Friday, November 11, 2011

Glancing Through the Glimmer / Pat McDermott

Greetings to everyone here at The Celtic Rose, and special thanks to Miriam for her hospitality today, the release day for Glancing Through the Glimmer. I'm Pat McDermott, author of the "Band of Roses" trilogy*, romantic action/adventure novels set in an Ireland still ruled by the heirs of High King Brian Boru.

Glancing Through the Glimmer is the young adult "prequel" to this trilogy. Don’t let the young adult label put you off! Readers of all ages will enjoy "Glimmer"—as long as they love Irish myths, adventure, romance, and a hefty wallop of fairy magic. (On Sunday, I’ll randomly choose one commenter to receive a PDF copy of the book. Please leave your email address if you’d like a chance to win.)

So where did the title come from? Glancing Through the Glimmer is a phrase from The Fairy Thorn, an old Ulster poem by Sir Samuel Ferguson that begins innocently enough:

Get up, our Anna dear, from the weary spinning-wheel;
For your father's on the hill, and your mother is asleep;
Come up above the crags, and we'll dance a highland-reel
Around the fairy thorn on the steep.

Don’t listen, Anna! Everyone knows if you dance around a fairy thorn, the fairies will steal you away. Especially in County Galway, the home of Finvarra, King of the Connaught Fairies. Finvarra loves to dance, as American teenager Janet Gleason learns to her dismay.

The Blurb:

In the modern Kingdom of Ireland, few mortals believe in the fairy folk. Without that belief, the fairies are dying. Finvarra, the King of the Fairies, would rather dance than worry—but he must have a mortal dancing partner.

When Janet Gleason’s grandfather becomes the new U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, the sixteen-year-old orphan must leave Boston and her friends behind. Janet is lonely in Dublin and unused to her grandparents’ stuffy social life. An invitation to a royal ball terrifies her. She can’t even waltz and dreads embarrassment. Finvarra’s fairy witch overhears her fervent wish to learn to dance.

Seventeen-year-old Prince Liam Boru loathes the idea of escorting another spoiled American girl to a ball. In fact, he detests most of his royal duties. He dresses down to move through Dublin unnoticed and finds himself on his royal backside when Janet crashes into him. Intrigued, he asks to see her again, and she willingly agrees. Unaware of each other’s identities, they arrange to meet. When they do, the fairies steal Janet away. Liam’s attempts to find her trigger a series of frustrating misadventures. Can he and Janet outwit a treacherous fairy king who’s been hoodwinking mortals for centuries?

The Excerpt - The stunning Cliffs of Howth provide the setting for Janet and Liam’s memorable first date:

The first time Liam slipped and fell, he cursed the rain-damp grass. He blamed his second tumble on his haste to catch up with Janet. What on earth had possessed the girl to run off like that? She couldn’t possibly want to find music that badly.

Music only she could hear.

The third time he lost his balance, he’d swear someone had pushed him, but no one was there. He landed on his hands and knees and cursed again. He might not be a muscleman, but he was far from a clumsy dolt. A lifetime of sports and outdoor treks had surely left him fit enough to climb a scrubby little hillside.

Something strange was afoot.

I’m being ridiculous.
The breeze must have kept him from hearing the music she heard. She’d likely gone after the owner of whatever was playing the tune to learn its name.

Yet the Nose of Howth seemed deserted. How odd for a sunny Sunday morning. Even if Janet had gone off seeking the source of the music, no amount of rationalizing could explain why she’d left so abruptly. The chilling sense that she was in danger had Liam’s heart thumping high in his throat.

Should he call his cousin? If Kevin was still on the pier, it would take him a while to get here. And practical Kevin would surely think Liam astray in the head.

Maybe he was, but something told him he had to find Janet, and fast. Keeping close to the ground as if he were dodging radar, he clambered monkey-like up the hill. This time he reached the top of the rise. Lumps in the landscape surrounded him, clumps of rock and rolling masses of heather and gorse that encircled the level spot where he stood. He knew the place well. Except for the curious lack of weekend hill walkers, nothing seemed amiss.

"Janet!"

He listened hard. A seagull cried in the distance. Otherwise, all was silent. No, wait! Music drifted toward him, a plucky harp tune he might have enjoyed under different circumstances.

Was that what Janet had heard?

Where was it? He turned in a circle, squinting in the sunlight, scanning, straining to hear. When he returned to the spot where he’d started, a jolt of fear set his pulse racing.

A round stone hut had appeared on the highest part of the clearing. Its low thatched roof rose to a ridiculously high point. It resembled a roundhouse, the sort of dwelling that belonged in a prehistoric ring fort.

Or a fairy fort.

Liam swallowed hard. He’d seen replicas of such huts in Ireland’s folk parks. He’d also viewed ruins of the original ring forts, all that remained of the structures built by the mysterious peoples who’d lived and died in Ireland thousands of years ago.

Where had this one come from? Why was it on the Nose of Howth? Liam had never seen it before, nor had he heard of any gimmicky tourism plans for the cliff walk. Of course, he didn’t know everything. Convincing himself that he’d failed to see the hut at first because the sun had blinded him, he ventured toward the structure.

He spotted a doorway and relaxed. Janet was there, speaking to a woman wearing a period costume, medieval or older. That’s what it was, he thought: tourism come to tarnish Howth. How could Uncle Peadar have allowed such nonsense?

Liam called Janet’s name again, but neither she nor the woman showed any sign that they’d heard him. The wind must have carried his voice away. He stalked toward the roundhouse. As he approached, the costumed woman placed a necklace over Janet’s head.

The roundhouse flickered, faded, and reappeared. Alarmed, Liam stopped. This was no tourist gimmick. As his thoughts scrambled for an explanation, the woman grabbed Janet’s arm and pulled her into the hut.

"Janet, no!" His ferocious roar proved useless. Unbelievably, the roundhouse began to dissolve. No longer doubting his horrified senses, he dove at the hut and charged through the disappearing door.

The world around him melted away.

* * * *

A Little About Me:

I’m a Massachusetts native from a Boston Irish family whose music and myths have crept into my writing. One of my short stories earned an Honorable Mention for children’s fiction in the 74th Writer’s Digest Annual Writing competition. ‘Twas a big boost for my confidence! I'm a member of the New Hampshire Writers' Project, the Seacoast Writers' Association, Romance Writers of America, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. My favorite non-writing activities include hiking, reading, cooking (check out my cooking blog, below), and traveling, especially to Ireland. I’d love to live there some day, but for now, I call the New Hampshire seacoast home. Currently, I'm working on reuniting Janet and Liam in Autumn Glimmer, the Samhain sequel to Glancing Through the Glimmer.

A Little More:

My Web site: www.patmcdermott.net

Put the Kettle On (My Writing/Travel Blog):  http://pat-mcdermott.blogspot.com/

My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pat.mcdermott1

Facebook page for Glancing Through the Glimmer (feel free to "Like" it!):
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/www.patmcdermott.net


MuseItUp Publishing Bookstore Page to purchase Glancing Through the Glimmer:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=224&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Kitchen Excursions (My Cooking Blog):  http://kitchenexcursions.blogspot.com/

* * * *
*The Band of Roses Trilogy is currently unavailable. MuseItUp Publishing will publish A Band of Roses (May, 2012) and Fiery Roses (August, 2012) as re-releases. Salty Roses will make its piratical debut in November, 2012.

34 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Miriam, for your kind words and for opening your cyber home to "Glimmer" and me on this special day. It's so great to switch from "Coming Soon" to "Available Now"!

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  2. What an exciting day for you. Enjoy! I love the setting you've given your excerpt. These pictures are lovely. Congratulations and good luck with your new book.

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  3. It's definitely my pleasure, Pat. I wish you the very best with this book because I know it's going to be treasured reading for me and a lot of other people.

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  4. Pat, I can't wait to read this! As you know, I love Ireland, its myths and legends, and especially Galway. Best of luck with "Glimmer!"
    cynthiaowens@videotron.ca

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  5. Susan, I appreciate your good wishes. I loved taking those pictures! Thank you for stopping by.

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  6. Cynthia, your love of Ireland shines in your books. Thanks for the kind regards!

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  7. Speaking of treasured reading, Miriam, I'm several chapters into your "Comet." A joy.

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  8. Congratulations on your launch, Pat. May "Glancing through the Glimmer" soar!

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  9. Congratulations and best wishes on your new release! You have created an exciting and interesting world. What a happy coincidence my guest author on my blog contributed her recipe for Irish Brown Bread today!

    J Q Rose
    http://jqroseauthor.blogspot.com

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  10. Anne, if it soars half as high as I'm soaring right now, it will do just fine. Thank you!

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  11. JQ, I'm heading over to see that brown bread right now. I suspect the fairies arranged its appearance on your scrumptious blog today. Thanks for your good wishes!

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  12. Pat, it's wonderful to share your love of all things Ireland. From the pics to the stories and adventures, you make me want to go! Good luck on the new release!

    victoria@victoriarobertsauthor.com

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  13. Congrats with your new book Pat! The pics brought tears along with very special & wonderful memories to me this morning! Last year I was very fortunate to visit my Mother's home in Belfast Northern Ireland for the very first time in my life! I absolutely fell in love with the country and left a large part of my heart behind. I was brought up hearing stories and learning about the fairies and wee people,(so of course I believe in them as well). I can't wait to read your book! Congrats again! So I want to thank both you and Miriam for this wonderful post!
    Patty Koontz petkoontz.writer@yahoo.com

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  14. Congrats on the release of this book. It sounds like a great read.

    jenalang(at)live(dot)com

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  15. Victoria, I don't think anyone can take a bad picture of Irish scenery. 'Tis breathtaking, especially from up on those cliffs. Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. Patty, what a wonderful story! I've never been to Belfast, but it's on the Bucket List. And of course you believe in the fairies. They're real! Thanks for the good wishes.

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  17. Thanks so much, Jena. I'm hoping lots of folks will find it a great read.

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  18. Congratulations, Pat! I don't know if you have the greatest camera or if you have a great eye for photos, but you always have such lovely ones. The book sounds like a wonderful read.

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  19. Thank you, Anita. So glad you liked the pix. As I told Victoria, I don't think anyone can take a bad picture of Irish scenery!

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  20. What a wonderful post! Congratulations to you!

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  21. Thanks, Sarah. Great to see you here!

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  22. Thanks for the comment on The Comet, Pat!

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  23. Miriam, I'm up to the part after the battle and Néel is in Rowena's care. One of those stories where I want the world to go away so I can read! Just brilliant.

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  24. Wow, thanks again, Pat. The world kept going away the whole time I was writing it. It was great. :) Glad you get the same feeling.

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  25. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by Miriam's beautiful Celtic Rose yesterday. Being able to say Available Now! still has my head is spinning. We have a gorgeous day here in New Hampshire, and I think I'd better get some fresh air! Tomorrow I'll give away that PDF copy of Glancing Through the Glimmer. Cheers!

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  26. Many congratulations on publication, Pat! Glancing Through the Glimmer sounds wonderful and being a Scot with one set of Irish grandparents, I love all things Celtic!

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  27. Rosemary, a blend of Scottish and Irish genes is a truly winning combination. And you get both Scottish and Irish fairies :-) Thanks for stopping by.

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  28. Congrats, Pat! I'm so excited for you - this sounds like an awesome, immersive read. :)

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  29. Hi Adriana! I wouldn't have thought of immersive until the sequel, when the fairy castle is under the lake, but I kinda like it here :-) Thanks for the good wishes. So glad you stopped by!

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  30. Conda V. Douglas posted this comment, but for some reason, Blogger didn't post it.

    YA reads are my favorites, especially those with fairies, I hope I win this contest! And I'm old enough to be in a second childhood...but that's not why I love to read them, they're just a lot of fun! And one set in Ireland? Yum!

    Excellent interview and great photo illustrations too!

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  31. If I could, I'd give everyone a PDF copy of Glancing Through the Glimmer. To be fair, I got out my Scrabble letters and placed the first initial of each commenter's first and last name in my Scrabble bag. [Holds breath while picking tiles] Congratulatons to Jena Lang!

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  32. Everyone, my internet has fussed all day, hence no comment from me above, but I'm glad Pat posted it, because it's all true. I also love the background photo on this blog--I love Ireland! (Yeats was my major focus in college and I am part Irish--and have been to that beautiful country.)

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  33. Pat, thanks for stopping by. Jena, I am sure you're going to love this story. Congratulations. Thanks to everyone who visited The Celtic Rose and I hope you'll come back to see us again.

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  34. Conda, your comment came through this time. Thank you so much for trying again. Best of luck with your writing. Thanks to all of you, especially to hostess Miriam Newman, for helping me celebrate "Glimmer's" debut!

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