A Miracle in the Library
and an Abundance of Inspiration
The writing of A
Miracle in the Library was exactly that: a miracle.
I already had a
Christmas story releasing with Dreamspinner Press this December (more
information to follow shortly) and had no intention of writing another one,
until one day early November, while I was in the middle of working on something
else, inspiration struck with such force, I couldn’t not write the book.
What inspired me you
ask? Well, quite a few things in fact.
The setting in A
Miracle in the Library is pretty much a carbon copy of the
old-fashioned, part-time library I work in one afternoon every other week. As
the pictures show, the one room holds nothing except books, a collection of
chairs, and a desk for the librarian. I had to modify the place a tiny bit to
make it a better fit for my miracle, but it’s safe to say both the library and
its location in the book are firmly based on my bi-weekly reality.
While I don’t name
them, I had two very specific books in mind for Mitch to read while visiting
the library. Having read both of them myself, I highly recommend these books
for younger people coming to terms with who they are, of course, but also for
all others wanting to gain insight into what that might mean. I reviewed one of
them some time ago, and you can find my thoughts here: This
Book is Gay
Mr. Nichols, as
described A Miracle in the Library, had the face, kindness, and wisdom of my
good friend Tim O’Rahilly from the moment he sprang to life in my mind. The image
below gives you a good idea why.
And last but by no
means least, there is this video. Yes, I’m well aware it is an advert for an
alcoholic beverage but, while I’ve been known to indulge on occasion, that is
not the point here. Panti Bliss, in this short clip, says exactly what I’ve
been hoping to convey in my story. Why don’t you take a look?
Blurb
Seventeen-year-old
Mitch McCann has been trying to dodge his bullies for eighteen months. He isn’t
out, but that hasn’t stopped the popular gang at school from tormenting him for
being gay. Three weeks before Christmas, in a desperate attempt to shake his
pursuers, Mitch flees into the abandoned community hall, only to discover the
building is far from empty; inside he finds a fully stocked library as well as
Mr. Nichols, the very welcoming librarian.
The
library turns into Mitch’s refuge of choice, where he can read books that
answer his endless questions, without fear of encountering abuse. His peace of
mind is shattered when nineteen-year-old Cian Leavy enters his sanctuary. Cian
is the boy who made Mitch realize he’s gay, and he’s more attractive now than
he was eighteen months ago, when Mitch literally ran into him.
Will Cian
unwittingly disrupt Mitch’s life again? Or has the scene been set for a miracle
in the library?
Buy Links: Universal AmazonLink | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Available to read in KU
