’s Lamp, Ashby Jones explains his rational for constructing a narrative around real-life historical characters, where an emotional story prevails to further our understanding of difficult times …

“Fictionalizing the lives of historical persons

is herein done with utmost care and respect.

Such an approach attempts to emphasize how their prevailing,

recorded personalities, might have responded in situations,

which while based on the past, are often imagined.”

Image Credit

Interview With Ashby Jones:

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ashby Jones last week, to explore his novel’s theme, and his writing inspirations. His knowledge and interest in Irish history is commendable, so inevitably I had to ask the question …

Why choose Ireland as the setting for your novel?

Ashby Jones admits he is intrigued by Ireland and her history, despite the fact his ancestral roots are not Irish. He first visited Ireland many years ago and stayed at the Shelbourne Hotel on Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green. There he learned how the windows of the hotel were blown out during the Easter Rising of 1916.

Over the coming days he asked more and more questions of Dublin folk, and visited the sites associated with the Rebellion – Kilmainham Jail, Arbour Hill, and the GPO.

But it was his visit to Kilmainham Jail that sealed his fascination with Dublin and the leaders of the Rising. As he stood in the loft outside Patrick Pearse’s cell a young couple started to laugh. The tour guide asked them to leave, and as he did, a strange draft passed through the loft.

Jones perceived a deep spiritual connection with the past, standing outside Pearse’s cell in Kilmainham Jail, kindling his quest to learn all he could about the people and heroes of 1916. He has since visited Dublin many times, and completed extensive research on her history and people.

A Few Little Pointers:

There are a few minor little glitches I noticed in this novel, which I feel compelled to highlight, as an Irish-born, avid reader of history.

At one point Johnny sings “The Fields of Athenry”, which was not written until the 1970’s. However, Ashby Jones so loves this song he envisioned Johnny Flynn belting it out in the corner of a Dublin pub. I thought perhaps Johnny would have sung “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary,” a favorite with the British Army at the time of the First World War.

One of the volunteers in Cumann na mBan is named Shannon, which is a beautiful and popular name used by Irish Americans today. I don’t believe any Irish woman at the time of the Rising would have been so christened.

James Connolly uses the name “Sarasol”, meaning freedom, for his beloved Nora. This may be an alternative Gaelic form of the word for freedom, but I have always used “Saoirse” to mean freedom in Irish.

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The characters of this novel move through Dublin’s streets on foot. Their journeys were very familiar to me, and sometimes I couldn’t help thinking they could have saved themselves a few steps by choosing an alternative route. Only a Dublin girl, who cycled her city’s streets and alleyways as a student, would pay heed to such directional details.

Irish history is a favorite subject of mine, as you all probably know, and I must confess I did get a little lost in the progression and timing of this novel’s plot. The Black and Tans arrive in Ireland sooner than recorded in the historical timeline embedded in my Irish head, and the battle of Crossbarry in County Cork transpires far sooner than I expected.

I questioned Ashby Jones regarding what I perceived as a compression of time in his novel. He explained that as he wrote, the movement of the story became more important than strict adherence to a factual timeline. He eliminated the incongruities of time, to allow the emotional story prevail.

But rest assured, these minor issues are merely the musings of a picky Irish reader. For anyone wishing to be introduced to Irish history, or for those who wish to experience this difficult and transforming period through the sensitive lens of a skilled story teller, then this novel is for you.

Johnny Flynn navigates his personal conflicts, doing battle with the forces of good and evil, forgiveness and redemption, on his quest to find his moral compass. At one point Johnny wondered ….

“…. if both sides had not crossed some

unholy line that even in a time of war,

God could not sanction.”

The trials and tribulations of humanity are ongoing; some characters, like Johnny Flynn, are sensitive enough to recognize the chaotic plight of the human spirit, and are emotionally honest enough to take the reader on an unexpected and satisfying journey.

Fast paced, impassioned and poignant, The Angel’s Lamp is the perfect read for lovers of Ireland and her people.

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will receive a copy of The Angel’s Lamp.

To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Wednesday, February 10th, 2016.

Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration for your entry why not tell us if you have ever visited any of the sites associated with the 1916 Rising.

A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday February 10th, 2016, at the bottom of this blog post.

You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstake entries by clicking here.

A big thank you to Top Hat Books for sponsoring this prize. And thanks to everyone who supports this little giveaway. Best of luck to all the entrants.

Update – Winner Chosen:

Good news. Our winner has been chosen using the randomized “Pick Giveaway Winner” WordPress plug-in.

Congratulations to …..

Sue Guggenberger

I’ll send you a quick e-mail to let you know you are our prize winner.

Thanks to everyone who joined in and entered this little giveaway.

And a big thank you to Ashby Jones for introducing us to his writing and to Top Hat Books for sponsoring this prize.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

P.S. I received a complimentary copy of The Angel’s Lamp for review purposes, and the publisher has sponsored the prize for this giveaway. This did not affect my critique of this novel, and the views expressed are my own.

Where to Buy The Angel’s Lamp:

A quick note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that should you choose to purchase this book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

You can purchase The Angel’s Lamp directly from Top Hat Books as a paperback or e-book.

Or you can purchase it from Amazon using the link below.
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The Must See Castles Of Ireland

January 26, 2016 by Irish American Mom 18 Comments

Castles, castles everywhere! If you’ve ever been to Ireland you’ll understand why I say this. Ireland truly boasts no shortage of castles.

In fact, Ireland is home to thousands of castles, dotted around the country from north to south, and from east to west.

There is one glitch however. You won’t be able to enjoy a luxurious sojourn in many of these castles. You see, many lie in ruins, stony sentinels from the past, and proud reminders of days gone by.

But don’t despair, not all our ancient castles and keeps lie abandoned in their ivy-covered charm. Some magnificent castles have been converted into hotels, and others have been restored and opened to the public for viewing.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/264499 — Mallow Castle

Image Credit

And so, I thought I would share an infographic sent to me by the good folk at the Ocean Sands Hotel in Sligo.

Their detailed research has resulted in this very useful summary of Ireland’s best preserved and most loved castles, that are just waiting to be explored.

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And so, whether you enjoy clambering over windswept ruins on brooding hills, or relaxing in the luxury of a restored architectural masterpiece, I know there’s a castle in Ireland that will simply take your breath away.

I hope today’s post will help you find the perfect Irish castle for you.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Irish Flag Fruit And Cream Parfait

January 19, 2016 by Irish American Mom 4 Comments

In this luscious parfait dessert, green and orange fruits are layered with a white cream and crumbled meringue mixture, creating a lovely Irish flag in a glass.

This is one of my favorite easy-peasy, yet very impressive desserts. The key to heavenly success is the center layer of crumbled meringues or mini pavlovas, combined with whipped cream.

Have you ever heard of Eton Mess? That’s a meringue and cream mixture usually combined with strawberries or raspberries.

To create an Irish flag effect in a dessert, I thought why not layer fruit with a meringue and cream mess.

Any how lucky are we that the Irish flag is comprised of three stripes in green, white and orange. It makes food improvisation so much easier when the colors are easily found in fruits and vegetables.

I used green grapes and diced mango in the parfait pictured above, but for my recipe I went with kiwis and mandarin oranges.

And so today I present to you my Irish flag dessert, a perfect sweet ending for any occasion, especially an Irish celebration.

Ingredients For Irish Flag Parfait:

Crumbled meringues or mini pavlovas, whipped cream, together with orange and green fruits are all you need for this Irish styled dessert.

For my parfaits I used kiwis and mandarin oranges, but I included grapes and mango as a potential fruit color combination in the ingredient photo below.

Here’s what I used to create 4 parfait servings …

4 ripe kiwis
1 large can of whole mandarin orange segments
4 meringue nests or mini pavolovas
1 and 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
3 to 4 teaspoons of confectioner’s sugar (optional for sweetening the whipped cream)
2 to 3 teaspoons of caster sugar (optional for sweetening the kiwis if tart)

Directions For Parfait Preparation:

The good news is …. these parfaits are a no-cook dessert.

You don’t even need to dirty a saucepan to create these Irish flag masterpieces. Here’s what to do …

First I prepare the kiwis.

Peel the outer skin, and slice off the top and bottom ends. Discard these since one end can be very tough.

Next slice the kiwi into about 8 slices, and quarter each slice, to create small bite-size pieces.

Taste test a kiwi piece. Sometimes kiwis are delightfully sweet and sometimes you hit a tart bunch. If you think your kiwis are a little bitter, place the diced fruit pieces in a bowl and sprinkle them with 2 to 3 teaspoons of sugar. Mix the sugar and fruit together completely.

Next drain the can of mandarin oranges.

You can buy canned mandarin oranges that are preserved in juice or in syrup. The fruit juice oranges tend to be a little more bitter than those in syrup, so if you like extra sweet desserts, use the mandarin oranges in a light syrup.

Crumble the mini-pavlovas or meringue nests into small pieces. You can see the crumble size I used in the picture above.

You can make your own mini-pavlovas if you wish, or to make this dessert extra easy I just purchased a packet of meringue nests.

These are readily available in Irish supermarkets, but in American grocery stores you will probably find small vanilla meringue cookies much easier. Use three small meringues instead of each meringue nest (10 to 12 meringue cookies should work nicely).

Whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks. Mix the crumbled meringues and whipped cream together.

I don’t add extra confectioner’s sugar when whipping the cream. I find the crumbled meringues sweeten the cream just fine for my palate, but I know I like less sweet desserts than most Americans.

Feel free to add one or two tablespoons of sugar when whipping the cream for an extra sweet creamy parfait layer.

Now comes assembly time.

You need four parfait or wine glasses to best show off the stripes of these Irish flags.

Start with a layer of diced kiwis or green fruit. If you are using glasses that are very fluted towards the bottom, bring the kiwi a little higher than one third way up the glass, to ensure the green layer is on full display.

Next add the white meringue mess stripe. Use a teaspoon to carefully add this layer, spreading it delicately to avoid sploshing the cream on the sides of the glass.

Finally top the cream layer off with mandarin oranges to complete your Irish flag.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of a grape and mango combo on the left, together with a kiwi and mandarin orange combo on the right.

I like the deep orange of the mandarin oranges, but diced peaches, or apricots would work well too.

You could top your parfaits with a swirl of cream and a green cherry if you like, but I decided to stick with the three color stripes of the Irish flag.

And here are the three stooges all lined up. They look like three Irish soldiers – we Irish come in all shapes and sizes.

I used different glass types and shapes to demonstrate multiple serving possibilities.

Remember the ingredient quantities I used are only recommendations. The exact amounts required are totally dependent upon the size of the glasses you use. Not every wine or parfait glass is created equal.

Believe it or not, the Irish coffee glass in the middle of the photo above, used the least amount of ingredients. Rather than getting fatter around the middle it got thinner, so serving size was much smaller.

And if you end up with extra creamy meringue mess, simply mix some fruit through it and serve it directly in a bowl.

Why not have a little treat after all that work! Well, there wasn’t much work involved at all, but enjoy your fruity meringue mess anyway.

This simple dessert is a make-ahead-of-time dream, since the parfaits can be assembled a few hours before a party and kept in the refrigerator covered with some plastic wrap.

I wouldn’t make them a day in advance, since the top orange layer could start to sink down through the cream layer, and the cream will seep down around the kiwis over time.

And so there you have it! An Irish flag in a glass.

I hope you like this whimsical Irish dessert as much as I do.

Let’s face it! We make plenty of red, white and blue desserts to represent the American flag on the 4th of July, so why not try an Irish flag sweet treat this St. Patrick’s Day.

Here’s the printable recipe for those in America.

Yum

Irish Flag Fruit And Cream Parfait

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 Servings

This luscious layered parfait creates an Irish flag effect in a glass by using green kiwis, meringue and cream, and mandarin oranges for the flag's green, white and orange stripes.

Ingredients

4 ripe kiwis
1 large can of whole mandarin orange segments
10 to 12 vanilla meringue cookies
1 and 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 to 2 tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar (optional for sweetening the whipped cream)
2 to 3 teaspoons of caster sugar (optional to sweeten the kiwis if tart)

Instructions

Peel and dice the kiwi fruit. If the kiwis are tart mix with 2 to 3 teaspoons of sugar to sweeten.
Drain the can of mandarin oranges and discard the liquid.
Crumble the meringue nests into small pieces. Whip the cream and confectioner's sugar if used. Mix the meringue pieces and whipped cream together.
Fill a parfait or wine glass one third full with kiwi pieces. Add a layer of creamy meringue mess, then top with a layer of mandarin oranges. Repeat three times.
Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes

https://www.irishamericanmom.com/irish-flag-fruit-and-cream-parfait/

Here’s the recipe for anyone in Ireland or the UK who might prefer the printable recipe in metric and imperial measurements.

Irish Flag Fruit And Cream Parfait

Print recipe

Serves	4
Prep time	20 minutes
Allergy	Egg, Milk
Meal type	Dessert
Misc	Serve Cold
Region	Irish

In this luscious layered parfait creates an Irish flag effect in a glass by using green kiwis, meringue and cream, and mandarin oranges for the flag's green, white and orange stripes.

Ingredients

4 kiwis (peeled and diced)
1 Large can of mandarin orange segments
250ml whipping cream (equivalent to 12 fluid ounces)
4 meringue nests
2 heaped teaspoons confectioner's sugar (optional for sweetening the whipped cream)
2 to 3 teaspoons sugar (optional for sweetening the kiwis if tart)

Directions

Step 1	Peel and dice the kiwi fruit. If the kiwis are tart mix with 2 to 3 teaspoons of sugar to sweeten.
Step 2	Drain the can of mandarin oranges and discard the liquid.
Step 3	Crumble the meringue nests into small pieces. Whip the cream and confectioner's sugar if used. Mix the meringue pieces and whipped cream together.
Step 4	Fill a parfait or wine glass one third full with kiwi pieces. Add a layer of creamy meringue mess, then top with a layer of mandarin oranges. Repeat three times.
Step 5	Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Happy dessert making to all.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

The Daisy Chain

January 16, 2016 by Irish American Mom 22 Comments

When I was a little girl in Ireland I loved making daisy chains, just like many generations of little Irish girls before and after me.

But why, you may ask, am I day dreaming about daisy chains in the middle of winter?

Image Credit

Well, this week I watched a beautiful short film, called The Daisy Chain, created by Ken Williams and Denis Fitzpatrick.

Ever since I watched this short movie, I just couldn’t stop dreaming of childhood days of summer and linking daisy chains in the fields on my granny’s farm near Skibbereen.

The Daisy Chain, a poignant, reflective drama was shot in Schull in West Cork in July 2013. The filmmakers chose Schull because Ken Williams wrote the script for a Jim Sheridan Masterclass at the Fastnet Film Festival earlier that summer.

Luckily this movie has now been made available for viewing on YouTube. I highly recommend taking a peek.

It’s just over 5 minutes long and I confess, it brought a tear to my eye. A happy tear, as it kindled childhood memories of West Cork, and of daisies, buttercups, dandelions, and all the wildflower games we played as children.

And so here it is, the remarkable little movie, The Daisy Chain….

Narrated by the Irish actress Fiona Shaw and co-directed by Ken Williams & Denis Fitzpatrick, this beautiful film was selected to screen on RTE 2 Television in Ireland in June 2015 on their program Shortscreen.

The Film has been viewed and appreciated by film festival viewers all over Ireland, and in Boston and London. It was officially selected at all the following film festivals ….

Fastnet Film Festival Official Selection
Irish Film Festival Official Selection
Boston Irish Film Festival Official Selection
St Albans Film Festival Official Selection
IndieCork Film Festival Official Selection
London Lord Mayor St Patrick’s Day Film Festival Official Selection

It was also nominated for the Best Original Score at the Fastnet Film Festival.

Fast forward 11 months to May 2014. The Daisy Chain had its Irish premiere in Schull. The very same day Ken Williams’ wife gave birth to their first child. A baby girl, called Daisy!

Isn’t Daisy adorable wearing her very own daisy chain!

And so, as we weather the bleak, dreary days of January, let’s dream of summer days and linking beautiful daisy chains once again.

This summer take your children to the fields to gather daisies by the dozen. Teach them to gently pierce the daisies’ stems with a fingernail, and to delicately pass the stems through each loop.

Daisies need to be handled with care, but please do pass on this traditional skill, so that little girls may continue to enjoy wearing daisy bracelets, necklaces and crowns for many summers to come.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

P.S. A big thank you to Ken Williams for sharing his short film with us today, and for granting me permission to share this beautiful picture of his little girl.

NYPD Green – A Memoir By Luke Waters

January 12, 2016 by Irish American Mom 32 Comments

An Irish cop patrols the streets of New York City- sounds like a novel set in the late 19th century. But the book I’m going to introduce you to today is set a century later, when a Dublin born Irishman, Luke Waters, joins the NYPD.

This autobiography recounts Luke’s arrival in NYC as an illegal immigrant in the 1980’s, the granting of his green card through the Donnelly Visa program, and his decision to join the most famous police force in the world.

This book piqued my interest since I worked on bed pan alley (1st avenue) in NYC in the early 1990’s, when Luke Waters joined the NYPD.

I was thrilled when Simon and Schuster contacted me to host a giveaway for this newly released book.

But before I share the details of how to enter our little sweepstakes, let’s learn a little more about NYPD GREEN…..

An Irish-Born Detective’s Twenty Years

on the Mean Streets of New York

After spending a few years serving drinks at Manhattan bars (overstaying his visa and skirting the law along the way), Luke decided to finally see his dream through. He eventually got a US passport (with the help of the Donnelly visa program), and in August 1993 he joined the ranks of New York’s finest.

Moving swiftly from the “Pickpocket squad” to the Narcotics division and finally to Homicide, Luke served as a detective in one of the toughest places in the world, The Bronx. Here, he would see the best and the worst of what the NYPD and New York had to offer: from the heroism of fellow detectives and the utter selflessness of so many in the aftermath of 9/11, to the ravages of crack cocaine, drug warfare, gang violence, and terrorism alerts.

Throw in a hearty dose of dark Irish humor and you’ve got just another day in the life of a detective in one of the toughest (and most beloved) cities in the world.

The American Dream:

But NYPD GREEN is more than an account of NYPD life on the beat – it’s also a compelling portrait of personal success and a stirring example of the American dream at work.

Waters shows how he worked his way up the ladder, beginning as an illegal immigrant then putting in time doing grunt work as an NYPD rookie, before finally achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a homicide detective.

NYPD Green back jacket cover — Praise for NYPD Green on the book’s back cover.

NYPD GREEN is a rollicking ride through New York City’s criminal underbelly and a no-holds-barred insider account of the NYPD like you’ve never seen it before. Throughout it all, Waters’ love for New York City and detective work shines through.

The story of an Irishman made good, of the American dream, NYPD GREEN also pays tribute to one of the hardest jobs there is.

About Luke Waters:

Now retired, Luke Waters resided in Queens and Putnam County; he is a decorated officer who received 18 medals from the New York Police Department. He received commendation from the FBI, and in 2012 was awarded the Detective of the Month award.

Luke Waters came from modest beginnings in Finglas on Dublin’s Northside, but nevertheless dreamed of becoming a detective.

He initially planned on following in his grandfather’s and brother’s footsteps by joining the Irish police force, An Garda Siochana, but in 1985, America beckoned. After some time as a barman, he enrolled in the NYPD, working his way from rookie through Narcotics before becoming a homicide detective.

Waters retired from the NYPD in 2011 and now lives in County Cavan with his wife and three children.

Where To Buy NYPD Green:

Today, January 12th, 2016 marks the U.S. release for this gritty autobiography.

The publisher, Simon & Schuster, has provided a long list of retailers where you can purchase it. Just click here for the complete list.

The Prize:

Three lucky readers will each win a copy of Luke Water’s book “NYPD GREEN: A Memoir.”

Simon & Schuster graciously sponsored these prizes. A big thank you to them for being so generous to Irish American Mom’s readers.

The Giveaway:

To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Wednesday, January 20th, 2016.

Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration for your entry why not tell us if you enjoy cop dramas and detective stories.

Three winning comments will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published or shared, just used to contact our lucky contestants.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday January 20th, 2016, at the bottom of this blog post.

You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes entries by clicking here.

Three Winners Chosen:

Our three lucky winners have been chosen using the Pickgiveaway Winner Plug-in for WordPress blogs.

They are …..

Kathleen Kelly

Michael Byrne

Ceceil

I’ll send an e-mail to notify the winners, and thanks to everyone for entering and supporting this giveaway.

And a big thank you to Simon and Schuster for sponsoring the prizes.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

A little note from Irish American Mom: Dialogue in this book is unrestricted, realistic, on-the-beat, cop lingo, complete with true-to-life expletives.

Images published courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Archives for January 2016

A Tale Of War-Torn Ireland:

Weaving Fact And Fiction:

Historical Persons As Fictional Characters:

“Fictionalizing the lives of historical persons

is herein done with utmost care and respect.

Such an approach attempts to emphasize how their prevailing,

recorded personalities, might have responded in situations,

which while based on the past, are often imagined.”

Interview With Ashby Jones:

Why choose Ireland as the setting for your novel?

A Few Little Pointers:

“…. if both sides had not crossed some

unholy line that even in a time of war,

God could not sanction.”

The Giveaway:

Update – Winner Chosen:

Sue Guggenberger

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Where to Buy The Angel’s Lamp:

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Ingredients For Irish Flag Parfait:

Directions For Parfait Preparation:

Irish Flag Fruit And Cream Parfait

Ingredients

Directions

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

The American Dream:

About Luke Waters:

Where To Buy NYPD Green:

The Prize:

The Giveaway:

Three Winners Chosen:

Kathleen Kelly

Michael Byrne

Ceceil

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

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