Impetuous Heart

The story of Nora, Elsie and the O'Connor family takes place in a small village in the western part of Ireland so Irish folklore and historic events share in making this story lively as well as informative. Loosely based on my own mother's story, it takes place during 1916 when World War I is underway in France and the Mediterranean. Ireland is under British rule while the people of Ireland are torn between insurrection and loyalty. The characters speak in Kerry English, a modern form of Elizabethan English. Ye is the 2nd person pronoun. Nora is a teenager with a wild imagination and she hears things and sees things that everyone else may not. Her relatives in Kilkenny include Russian aristocrats by marriage. Her romance with Tim is one of separation rather than proximity. Ultimately she must decide whether to join rebels, marry Tim or follow the request of Father O'Flanagan, the local parish priest. An altrnative option may change all the plans. Random House, Oxford, U.K., requested the first 3 chapters but later said no. Levellers Press in Amherst is looking it over now (Jan. 12). Many thanks to Flowing Pencil for her recent help in revision and plot changes. Her enthusiasm is priceless.

• Chapter 1 - Nora's Meeting with Tim Keane in Ballybunion"Nora visits with Tim Keane ..."
• Chapter 2 - The Way to Listowel"Nora walks alone to Listowe..."
• Chapter 3 - Trading the Shawl" Nora shops in Listowel. He..."
• Chapter 4 - Nora and Elsie Leave Together"Cousins Nora and Elsie prep..."
• Chapter 5 - On the Road to Kilkenny"Nora and Elsie set out in C..."
• Chapter 6 - Russian Relations"Nora and Elsie bring the we..."
• Chapter 7 - Exploring Kilkenny and the Caves"Revised 10/19/08 Elsie a..."
• Chapter 8 - Returning to Brosna"After their visit with the ..."
• Chapter 9 - Nora's Welcome Home and a Quilting Bee with Stories"Nora returns home to Brosna..."
• Chapter 10 - Nell's Home Birth"Nora's mother gives birth t..."
• Chapter 11 - News Travels"A funeral is held for the n..."
• Chapter 12 - The New Flag"Nora and Elsie have a chat ..."
• Chapter 13 - Up the Plough and the Stars"This chapter has been revis..."
• Chapter 14 - At Home with the O'Connor Family Discussing curses."The O'Connor family play wi..."
• Chapter 15 - Dancing with Rebels in Cork"Nora and Elsie join the wom..."
• Chapter 16 - Grandpa's History of Brosna"After returning home, Nora ..."
• Chapter 17 - Gift of a Goat"Denis and Nora trade a roos..."
• Chapter 18 - Nora Learns to Weave"Denis gives Nora a lesson i..."
• Chapter 19 - A Visitor"A storyteller drops in on N..."
• Chapter 20 - The Storyteller Earns his Keep"A wandering storyteller ent..."
• Chapter 21 - Nell's Visions of the War in France"Nora is putting the warp on..."
• Chapter 22 - Weaving and Talk of War and Peace"Nora is weaving while discu..."
• Chapter 23 - Nora Meets Tim on the Road"Mary and Nora are out walki..."
• Chapter 24 - Tim's Letter and His Brother's Arrival"Nora receives a letter writ..."
• Chapter 25 - Nora and Dermot go for a walk with a pig and a goat"Nora gets close to Dermot a..."
• Chapter 26 - Nora's Confession"Nora experiences guilt and ..."
• Chapter 27 - Father Flanagan's News"New chapter (Nov. 21, 2007)..."
• Chapter 28 - Nell's Healing Visit"Nora's mother, Nell, brings..."
• Chapter 29 - Nora's Miraculous Sapphire"Nora's sapphire makes its p..."
• Chapter 30 - Nora and Tim Together"Tim is healing up and tells..."
• Chapter 31 - Secrets in the Cave"Nora and Tim enter a cave f..."
• Chapter 32 - Future Plans"Tim and Nora are walking ho..."
• Chapter 33 - The Stars Come Out"Tim and Nora walk home, fin..."
• Chapter 34 - Father O'Flanagan's Offer"Father O'Flanagan calls a v..."
• Chapter 35 - Laura's Gift"Laura and Olga come from Ki..."
• Chapter 36 - Father O'Flanagan's Plan"Nora visits Father O'Flanag..."
• Chapter 37 - Tim and Nora's Plans for the Future"Many reviewers have helped ..."