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As a parent, I understand that one of my main duties is to keep my child safe. Safety for infants is different than safety for toddlers, teenagers or adult children. Each of their developmental stages required me to relearn my role as their parent. I had some success and some failures in my journey of
Nick loves music, especially when it is performed live. We noticed from our first trip to Ireland that the musicians here are very talented. Nick has a special place in his heart for a local singer/songwriter, Shunie Crampsey. Just after the concert with Phil Coulter this past week, Nick said to us, “Now Shunie.” Meaning
Most every morning Nick wakes up in a great mood. He sings songs and talks non-stop while we get him cleaned up to start the day. Arden loves to tease Nick when they are talking or singing. He will change words around or will completely ad-lib lines. His sense of humor is one of the
I am in awe whenever I witness the kind generosity and love others show to our Nick. It is pretty well know that Nick loves airplanes. He takes the toys with him where ever we go. Some places they have to stay in the car while he goes inside, such as at church or restaurants.
Years ago a very wise woman taught us that Nick was experiencing anxiety. We had no idea. For a short period of time, Dr. Susan Alling was a part-time caregiver for Nick. She taught us to recognize when increased anxiety was the underlying cause of his acting out behavior. In addition, she showed us techniques to use
Change is hard for Nick. He likes to be at home either in Carnation or in Carndonagh. He is happiest when both of his parents are with him – all day long. Well to be constantly surrounded by our loved ones is not realistic so he is often disappointed. Unfortunately this also leads to anxiety
A couple of years ago we decided to add on a few days in Paris to our usual trip to Ireland. Both Arden and I had wanted to visit the City of Lights, so we asked Nick if he wanted to go to Paris. He said “Yes, we see the sights.” So of course we were
Tonight I am feeling bad. Nick fell today while I was at home alone with him and hurt his other ankle. I keep thinking that if I could have been more aware or more prepared or more firm or more …. (fill in the blank) that I could have prevented this from happening. Remember
I love the movie “The Princess Bride.” The dialog is incredible and there are many memorable quotes. One of my favorites is when Wesley declares to Buttercup, “This is true love, you think this happens every day?” The definition of true love has been at the heart of lyrics and literature since time immemorial. Nick and
Last night Arden, Nick and I went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant on Alki Point in West Seattle. I have been there many times for business lunches and I am always intrigued with the exciting and varied meal options. It is not your typical Seattle area Mexican restaurant menu. As we were settling in, and I looked
Announcing that I have finished a book with the working title of “The Fairy Fort.” I am currently pitching it to publishers. Keep checking back to watch the progress of my newest novel.
Here is a quick glimpse of the story.
Sarah Doherty is an 18-year-old living in rural Ireland at the tail end of the Great War. Plagued by severe epilepsy, she is protected by her parents and lives a sheltered, secluded, lonely life. The Fae, local Irish fairies, interfere with her life. She falls forward a century in time through the local fairy fort of standing stones. She had a seizure in 1918 and woke up in 2020. The 21st century world includes life-saving prescriptions, physical comforts and the independence and freedom she seeks. The locals are welcoming and Andy Mclaughlin, a handsome young historian, is intriguing. She doesn’t want to return home.
Then a letter arrives from Boston divulging the story of Sarah and Andy’s lives that are deeply entwined in the previous century. They are not yet in love but as they seek to verify the letter through online resources, they feel a growing obligation to their unborn family and to each other. What would happen to their posterity living in Boston if they don’t return to 1918? Even if they do make it back, her parents can never know what happened to her or that would change everything.
This Young Adult time-travel romance explores the question: Do we have the freedom to make choices or is free will an elaborate illusion?
This is my third book. I love reading time travel romances. I am an advocate for epilepsy awareness because my 43-year-old son has intractable epilepsy. As a genealogist specializing in Irish research, I live part of the year in the village where the story is based. I wrote the book to help young adults understand that difficult situations can change your life. Sometimes miraculously.
