I was fortunate to be invited to make a presentation on my novel at local independent bookstore, Mystery to Me, on St. Patrick’s Day.  It’s a small store and the audience of 10 mostly filled the back corner of the store that is set up for author presentations.  In the front of the store a table was set up with a display of my books, a plate of shamrock cookies and a bottle of wine.  It was an inviting display.

I provided two bottles of whiskey, a Concannon and a Jameson aged black label to share with the audience following my presentation.  I sent out 35 evites for the event but received only one positive response.  However, of the 10 people attending I knew 7 of them and each had received an evite but didn’t respond.  That is one of the mysteries of evites.  I’ve concluded people don’t like to make a commitment and respond yes.  I did receive about 10 no’s most because people had plans to go out and eat corn beef and cabbage that night.

There were a number of excellent questions during my presentation.  But - - - there’s always that one in the crowd isn’t there.  Yes, even with an audience of only 10 that one was in my audience.  As part of my presentation I explain how the Irish Republican Army was the first organization designed as international terrorist by the United Nations.  A woman raised her hand and explained she looked up the definition of “terrorism” and had a diatribe on how governments practice terrorism including the French, British, American and others.  What could I say?  She was so off topic.  The only saving grace was a person in the back row raised their hand and I called on him to cut off the woman.  A bit rude but I was desperate.

At the close of the discussion we stood around, sharing a bit of whiskey and talking for about twenty minutes.  Now, here’s the odd thing.  Not one person bought my book.  Not one person bought ANY book.  I was flabbergasted!  People come and listen to a discussion for an hour, drink my whiskey and don’t by a $14.95 book?   

I’ve participated in over 20 events in the past year and in each one sold books.  The Saint Patrick’s Day Event was the first time not a single book was purchased, and this took place in an independent bookstore. 

So, when you attend an author event – PLEASE – BUY A BOOK!     

Deciding on a title for my debut novel was painful.  The kind of pain you experience of having your wisdom tooth pulled without the benefit of Novocain.  I wanted the title to give readers a clue about the story and plot.  I researched the title of both fiction and non-fiction books about The Troubles in Ireland.  Most of the books had “troubles” in the title or “IRA”.  I thought it would be disingenuous to use a title like that.

Next, I decided to try brainstorming.  I have participated in many brainstorming meetings in my previous life in management.  I enjoyed those sessions and was always surprised with the outcome.  I took a blank piece of paper and wrote down every title that came to mind.  Brainstorming was designed to be a group activity and brainstorming by yourself lacks creative exchange and interaction.  However, I filled several pages with titles but wasn’t satisfied.

Frustrated and anxious I stuffed the pages of titles in my briefcase and forgot about them.  Putting my brainstorming titles away meant I relegated my problem to my subconscious.  One thing I’ve learned about myself as I’ve pursued writing full time is that my subconscious is a hotbed of creativity.  I don’t know how it works – but it works and I’ve learned to trust it and listen to it.

One evening as I went to bed I was reviewing potential titles in my mind.  It’s like counting sheep to get to sleep.  In a dream I had a conversation and he told me the title was Murphy’s Troubles.  He explained that the book was about his troubles in life and the period of Irish history referred to as The Troubles.  It was simple. 

Chapter One of Murphy’s Troubles reveals all of Ian Murphy’s flaws.  The first three chapters take place in 1996 as intentional foreshadowing.  Chapter Four begins in 1968 with Ian Murphy attending Trinity College.  His best friend, Timolty Doyle, has made a life changing decision and wants to share it with Ian.

Ian has several tragic flaws.  He is a recluse, preferring to spend his days alone writing.  People make him uncomfortable.  In the fiction world he creates through his writing he lives through the characters in his imagination.  He is close to only two people, Kieran Fitzpatrick and Mickey O’Shay.  Ian suffers from depression although he denies he has any mental health problems.  His depression is fueled by incessant drinking especially his favorite whiskey – Midleton.  He regularly consumes at least half a bottle of whiskey every evening as he reads.  He’s dependent on the whiskey to get to sleep.

Ian finds it difficult to trust others and isn’t willing to share his beliefs, thoughts and feelings with others.   He even keeps his activities in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) a secret from his only friend in Cork, Mickey O’Shay.  When he does find someone to love (infatuation) he keeps it secret from his friend Kieran Fitzpatrick.  When Kieran learns Ian has a relationship with an investigative reporter he is furious both because Ian kept it a secret and because it jeopardizes Ian’s role with the PIRA.    

Ian is consumed by destructive anger.  He feels out of control and unable to influence events in the “real” word which he expresses as anger toward both himself and others.  His anger is both explosive and self-destructive.

These tragic flaws converge to create an emotional volcanic eruption as Ian attempts suicide in Chapter One by driving his car into a British barricade.  

Eileen Donohue is a respected investigative journalist in her mid-thirties with two children and a husband who is an aspiring politician.  In the Cork community the Donohue’s are considered a “power” couple.  However, with the stress of two professional careers and two children their marriage has become an empty hull without love.  Their commitment to their professions leaves them without time, energy or interest in maintaining a strong marriage.

Eileen is attracted to Ian Murphy through his writing and she decides she must meet him by taking an adult learning course on literature from him at University College Cork.  Eileen is both selfish and self-centered.  She has no guilt in actively pursuing a relationship with another man and emotionally abandoning her marriage.

Middle aged bachelor Ian Murphy is fascinated with Eileen and astonished with her interest in him.  In a short time Ian is infatuated with Eileen which he believes is love.  Ian wants Eileen to divorce her husband so they can marry.  Eileen reminds Ian she is Catholic and Catholics don’t divorce.  Eileen needs Ian’s adoration and professed love but doesn’t make the same emotional commitment, she never considers it.

Eileen demands their relationship remain a secret and goes to extraordinary lengths to be discreet and secretive.  She fears the consequences to her career if her relationship with Ian is exposed.

Eileen accidently discovers handwritten drafts of what she learns are the Green Book.  Her curiosity and sense for a sensational investigative story drive her to expose Ian’s secret involvement with the Provisional Irish Republican Army.  She struggles with the decision to betray her lover or keep his secret.  Her selfishness and need to be the preeminent Irish investigative reporter have unintended consequences for Ian Murphy.