Guest Post with Clare O'Donohue -and Book Giveaway

I have recently read and reviewed "The Devil's Puzzle" by Clare O'Donohue.  It was a great murder mystery set around quilters and a quilt shop.  As an avid reader, I love finding out about the author. So when I was given the opportunity to have a guest post by the author, I was thrilled.  Rather than do an interview, I asked that she write about herself and why she writes.  Being of Irish descent also, I asked that perhaps she include a bit about her Irish heritage.   
Okay, I will quit rambling (I can't help it, this is so exciting to me!) Here is the post from the lovely and talented Clare O'Donohue.
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I grew up in a house filled with words. My mother, an English teacher, used to recite poetry to us at the breakfast table. My dad told funny stories that he made up on the spot. At the holidays, we were all required to entertain with stories, jokes and songs. My sister Mary and I still do a rendition of “Sisters, Sisters” from the movie, White Christmas, at our holiday celebration. And it rocks.
My parents are Irish, raised on farms on the west coast of that beautiful country. Music is a mainstay of the place, but so also is the craic, an Irish term that translates loosely as fun and good conversation. The ability to tell a good story is a cultural imperative.

I suppose that may be why I was so drawn to words and stories. It’s part of my DNA. We grew up with lots of books in our house, though few were aimed at children. We had Steinbeck, Hemingway, Twain and Dickens as our reading material. We were encouraged (aka forced) to learn the works of poets like Keats, Yeats, and of course, Shakespeare. My brothers, sister and I can quote our favorite speeches from Shakespeare plays, and occasionally still recite them at family dinners to entertain Mom. Mine, by the way, is Henry V’s, “Upon the King,” speech in Act 4, Scene 1. It’s a great piece of writing.

Words have power. They entertain, they incite, they inspire. I realized early on that, even though I was the youngest member of the household, if I could tell a good story, I could command attention. So, from five years old, I did. I changed the endings of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty (ugly stepsisters and mean witches repented in my stories). I told my sister about the lives of the kind monsters who lived under our beds, who protected us from the mean monsters who lived in the closet. I entertained myself on car trips by making up tales about the people we saw when we stopped at red lights. Later, I wrote my stories down, writing my first short novel when I was 15. Stories became my way to explain myself, and the world around me.

When I hang out with family, both in the U.S. and in Ireland, a good craic is always the evening’s entertainment. We tell stories and jokes. My brother, Jack, usually spins an elaborate yarn that has us all believing a nearly unbelievable story, until he bursts out laughing, and we know we’ve been had.

For my parents, there was magic in a well told tale and a beautifully written story. And, clearly, all four of their children took that lesson to heart. Both my brothers, Dennis and Jack, have published essays and articles. My sister, Mary, has an award winning parenting book out. I’ve got my novels. And my mom still recites poetry at the breakfast table, usually breaking into tears at the sadness it, reminding us all about the power and beauty of words.
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I hope you enjoyed this bit of insight into the author. 
If you would like to win a copy of the book "The Devil's Puzzle"  please be a follower of my blog (not required, but highly suggested) and leave a comment on your favorite mystery series.  (I would love it if you mention the author's name also.)
And for a second chance, blog about this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment with a link to the blog post. I will be checking.

*** Edit***

The eligibility period for this will run until  midnight central time on Tuesday October 18.  All comments must be made prior to that time to be entered.  The drawing will happen on Wednesday (as time permits) and the winner will be notified. After hearing back from the winner, I will announce the  winner.******


I will probably not reply to comments as giveaways usually draw a large number of comments. However, know that I read every comment that is posted.
And if you can't wait to win, or if you want to read the first three books in this series; check your local bookseller or Amazon.com
Happy reading,