Lisa Loves Literature: Promo Post and Giveaway: Bury the Living by Jodi McIsaac

On the 100^th anniversary of Ireland’s Easter Rising, join the adventures of one woman who might just change Irish history as we know it

Bury the Living

By Jodi McIsaac

“McIsaac puts plenty of history and a little fantasy and romance into this entertaining time travel tale. McIsaac has an undeniable talent for immersing the reader in the plight of the Irish in the 1920s, at the height of the Irish Civil War. Comparisons to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series are inevitable…”

—Publishers Weekly

Contemporary fantasy author Jodi McIsaac returns to shelves with her newest historical fiction novel, a poignant time travel tale that will take fans back to Ireland in 1923 in BURY THE LIVING.

Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother during Northern Ireland’s infamous Troubles, a teenage Nora joined the IRA to fight for her country’s freedom. Now, over a decade later, Nora is haunted by both her past and intense dreams of a man she has never met.

When she is given a relic belonging to Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland, the mystical artifact transports her back to 1923—to the height of Ireland’s brutal civil war in. There she meets the fascinating stranger from her dreams, who has his own secrets—and an agenda. Ripped from her own time, Nora now has the chance to save the ones she loves… and to alter the entire future of Ireland.

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Guest Post: Five Historical Figures I’d Love to Meet

By Jodi McIsaac

As a historical fiction reader and writer, I’m constantly discovering fascinating people who I’d love to know better. Biographies are all well and good, but nothing would beat sitting down over a pint with the people who have shaped history. And so when Lisa asked me to name five people in history I’d like to visit, I had a hard time narrowing the list down! Given my current research in Irish history for the Revolutionary series, it’s little surprise that there are three Irish people on my list.

Granuaile, aka Grace O’Malley. Granuaile is a major character in my forthcoming book Summon the Queen, the sequel to Bury the Living. She was a notorious Irish pirate in the late 1500’s, and was the unofficial head of the O’Malley clan during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. By all accounts she was a remarkable woman who seized power for herself and her clan in a world where women had little power and no voice. Having learned so much about her while writing Summon the Queen, it would be an absolute honor to meet with her in person (provided she didn’t kill me on the spot).

Constance Markievicz. The best part about researching the Irish Civil War for Bury the Living was learning about the incredible contribution made by women during the entire revolutionary period—the Rising of 1916, the War of Independence, and then the Civil War. And in the middle of it all was the remarkable Constance Markievicz. She was an artist, an actor, and a revolutionary. She became a major player in Sinn Féin and Inghinidhe na hÉireann ('Daughters of Ireland'), a revolutionary women's movement, and founded Fianna Éireann, a para-military nationalist scouting organization that instructed teenage boys in the use of firearms. She was sentenced to death for her role in the Easter Rising of 1916, but her sentence was commuted to prison because of her gender, something that grieved her deeply. In the 1918 general election, she became the first woman elected to the British House of Commons (Ireland was still under British control at the time). Her advice for women included: “Dress suitably in short skirts and strong boots, leave your jewels in the bank and buy a revolver.” Who wouldn’t want to meet this woman in person???

Fionn mac Cumhaill. I included Fionn in this list even though there is some serious doubt that he was a historical figure at all. But since he is one of the two main characters in my Revolutionary series, I like to think that he did exist, though probably not in the legendary fashion with which we are familiar. Who was the man behind the invincible warrior? Are any of the stories that rose up around him true, and to what extent? What was the Ireland of his era really like? If Fionn mac Cumhaill really did exist, and if I could be fortunate enough to visit him, I’m not sure I’d be coming back any time soon.

Nellie McClung. I’m Canadian, but we’re certainly not immune to the impact of American politics. Nellie McClung was a Canadian women’s rights activist who successfully lobbied to have women recognized as “persons,” clearing the way for the inclusion of women in political office. I’d love to tell her that the U.S. is (hopefully) about to elect its first female president, and thank her for her tireless work on behalf of women’s rights.

J.R.R. Tolkien. This person goes without saying, right? Not only was Tolkien a magnificent author, he was also a brilliant scholar and linguist, and hung out with a pretty amazing crowd. What I wouldn’t give to sit in on an Inklings session with Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams! The Lord of the Rings is by far my favourite book and has had a major impact on me as a writer and as a person, so it would be an incredible experience to meet the man behind the legend.

About the Author:

Already an accomplished writer, Jodi McIsaac is the author of several novels, including A Cure for Madness and the Thin Veil Series. She grew up in New Brunswick, and after abandoning her Olympic speed skating dream, she wrote speeches for a politician, earned a graduate degree in global studies, spent a few years as a fundraising and marketing executive with non-profit organizations in Toronto and Vancouver, which then morphed into her own copywriting business.

You can visit her at:

http://www.jodimcisaac.com/

https://twitter.com/jodimcisaac