I prefer flaxed characters in literature, plays, and television drama.  In literature we tend to remember the flawed characters.  Take for example the famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes.  His flaws and his strengths are often the same.  He is capable of intense focus but it is obsessive and results in him excluding anything but the case he is working on.  Having the ability to focus in life is certainly an attribute.  However, taken to extreme, as Holms it becomes a flaw because he loses the ability to interact with others.

A flaw can take many forms.  A flaw can be an imperfection, a limitation, in the extreme a phobia, a personality defect, an addiction, hubris, insecurity, or a mental health problem such as depression.  I’m sure readers can add to this list.

Flaws can be divided into three categories:  minor, major and tragic.  A minor flaw is one that makes the character unique and memorable.  A minor flaw might be a noticeable limp from having one leg shorter than another.  A major flaw can be either positive or negative.  For example having rigid beliefs could be positive or negative based on how it drives the characters’ actions.  A tragic flaw is one that causes the character’s own downfall, the tragic hero such as Hamlet. 

Murphy’s Troubles has four primary characters:  Ian Padraic Murphy – the protagonist; Kieran Fitzpatrick, Ian’s friend and member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army Council; Caitlin Murphy (Lourigan), Ian’s sister who is 10 years younger than her brother; and, Eileen Donohue.

Each of these characters has one primary flaw and it is the flaw that drives their behavior and also provides motivation for their actions. I will blog about the flaws of each character in the next few weeks.

After high school my son, Tim, and his best friend John Doyle (called just ‘Doyle’ ) saved enough money for a trip to Europe.   Doyle had relatives living in Ireland and their plan was to make their farm home base and make excursions from there.

The plan worked for about two months, they tried to get green cards to get odd jobs and extend their stay.  The world was in the midst of an economic depression and Ireland didn’t feel the need to have two Americans wandering their island taking the odd job.  As a result they ran out of money.  Once day I received a call from Tim, he needed $500 to get a flight home.  I wired him the money and within a week he and Doyle were back in Wisconsin looking for a job.

As part of his thank you for bailing him out of Ireland, Tim brought me a stack of Irish newspapers.  He thought I would enjoy reading papers from Ireland.  I’ve never understood what gave him that notion but it caused a euphoric moment for me.  In 1997 Ireland was still a year away from approving the Good Friday Agreement that ended The Troubles.  The papers carried stories of civil violence and atrocities.

One story in particular caught my attention.  A ten year old girl was maimed in a ‘peace zone’ in Belfast.  The government had created areas between the walls that separate Catholics and Protestants that were neutral zones where no violence was to take place.  Neither the Protestants nor the Catholics accepted the peace zones because they were imposed on them from the British government.

From that story I began to imagine what it would feel like for a family to have their daughter injured while just playing outside – being in the wrong place and the wrong time.  That became the major incident that I built the story of Murphy’s Troubles around.

In the front cover of Murphy’s Troubles in the Appreciation Section I thank Tim for bringing me those newspapers.

          

I took a month off from fiction writing after completing the first draft of my second novel.  I’ve vacillated on a title but recently have settled on Out of Darkness, at least for the time being.

While I took a month off from fiction writing I didn’t stop working as a writer, I continued my blog, my Extra Innings column and most important, researched self-editing a novel.  Of course, I would never take on editing by myself.  I will hire the same copyeditor and proofreader, Christine Keleny, who worked with me on Murphy’s Troubles.  I am also working with my dear friend and mentor, Marshall Cook on story development and novel structure.

About a week ago I sent Marshall the first three chapters to read.  As usual, he gave me thorough, thoughtful comments – three pages worth of detailed review.  The last line of his review said it all.  “After studying these comments I think it would be a good idea to re-write the first chapter.  I hope you agree.”

I felt like a train that just derailed.  I didn’t need to tinker with this or that I need a complete re-write.  I studied his comments and read my manuscript together so that I could learn from his analysis.  Of course, Marshall is right, the chapter needed to be re-written.  I spent three days re-writing that one chapter and have sent it to Marshall for critique.

This experience has taught me that I misjudged the time I’ll need to edit a 97,000 word novel.  The first chapter is absolutely critical and I may need to change the point of view, meaning a complete overhaul.  I am thankful that I have someone like Marshall to help me learn the craft.  I need to get on the right track.    

As with most serious independent authors/publishers I worked very hard to create a high quality book for my readers.  I worked with a graphic designer to design a striking, eye catching cover, and I’ve received a number of compliments for the cover.

I researched the type and color of paper to use in the book and the type and size of the font.  I have been satisfied with the high quality of the paper and the font.

I hired a content editor, copyeditor and proofreader to work with me to guarantee the quality of the final book.  The proofreader was instructional, I knew nothing about semi colons; and, was inspired to take a grammar refresher after my book was published.  I was fortunate that the copy editor provided line edits which add polish to my book.  The content editor convinced me to introduce one character much earlier in the story and to revise the ending.  All of these changes, I believe, improved the quality of my book.

Once the file was uploaded to Create Space I received a hard edition of the book to edit.  It was both a thrill and a chore to look for all the little proof reading errors.   I chose to make the edits myself to the electronic file.  I edited my book three more times on the electronic file.  Having completed four proofreading edits I was both exhausted from the process and ready to launch my book into the world.

After receiving my complimentary order of books, I just looked at it in wonder.  I never thought about giving it one more read for proofreading errors.  I “trusted” that it was perfect.  Recently, to prepare for my Tuesday Morning Book Talk discussion of, Murphy’s Troubles, there on page 3 was a proofreading error.  This was the error: ‘Do they think with their arses’?’  What an obvious flaw, I was horrified. There was another error on page 10, 17, 20, etc. 

I decided to read my own book specifically for proofreading errors and I found forty-six!  When I shared my discovery with my wife even she said:   “That’s a lot.”  She has a reputation for understatement.

I wondered why no one had ever said anything to me.  None of the people who posted a review on Amazon said anything.  The professional reviewer at Inkspots, Karyn Saemann, didn’t mention the problem.  Were they all trying to be kind?  I don’t need that type of kindness.

I am embarrassed.  I contacted Create Space and I was able to correct the errors for only $55.00.  I’ve requested a hard copy proof to review, trying to proof from a document is just too difficult.

I have learned a very valuable lesson.  I must never again let the thrill of excitement of publication to let me waiver in ensuring the next book is blemish free.

                   

The title of the blog is the discussion question for an author’s panel I will participate in at the Irish Book and Music Celebration in Chicago October 3-5, www.ibam.com.  Last week I shared some of my preliminary research on the topic and asked any readers to offer their view on the discussion question.  One author friend did respond, congratulating me on attending IBAM but not offering any suggestions.

I don’t like reading research on line so I print everything out.  After reading and when I no longer need the material I cut it up to make homemade notepaper then recycle the paper when its use as a notepad ends.  Frugal, I know.

The point is I have about an inch thick research material that I’ve plowed through.  Quite a lot of the material is very academic and while I’m sure it’s excellent analysis doesn’t really help me answer the question.  Then I found a site where Frank Delaney provided his list of top 10 Irish novels.  I think this is a gold mine, especially since I’m anticipating his participation in the author discussion.  Here’s Delaney’s list:

1.       Ulysses by James Joyce

2.       The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

3.       Troubles by J.G. Farrell

4.       Thy Tears Might Cease by Michael Farrell

5.       Fools of Fortune by William Trevor

6.       The Year of the French by Thomas Flanagan

7.       Amongst Women by John McGahern

8.       The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien

9.       Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor

10.   Finnegans Wake by James Joyce

I confess that I’ve read only five of the ten books listed and six of the authors listed.  Next, I decided to research the 10 Most Read Irish Authors, here’s the list from a site called The Answer Sheet:

1.       James Joyce

2.       Oscar Wilde

3.       George Bernard Shaw

4.       C.S. Lewis

5.       Samuel Beckett

6.       Jonathon Swift

7.       Edmund Burke

8.       Brian Friel

9.       Sean O’Casey

10.   Oliver Goldsmith

The list came from www.Questia.com and was assembled by Carolyn Blackman.  I did better on this list having read 7 out of ten.  It is interesting that only author – James Joyce – is on both lists.

I am a member of several LinkedIn discussion groups and my next step is to pose the question to each group.  They’re a lively bunch and I’m sure I’ll get responses.

Once again, this week, I’m appealing to all my blog readers – let me know why you think Irish literature has universal appeal – and, if you don’t agree that Irish literature does have universal appeal – let me know why.

Cead Mile Failte – a thousand welcomes to Milwaukee Irish Fest 2014!   I spent the weekend preparing my presentations for the Milwaukee Irish Fest, which runs from Thursday, August 14 through Sunday, August 17th.  I received my presenter about a week ago and noticed I am the only one without a traditional Irish surname.  To remedy the situation, for the weekend I will go by O’Owens.  It’s only fitting.  The surname Owens is Welsh, another Celtic people and there are records that Welsh Owens’ immigrated to Ireland.  I’m sure I descend from the Irish Owens clan.

My presentations will take place in The Literary Corner which is part of the Cultural Village.  Ireland has such a rich literary tradition that The Literary Corner is a key element of the festival.  Only Ireland can boast more Nobel Prizes for Literature than any other country.  The Literary Corner features books for sale on all aspects of Irish culture and history.  In addition, every year a small number of authors are invited to make presentations on their books.  I will be one of seven authors making a presentation during the Fest; I will be among an elite group.

My presentations are scheduled for:   

Friday         August 15       4:00-5:00

Saturday    August 16      2:00-3:00

Sunday       August 17     7:00-8:00

Signed copies of my novel, Murphy’s Troubles will be available for sale throughout Irish Fest.

Following the each presentation I will have a book signing and talking with readers informally.

For more information about all events go to:  irishfest.com