Fireship Press
Pagecount: 296p (Paperback)
you’ll cling to every word while watching Norah grow into a strong,
courageous, and brilliant woman, who ends up truly proud of her Irish
blood.” ~ Feathered Quill Book Reviews“In her exciting historical novel, Norah, Cynthia G. Neale shows us
19th-century New York through the eyes of an Irish-American woman and thus
gives us new insights into this tumultuous time. We see Norah McCabe
making her way against all odds. A memorable journey!” ~ Mary Pat Kelly,
author of the best-selling novel Galway BayYou don’t have to be Irish to appreciate Norah McCabe. Hers is an an
American story of self-creation through sheer grit and imagination. This
historical novel paints an authentic and compelling picture of what it
means to be young, poor, and female longing for a better life in 1850s New
York City…You’ll root for Norah as {she} embarks on a dramatic journey to
achieve a hard-won identity as a self-sufficient Irish-American woman in a
turbulent time.” ~ Nancy Kelley, author of This Whispering RodNorah is a story of a young immigrant woman battling hardship, poverty and prejudice in New York in the 1850’s. It has obviously been lovingly researched. The portraits of Norah McCabe and her family are beautifully drawn and although at times the language is breathtakingly lyrical, this novel tells it like it was, grit and all. All the hard facts of life for an Irish immigrant are between these pages; poor housing, the bordellos, street fights, and the cut and thrust of the gang underworld. It is certainly not the usual run-of-the-mill historical and I can highly recommend it as a slice of real life for anyone with an interest in this period of New York history, particularly those with family or connections to Ireland. ~ Deborah Swift, Author of The Lady’s Slipper and The Gilded Lily Cover Work.
Cynthia Neale is an American with Irish ancestry and a native of the Finger Lakes region in New York. She now resides in Hampstead, New Hampshire. She has long possessed a deep interest in the tragedies and triumphs of the Irish during the Potato Famine or “The Great Hunger.” She is a graduate of Vermont College in Montpelier, VT, with a B.A. degree in Literature and Creative Writing. Norah is her first historical novel for adult readers. She is also the author of two young adult novels, The Irish Dresser, A Story of Hope during The Great Hunger (An Gorta Mor, 1845-1850) and Hope in New York City, The Continuing Story of The Irish Dresser. Her forthcoming book, Pavlova in a Hat Box, is a collection of essays and dessert recipes. She is currently researching and writing a sequel to Norah, as well as a novel about Queen Catharine, a Native American of New York whose village was destroyed by General John Sullivan in 1779.
This giveaway is for the choice of print or ebook and is open internationally. This giveaway ends on March 5, 2014. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
Follow the Tour:
Guest Post: “Advice to Aspiring Authors and Finding Joy in Everyday Life“Karen Randau
Review at Daisy Row Diaries
Review at Reflections of a Reader
Review at Me, Bookshelf and I
Review at She Reads Novels
Review at The Bookworm
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Review at Kim Renfield
Review at Mary Donnarumma Sharnick