In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook
Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.
"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."
"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"
"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.
Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard.
Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."
"No. I need to talk."
Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
She did have a glimmer of hope, though. If what Paddy told their mother was true, they at least wouldn't starve to death. She didn't know which was worse, dying of the fever or dying from starvation. "Is it true what you told Ma, Paddy? Do we have some potatoes? Can we afford some decent food for Ma?" she asked optimistically.
"I didn't tell Ma anything, Maggie. I can't lie to her. I told her we would be fine." Patrick was thoughtful for a minute. "I suppose I was not truthful with her because we won't be fine." He ran a hand over his chin. "We have nothing, Maggie. There's nothing left! Year after year, the crop has failed. There's no hope left. The land is in ruins." He glanced around the almost barren room. "We don't have anything left of value to sell even if we could find a buyer." He shook his head. "It's done," he said wearily. "All hope is lost."
Maggie jumped to her feet. "No, Paddy! I won't give up! There has to be a way. We need to stay strong and keep our spirits high for Ma's sake. We need to keep trying."
Patrick's eyes welled with tears as he looked at his sister. "The earth has swallowed up the beautiful land we once knew, and left nothing but a filthy putrid black mass in its place. It will never be the same, Maggie. Can't you see?" His jaw jutted out defiantly. "You are a dreamer. Your dreams never come true. This is the real world, Maggie. Why can't you see? You need to face the truth."
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, and Ebook
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook
Patrick Quinn, a thin, handsome, dark haired boy of fourteen, squared his shoulders as he looked over the soggy field. He was dressed in a tattered shirt and soiled trousers; his well-worn shoes wouldn't last much longer, but he didn't worry about himself. His family depended on him. His nostrils, filled with the nauseating stench of rotting potatoes, made his stomach lurch. This year he'd hoped for a crop. Anything to sustain them. Now it was gone. He felt the weight of the world come crashing down on him.
He stooped down, surveying the field, and then picked up a rotted potato. He studied it carefully for a few seconds, and then stood and holding it tightly in his hand, thrust his arm toward the sky.
"Why!" he cried as he dropped to his knees in the putrid field. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook
Patrick Quinn, a thin, handsome, dark haired boy of fourteen, squared his shoulders as he looked over the soggy field. He was dressed in a tattered shirt and soiled trousers; his well-worn shoes wouldn't last much longer, but he didn't worry about himself. His family depended on him. His nostrils, filled with the nauseating stench of rotting potatoes, made his stomach lurch. This year he'd hoped for a crop. Anything to sustain them. Now it was gone. He felt the weight of the world come crashing down on him.
He stooped down, surveying the field, and then picked up a rotted potato. He studied it carefully for a few seconds, and then stood and holding it tightly in his hand, thrust his arm toward the sky.
"Why!" he cried as he dropped to his knees in the putrid field. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook
Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.
"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."
"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"
"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.
Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard.
Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."
"No. I need to talk."
Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook.
She did have a glimmer of hope, though. If what Paddy told their mother was true, they at least wouldn't starve to death. She didn't know which was worse, dying of the fever or dying from starvation. "Is it true what you told Ma, Paddy? Do we have some potatoes? Can we afford some decent food for Ma?" she asked optimistically.
"I didn't tell Ma anything, Maggie. I can't lie to her. I told her we would be fine." Patrick was thoughtful for a minute. "I suppose I was not truthful with her because we won't be fine." He ran a hand over his chin. "We have nothing, Maggie. There's nothing left! Year after year, the crop has failed. There's no hope left. The land is in ruins." He glanced around the almost barren room. "We don't have anything left of value to sell even if we could find a buyer." He shook his head. "It's done," he said wearily. "All hope is lost."
Maggie jumped to her feet. "No, Paddy! I won't give up! There has to be a way. We need to stay strong and keep our spirits high for Ma's sake. We need to keep trying."
Patrick's eyes welled with tears as he looked at his sister. "The earth has swallowed up the beautiful land we once knew, and left nothing but a filthy putrid black mass in its place. It will never be the same, Maggie. Can't you see?" His jaw jutted out defiantly. "You are a dreamer. Your dreams never come true. This is the real world, Maggie. Why can't you see? You need to face the truth."
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, and Ebook
Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.
"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."
"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"
"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.
Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard.
Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."
"No. I need to talk."
Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook.
She did have a glimmer of hope, though. If what Paddy told their mother was true, they at least wouldn't starve to death. She didn't know which was worse, dying of the fever or dying from starvation. "Is it true what you told Ma, Paddy? Do we have some potatoes? Can we afford some decent food for Ma?" she asked optimistically.
"I didn't tell Ma anything, Maggie. I can't lie to her. I told her we would be fine." Patrick was thoughtful for a minute. "I suppose I was not truthful with her because we won't be fine." He ran a hand over his chin. "We have nothing, Maggie. There's nothing left! Year after year, the crop has failed. There's no hope left. The land is in ruins." He glanced around the almost barren room. "We don't have anything left of value to sell even if we could find a buyer." He shook his head. "It's done," he said wearily. "All hope is lost."
Maggie jumped to her feet. "No, Paddy! I won't give up! There has to be a way. We need to stay strong and keep our spirits high for Ma's sake. We need to keep trying."
Patrick's eyes welled with tears as he looked at his sister. "The earth has swallowed up the beautiful land we once knew, and left nothing but a filthy putrid black mass in its place. It will never be the same, Maggie. Can't you see?" His jaw jutted out defiantly. "You are a dreamer. Your dreams never come true. This is the real world, Maggie. Why can't you see? You need to face the truth."
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
Patrick Quinn, a thin, handsome, dark haired boy of fourteen, squared his shoulders as he looked over the soggy field. He was dressed in a tattered shirt and soiled trousers; his well-worn shoes wouldn't last much longer, but he didn't worry about himself. His family depended on him. His nostrils, filled with the nauseating stench of rotting potatoes, made his stomach lurch. This year he'd hoped for a crop. Anything to sustain them. Now it was gone. He felt the weight of the world come crashing down on him.
He stooped down, surveying the field, and then picked up a rotted potato. He studied it carefully for a few seconds, and then stood and holding it tightly in his hand, thrust his arm toward the sky.
"Why!" he cried as he dropped to his knees in the putrid field. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer.
I'm working on the final edits for my first ever young adult novel and I should have it finished in a few weeks. I'm still trying to come up with a good title for it. I'm also working on another murder mystery and hope to have it finished by the end of summer.
This is my new banner for Maggie Quinn, which was my first historical. I enjoyed writing this novel because of my Irish roots.
Susan
In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook.
Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.
"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."
"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"
"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.
Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard.
Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."
"No. I need to talk."
Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook
