Attending the 2015 Oshkosh Irish Fest was a learning experience, a challenge and a smashing success for book sales.  The fair grounds are small and estimated attendance for the four day event was about 2500 but was hampered by rain for two of the four days.

Friday night attendance was surprisingly light.  I was to speak at 7:00 p.m. and just as the first words were leaving my lips the premier band for the night started playing – a full 30 minutes early.  It takes a lot to unnerve me, but the blast of sound almost knocked me off my chair.  My tiny audience hung in with me and I got through my 30 minute spiel, they applauded – for endurance, not content.  We sold two books that evening to an older woman who didn’t understand how debit cards worked; she thought she had a credit card.  I gave her my address and just asked her to send a check.

Saturday afternoon it poured rain which drove the attendees into the cultural tent where we sold books.  I had a table to myself and put up two huge posters of both books.  As folks strolled by I watched their eyes and if they rested on either book poster I would ask:  “How would you like to read a great Irish story?”  We sold out of books that afternoon and took orders for ten more books that I promptly mailed out Monday afternoon.  I’ve never sold out before.  NEVER.  What a thrill.  My presentation was at 5:00 p.m. and I only had four in the audience.  Later that night Lynette pointed out that half the audience purchased books after my presentation (she’s a pro at seeing the silver lining).

Sunday we didn’t have any books to sell, we could only take orders.  My presentation was at noon.  For the second day in a row the lady from Green Bay spoke to long and robbed 10 minutes from me.  The MC actually went on stage, took the mic from her and introduced me.  She still didn’t leave the stage.  I walked up to her, placed my hand gently on her back and told her she had to leave.  Finally, she left.  In the back row and large family was having their own discussion as I was talking.  Their rudeness made me very angry.  I told them they were being rude and asked them to take it outside the tent.  Lynette wasn’t happy with me.  I was people tired and my tolerance for their inconsideration burst.  It happens.

I hope to receive an invitation to the 2016 Oshkosh Irish Fest; I learned a great deal about connecting with people in that setting and sold a record number of books.  From my viewpoint, the presentations are problematic but probably necessary.     

Ireland Struggles Post – Good Friday Peace Accord

New fictional novel by Rex Owens:  Out of Darkness

 

The novel, Out of Darkness, is a compelling narrative of the personal journey of an ex-IRA member and his rocky road to redemption.  Once part of the now-defunct IRA, author Ian Murphy feels the need to account for his role in the conflict:  writing the “Green Book,” the survival manual used by IRA fighters and the lives those fighters took to further their cause.

After the bloody bombing in Omagh, Sin Fein turns to Ian, asking him to confront the IRA hold-outs and persuade them to end the violence.  Even though Ian succeeds, he feels he needs to do more.  In the fall of 1998 the British government is determined to build walls in Belfast to separate Catholics and Protestants.  The walls are a symbol of continued British intervention in Northern Ireland.  Sinn Fein leaders again recruit Ian, this time to convince the people of Belfast that new walls are not needed.  Ian fails and is forced to look within to complete his quest for redemption.

Out of Darkness is book II of the Ian Murphy series, book one, Murphy’s Troubles is available on Amazon or from the author.

Out of Darkness is available at: www.amazon.com/Out-Darkness-Murphy-Rex-Owens

Recently I went on a cruise of the Seine River (pronounced: sin) in France from Paris to Omaha Beach and back again.  I would like to share a few of the things I learned on the cruise with you which you may not know.

n  Drivers on the right hand side of the road always have the right of way.

n  My advice for driving in Paris:  Don’t.

n  The French prefer cheese from unpasteurized milk.

n  The Seine River is completely controlled by a series of locks.

n  Some locks are wide enough to accommodate two ships 80’ wide side by side.

n  Some locks are so narrow so that only millimeters separate the side of the lock from the side on an 80’ ship.

n  You sail slowly on the Seine.  Many bicyclists on the paths parallel to the river passed our ship.

n  When you drive to Caen in Normandy you might be confused and think you’re on I90 in Wisconsin. 

n  The American cemetery at Normandy has 9374 graves; we laid a rose on one of them, in remembrance.

n  Those sacrificing their lives on June 6, 1944 at Omaha Beach and the days following the landing made 2015 possible.

n  Every French person we met was polite and spoke some English.

n  Every cruise has one ugly American.  Ours was a +70 year old woman who was loud, argumentative, and rude.  She was from Milwaukee, Wis.

n  ‘Escape fumeurs’ the designation for smoking areas.

n  Paris has at least 20 tunnels.

n  The Seine River has a large population of swans.

n  The Louvre Museum is the largest in the world.  In a 4 hour tour I saw about 10% of it.

n  I found the crowds at the Louvre Museum rude and obnoxious.

n  The best thing I can say about the Louvre is:  it’s ok.

If you ever have the opportunity, visit France.