Bookshop owner says Offaly woman's debut novel is 'gripping'

LOCAL novelist Mary Minnock read excerpts from her book Homesick in Midland Books, Tullamore last week.

The novel was self published by the Rahan native and a large number of people gathered in the bookshop for the reading.

Midland Books owner John Ryan paid tribute to Mary: “When your book is accepted by a publisher there is so much help from people in the industry with experience to guide you along the way. When self publishing it must be a very lonely road and for Mary at the end of it to publish such an accomplished, gripping novel is extraordinary.

“You only have to read the universally positive reviews online to see how it connected with people. It's the story of 40-year-old Christina who's living and working in Dublin returning to her home town in the west of Ireland after her mother takes ill. She is forced to confront demons from her childhood as well as face up to some family dilemmas which she has been avoiding in Dublin.

“I found it gripping from start to finish full of relatable characters and scenarios. It's a pleasure to read and the book continues at a good pace, allowing us to see the experiences from the past which have shaped Christina into the person she is today, along with the problems that exist among families when it comes to the different paths that are taken into adulthood.”

Mary said being able to stand there and read from her own book was a longtime dream come true and she thanked everyone for their support, including her daughters Mathilde (who designed the cover), Nora, Joanne and Ashlinn.

After reading two passages from the novel, Mary explained what she believed the book is about.

https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/offaly-live/1442853/interview-offaly-woman-s-first-novel-gets-great-reviews-and-there-could-be-more-on-the-way.html

“It's really the story of the whole family. Christina has been bullied at school and it's about the impact that bullying can have, and family dynamics and how it's not always easy being part of a big family. And it's not always easy being the eldest.”

She also asked anyone who reads it to leave an “honest review” on the Good Reads or Amazon sites.