About Rex
The Life and Times of Rowan Daly is a well-regarded, suspenseful tale about a pack horse librarin in rural Kentucky in the 1930s. His Irish Troubles series dives deep into Ireland’s fight for independence with well-researched details about the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The three books in this series are, Murphy’s Troubles, Out of Darkness, and Dead Reckoning. All books are published by CK Books Publishing. UW Madison writing instructor, Christine DeSmet, describes his writing as cinematic.
He is the host of the award winning radio talk show “My World and Welcome to It,” broadcast on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays every month at 9:00 am on 103.5 FM KSUN. The program is also streamed live at: www.sunprairemediacenter.com.
Rex supports local libraries by serving as the President of the Sun Prairie Public Library Board and President of the Dane County Library Services Board. Rex now serves as an Alder on the Sun Prairie Common Council.
To reach out to Rex, email him at rexowens00@gmail.com.
The Life & Times of Rowan Daly
★★★★★ 5-Stars from Readers' Favorite - “A fast-paced journey . . . This is an inspirational and insightful read for fans who enjoy historical fiction.” (Read full review here.)
". . . an extremely well-researched historical fiction novel that takes us into intriguing and difficult decades in this country’s history."
With no living relatives, 18-year-old Rowan Daly leaves the only home she’s ever known to be with her beloved, Eli. They settle in the mining town of New Hope. In 1934 the best paying job is dynamiting rock in the pit—a job Eli volunteers to do with disastrous consequences. When he’s killed, Rowan is alone and abandoned with no way to support herself.
Rowan is recruited to be a Pack Horse Librarian and soon finds herself delivering books to hill families, facing her fears of abandonment, and learning about the unique rural folks she serves.
It’s just the beginning for Rowan—being a Pack Horse Librarian changes her future, giving her a life she could never have imagined.
The Irish Troubles Series
Rex Owens was inspired by real-world events to write the Irish Troubles series. The books are fictional but include real elements of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) history.
"Ireland's Troubles woven expertly into a riveting tale."
"A rich and satisfying read."
"Owens demonstrates a masterful command of Irish political history."
"The author has a voice with a message of hope that any reader in any era can grasp."
Murphy's Troubles
Ian Padraic Murphy harbors a scandalous secret.
To avenge the death of his best friend in a Belfast raid, Ian joins the Provisional IRA, which he conceals for 30 years. He meets investigative reporter Eileen Donohue and friendship blossoms into a love affair. Eileen inadvertently discovers the man she thought was a reclusive novelist is actually the brain trust for the IRA. Eileen betrays her lover by disclosing his secret in Ireland's leading newspaper.
Driven by guilt and remorse, Ian atones for his years in the IRA by working with Sinn Fein to negotiate the 1998 Peace Accord, which ended The Troubles in Ireland. After deserting the IRA, Ian's own troubles are far from over when they order his assassination. The assignment is given to his friend, IRA Commander, Kieran Fitzpatrick.
Will Ian pay the ultimate price for disloyalty to the IRA?
Out of Darkness
Author Ian Murphy battles lifelong alcoholism and chronic depression. Desperate to cleanse his soul, Ian dedicates himself to finding redemption. To confront his demons, he spends a summer hiking on Dingle Peninsula. He meets Mairin McCarthy, and finds unconditional love but still succumbs to the shadows within.
In the fall of 1998 the British government is determined to build walls in Belfast to separate Catholics and Protestants. The only peace citizens of the city can have requires walls. Murphy dedicates himself to stopping more walss from being built. He's convinced the challenge is his path to redemption.
While living in Belfast Ian learns that distrust and hatred divide the city's residents as much as the walls do. Both Catholics and Protestants accept the walls as the price of peace. The walls will be built. How will Ian Murphy find redemption and crawl out of the darkness?
Dead Reckoning
Ian Murphy buries his life-long friend Kieran Fitzpatrick. As a result his life is adrift, Ian is incapable of overcoming dependence on whiskey. Every day, he battles the eternal dark night. Ian reluctantly accepts his friend’s last wish, to mentor Kieran’s twenty-two-year-old nephew, William Butler Boyle.
Five years after approving the Good Friday Peace Agreement, Northern Ireland struggles to break Britain’s shackles. Sinn Fein recruits Ian Murphy to convince Catholics to vote in the 2003 national election because the party is on the brink of huge gains. Murphy naively believes if he works on the election, he will finally be able overcome the guilt and remorse he bears for his days as an IRA volunteer. Following the successful election for Sinn Fein, Ian returns to Cork exhausted and still burdened by guilt.
His new friend, Oisin O’Leary, convinces Ian he can fulfill has obligation to mentor William and make an act of contrition to the Irish people by writing a memoir stage play. Ian’s play is presented and at the closing curtain, he offers it as his act of contrition to the Irish people.
DEAD RECKONING is the third and final book in the Ian Murphy Irish Troubles series.