Local Talent to Watch Out For
There are some exciting new novels by local authors coming out this year. Three of them are coming to a library near you soon so keep an eye out for them.
The Lightning is by Lurgan author Jamie Guiney and is his first foray into a full length novel after writing a successful collection of short stories (The Wooden Hill) a few years ago. It is the story of a grandfather and 
boy from Lurgan heading off the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to become Lighthouse keepers. But more than that it is the story of the boy, growing up to be a man, alone, never leaving the island and becoming at one with the elements that dictate his life. Some mysterious happenings and unexpected visitors add colour as well as danger to his life. This is an engrossing tale that will toss you around with the wind and the storms. Such a lovely cover too! I love lighthouses!
Familiar by Bethany Joy Dawson is set in County Down where the author comes from – although now is resident in Sligo. I detect an element of nostalgia for the rural landscape in the observations of nature and the countryside. Cora arrives at her deceased grandmother’s house having learnt that she is the sole inheritor of the property despite there being other members of the family close by. There was a splintering of the family following Cora’s mothers untimely death and Cora herself was unaware of the existence of maternal relatives - so the inheritance comes as quite a shock. The resulting waves of unrest that crash through the family as she dismantles the family home are evenly described against
the eagle eye of a wily magpie. The landscape is beautifully drawn with the story threading through at a pace that belies the trauma that some family members experience through the story. I loved the peacefulness of the countryside as it permeates the pages alongside the sense of hope and new beginnings as the old is forced to retreat.
The Last Death Poet by Belfast YA author Stephen Daly is directed towards a younger audience and is a 
powerful read. Michael returns to Belfast with his mother to live with family and is determined to discover the mystery of his father’s disappearance. He has few memories of his early days and finds himself in a city with a violent history that passed him by. Now as an older teenager he feels like an outsider and tries to make tentative steps to fit in with both family and friends. But he is haunted by headaches and visions that draw him closer to understanding more about his heritage and the trauma experienced by so many from Belfast’s troubled history.
Fast paced and engaging with elements of magical realism that will surprise the reader, the story mixes mythology and history without being heavy or complicated. The author portrays teenage angst very well alongside tentative self-discovery and acceptance of sexual identity.
This is definitely one for any older teenager or young adult in your circles so make sure you pass on the word!
All three authors feature in Bookcited! podcast episodes either from previous months or coming up soon, so listen up if you want to hear more about them.
Copies of all three novels are available for request from your local library
Familiar by Bethany Joy Dawson
The Last Death Poet by Stephen Daly
The Lightning by Jamie Guiney
