The authors of Four Green Fields have gone above and beyond on their promise to bring us "wild Irish banter and craic." They have literally thrown open the doors of their collective closets and introduced us to the family skeletons, put flesh back on their bones and made them dance! Not only do we get a glimpse into the wacky world of their Irish upbringing, but we are introduced to fathers, grandfathers and uncles - utterly devoid of any sense of political correctness - who at times went about their daily lives oblivious to the havoc they wreaked around them, but at other times knew full well the embarrassment they were causing their families.
About the Author :
J.P. Sexton grew up in the extreme North of Ireland, on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. The area is so far "off the map," very few tourists have made it up that far - hardly surprising when one considers most Irish people have not ventured that far North either. As a result of its remoteness, the people of Inishowen seem to be a different breed from the rest of Ireland. It is this untethered nature of the people and wild nature of the landscape which inspired J.P. to start writing as a young boy. J.P. learned how to be resourceful and face challenges head-on. This inherent survival mode has stood him well over the decades and miles he has journeyed through life's odyssey. No matter how many continents he has crossed, he can hear the call of his ancestors whispering to him on the wind when it is time for him to return home. The peace of mind and soul in his native Donegal is like no other place on earth. Mark Rickerby is a writer, screenwriter, songwriter and singer. He's the creator and head writer of Big Sky, a western TV series in development. He has contributed twenty stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul books and fiction to numerous magazines. He co-authored The Other Belfast, his father's memoir about growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, between 1935 and 1957. His poem, 'How We Survive' has been shared thousands of times on the internet, and Mark has received countless emails from people about how his poem helped them navigate grief in a healthy way. Mark brings to Four Green Fields the perspective of a Californian raised by an outspoken Belfast native, and the culture clash that implies.
Review :
There are perhaps hundreds of thousands of books inspired by the emerald isle and I've certainly read my share. Stories from 'the old country' that warm the heart, spark the imagination and reaffirm the human spirit. And although fantastic reads, many have left me feeling as if I'd just read a grand and glorious obituary. Not with Four Green Fields. It's less a ticket back to a world long gone by than a reminder that such magic is still very much alive right here and now. Four Green Fields is not an epitaph but an invitation to seed your own patch and to watch it grow."
Colin Cunningham
American Television and Film Actor, Writer, Director
Falling Skies, Stargate SG-1
"The read is an exhilarating seesaw of emotions that straddles both sides of the Atlantic covering immigration, family survival in a war zone and a playful indulgence in Irish culture lessons on perseverance. The 'voices' induce a knack for storytelling to a cooperative experience. The universal theme of cultural nourishment is central to the remembered stories and circumstances of growing up with the otherness of one's inherited bloodline.
There is a sagacity of self-analysis that becomes apparent with a reflective nod to the fourth voice as a muse. Apparently, all three voices echo individual tales, but the reflection morphs into a conventional attitude and universal sameness that becomes an important gift of friendship.
My experience in reading this was the acknowledgement of what was learned and what should never be forgotten. The collaboration brewed up a special blend of memoir that resonates in my mind and will continue to give me laughter and some tears, even as I write here."
Barbara H. O'Daly
Entertainment Properties Holding, Ltd.; Trustee
The Television Distribution Company;
C.E.O. and co-creator of "An Evening At The Improv"
Creative Writer M.F.A. Florida Atlantic University.
"Greg McVicker, J.P. Sexton and Mark Rickerby have created bridges between the old world and the new. The use of lyrical language in phrases and stylistic devices helps direct their readers through the adventures of the heroes and heroines, blending together in seamless tales of humor and sadness - the cornerstones of Irish storytelling. The reflective poetic anthems and prose hold deeper messages about love, loss, war and self-acceptance."
Stacie Y. Guerin
Chairperson of Children's and Culture
Maryland Irish Charities
"The stories and poems in Four Green Fields are told with a rare honesty tinged by wit and melancholy. Those who leave Ireland carry bits of the country with them wherever they go. The authors of Four Green Fields have more bits than most."
Frank Vizard. Journalist and Author of "Why a Curveball Curves" and "The 21ST Century Soldier" (co-author).
"There is a saying that there are only two types of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were. "Four Green Fields' does indeed welcome the reader home to the Emerald Isle with vivid memories of the times known as The Troubles.
With prose and poetry, the authors lead us on a nostalgic and irreverent journey through their lives and those of their families.
"Four Green Fields" is an amazing collection of memories both touching and humorous, giving the reader a rare and fascinating glimpse into the lives and times of these Irish authors and their families."
Frances Powell, "A Ballysea Mystery" series.
"Lady of the Wye" and "The Bodyguard".
