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Formats
Paperback Details
  • 11/2016
  • 978-0998320700
  • 238 pages
  • $9.99
Audio Details
  • 11/2016
  • B01N2JUY2G
  • 238 pages
  • $19.95
Ebook Details
  • 11/2016
  • 978-0-9983207-1-7
  • 238 pages
  • $4.99
Sean Mahoney
Author
Fenian's Trace
FENIAN'S TRACE is the story of two young men raised as brothers in the west of Ireland during the early 1900s. Though they choose different paths when the rebellion comes, they both take a fancy to the spirited and alluring Maria upon her homecoming from America. It's told by a gruff old Limerick publican named Mr. Clancy, who refuses to let his gentle inebriation or any distractful facts trouble his tale. It's a story of secrets and sacrifice, fathers and sons, loyalty and love.
Reviews
Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put this book down!

By Amazon Customer on December 7, 2016

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Such a charming and heart-breaking story that transports the reader back to a time and a place that was both magical and brutal. I fell in love with the characters and the authors attention to detail created a beautiful backdrop to the story. A book that brings you through every emotion on the spectrum is well worth reading and Fenian's Trace certainly does that. Without question a 10 out of 10.

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!

By Amazon Customer on December 13, 2016

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Fenian's Trace is an absorbing, thrilling and emotional read. The tragic story of two boys raised as brothers during the Irish rebellion in the early 1900s, and the different choices they make, is told so beautifully it draws you in until your heart nearly breaks. The sense of Irish history is utterly fascinating and it's easy to envision the characters and events as they unfold. It's a perfect novel to read by the fire with a whiskey in hand.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

By ryan Smith on December 16, 2016

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

A pocket-sized epic. Drama, history, war, romance, all in a dramatically effective 230 pages. I loved it. Mr. Mahoney is a real talent.

News
01/02/2017
Sonoma writer Sean Mahoney’s career takes flight

When Aer Lingus passengers hear Sean P. Mahoney’s beautifully written words on his audio book “Fenian’s Trace,” they may not know if it’s in-flight entertainment in the clouds or if they’ve been rerouted to Ireland in the early 1900s. That’s how transporting Mahoney’s words are to a place of love and tragedy.

It is the first time the Irish airline has featured an audio book as a headset offering, convinced that “Fenian’s Trace” will immerse its passengers in the spirit of Ireland on its daily round trip flights to 11 cities in the United States. As travelers listen to Mahoney’s riveting tale, he’s here with his family in Sonoma – dreaming his book’s success will cement his path to becoming a full-time writer.

It’s a goal more likely to come true for Mahoney than for most who set fingers to keyboard, as “Fenian’s Trace,” which he originally wrote as a screenplay, won a Nicholl Fellowship Award in an international competition administered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (Yes, they give out the Oscars.) You can log on to oscars.com and find photos of Mahoney standing next to a giant gold Oscar in 2004, the year he beat out 6,073 competitors to be one of five to receive the $30,000 award the academy established “to identify and encourage new screenwriters.”

“Fenian’s Trace” was optioned for movie production, and when the option expired it was picked up again. “It came close, but it never got made,” Mahoney said, and he is still hopeful. Meanwhile his work has earned additional awards. And while Mahoney gains a reputation as an accomplished writer, he also has another skill set – he’s an attorney.

Mahoney moved to California from his native New York to attend Pepperdine School of Law. Relocating to San Francisco, he wrote “Fenian’s Trace” while he was studying for the bar exam and working in an Irish pub, pulling Guinness and pouring Jameson while picking up the exact brogue of an Irishman, making his book remarkably true to place. In San Francisco, he met his “darling girl from Clare,” as he calls Toni Morgan in his book’s dedication, and her native Irish flair and his research on Irish history also influenced his writing. Once he became a lawyer he realized he was never truly interested in practicing law, and instead managed the Irish rock band Nero for several years up until he and Toni bought a home in Sonoma, settling down to raise their two sons, Quinn, 8, and Mack, 7.

Mahoney writes late at night into the wee hours of the morning, after long days running Energy Answers Intl, a company founded by his father, who died earlier this year. He’s finished two more screenplays, and last year he decided to turn “Fenian’s Trace” from a screenplay into a book, in timing with the 100-year anniversary of the Easter Rising; his book tells of events during the time surrounding that devastating Irish rebellion against English rule.

“Fenian’s Trace” relates the story of two men raised as brothers in County Clare, one with the rebel spirit and one more taken with a peaceful philosophy, and how events unfold when they both fall in love with the same woman. It is narrated and laced with tales of Irish history by the owner of an Irish pub, who keeps an eye on Conner and Rory throughout their days.

Mahoney came up with idea when he was bartending in San Francisco and falling in love with Toni who, before returning his affection, had an eye for another man. As he was wooing the love of his life, Mahoney was also often listening to the Chieftains’ “Long Black Veil,” the oft-covered country song about a man who goes to the gallows rather than admit to an affair with his best friend’s wife. “I wrote the book from that central dilemma,” he said.

As he was writing the book version of “Fenian’s Trace” Toni said she would get up every morning and ask “Have you got any more pages for me?” after Mahoney had written through the night, for even though she knew the story she was thrilled with how the book was turning out, and understandably so. The book is a love story, but it is larger than that in its detailing the years that led up to the Irish War of Independence.

Once finished, Mahoney had the thought that “Fenian’s Trace” would be perfect as an audio book. “It has a lot of Irish slang, and it suited to an audio book.” Toni called a friend in Ireland who called another friend and very quickly Aer Lingus said yes to the idea. They quickly lined up a noted Irish actor Liam Carney, and Mahoney flew to Ireland to produce the audio version now playing on the airline and available for download online.

The timing was blessed that Toni’s parents, visiting Sonoma during the holiday season, were able to listen to it on their flight home to Ireland. And hear the story of secrets and sacrifices; parents, sons and a daughter; loyalty and love.

Sure and it’s grand altogether. T’is indeed.

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 11/2016
  • 978-0998320700
  • 238 pages
  • $9.99
Audio Details
  • 11/2016
  • B01N2JUY2G
  • 238 pages
  • $19.95
Ebook Details
  • 11/2016
  • 978-0-9983207-1-7
  • 238 pages
  • $4.99
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