A Bit of the Irish 

I thought, with St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, this would be a good time to highlight a few of my books that feature Irish characters. Since I'm 35% Irish myself (or should I say "meself"?), it's no surprise that a touch of Ireland finds its way into my writing. While several American characters have Irish roots, only one of my protagonists actually hails from Ireland: Sean Murphy from With Summer's Songs. Part of the novel takes place aboard a cruise ship, and Sean serves as one of the officers.

In Going the Extra Mile, Meghan Scott's family emigrated from Ireland and settled in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Some family members even held onto their Irish accents. Meghan now lives on a mountain in Ashe County with her uncle, until he turns up dead. When a pastor arrives at her door after nearly freezing to death, he becomes an unexpected ally in unraveling the mystery behind her uncle's murder.

Annette's Assignment is also another mystery with an Irish connection. Annette Hunt's sharp mind leads her cousin to recruit her for a contest designed to gather the most intelligent people in Chicago, an unconventional strategy to help him solve the case. One of the other contestants is an Irishman, Flynn O'Leary, who brings his own charm and intrigue to the mix.

And then there's Ryan O'Grady, the hero of Ingrid's Intention. Ryan is also an Irish newspaper reporter who occasionally covers the women's rights movement, and that's where they meet. Although he isn't a supporter of the movement, he's far more open-minded than many of the other men. Ingrid agrees to help him tell the story accurately, and their partnership grows. Since March is also Women's History Month, this novel fits the season in more ways than one.

In Mistaken Bride, Cullen Green shares the story of how the town of Redbud, Arizona, got its name. “An Irishman with a head of red hair founded this town,” Cullen began his story. “In fact, most people called him ‘Red,’ although his real name was Fion Walsh. In honor of the town’s fifth anniversary, he had a tree-planting ceremony and planted this redbud. The town has pampered it ever since.”

These are just some of my books where the Irish make an appearance in one form or another. I love writing about Irish characters. When I traveled to Ireland, I was struck by their indomitable spirit, their ability to laugh at themselves, and their warm, friendly personalities — qualities that are a joy to bring into my stories. Check them out and have a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day.

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