Deadly Shot - Dan's Diary
by Patricia Murphy
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GENRE: children's historical fiction/Middle Grade
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BLURB:
Football mad, twelve-
year- old Dan is a trusted messenger for Ireland’s rebel leader, Michael
Collins. He promises his cousin Molly to never fire a gun, but after the
dramatic events of “Bloody Sunday” in Croke Park, he is pulled deeper into the
struggle. Hunted by a vengeful Intelligence Officer, Molly and Dan are forced
to flee Dublin. But unknown to Dan, he holds the key to a deadly plot. And his
enemy will stop at nothing to track him down. On the run, they meet Flying
Columns and narrowly escape death But as Cork burns can Dan continue to outrun
his enemy?
EXCERPT:
Shots were roaring out now
at intervals. People surged around us and I got separated from Willie. Things
became a blur of bodies swirling, noise and panic – like cows in an abattoir.
British soldiers and Tans
were on the field.
I passed by another
Tipperary player who was lying out flat on the ground just a few feet from the
sideline. All at once British soldiers surrounded him and kicked him in the
arms and legs.
“You’re one of those
murdering hitmen,” they accused him.
The player pulled up his
shirtsleeve. “The last gun I fired was on the Continent of Europe. That’s my
regiment tattoo.”
They pulled him up then
bundled him towards the dressing room. I didn’t see what happened to him.
I scanned the area, alert
now. It was all one big crush of bodies like a monster, with the Tans yelling.
“Halt!”
“Hands up above your heads!”
“Get into groups!”
They pushed people together
at random, searching them, while firing in all directions.
An RIC officer ran across
the pitch, “Search everyone!” he screamed.
My blood pumped in my veins.
What if they discovered the letter!”
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
1.What's the best and worst part of being an author?
The best thing about being an author is getting to do what I
love! It’s such a privilege to spend the time with my imagination, doing work I
really enjoy and then seeing it in book form.
The worst part is not so much the isolation, but that
there’s so much of it! You have no colleagues to support you or have a bit of
office banter. When I work in television as a Producer/Director, I usually have
a great team around me. There are water cooler moments, office jokes, the
camaraderie of the road. At home, it's me, the fridge, a cup of herbal tea and
trying not to get distracted by the Internet and twitter. It’s why I like going
out to meet young readers so much!
2.Which book of yours is your favorite? Why
It’s usually the one I’ve just finished! So at the moment
it's Deadly Shot. It’s also because
it’s now getting into the hands of readers. A book is only words on a page
until it is ignited in the reader’s imagination.
I also feel close to The
Easter Rising 1916 – Molly’s Diary – which tells of the events of the
Easter Rebellion in 1916 through the eyes of Dan’s cousin, twelve-year-old
Molly. It’s the centenary of the Rising next year, and it's an important event
not just in Irish but in world history as it signaled the collapse of the
British Empire. There is going to be a lot of publicity about the centenary
next year! I have been going round schools engaging with young readers and it's
been very refreshing. They don’t bring prejudices to bear when they read. They
respond in an open, honest way. The feedback I’ve been getting is very positive
and encouraging.
3.What are your favorite authors in the genre that you
write?
I admire John Boyne The
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – about the Nazi concentration camps.
When I was a child, I loved A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of King Arthur by Mark Twain
I also love real historical diaries from a child’s
perspective such as The Diary of Anne
Frank and Zlata’s Diary by Zlata
Filipović about the siege of Sarajevo.
In adult historical fiction, it’s Hilary Mantel. Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies are just brilliant. An author of rare
intelligence.
I also love JG Farrell, the author who lived in Ireland and
tragically drowned at the age of 44. Troubles is a great book about the war
of Independence told from a remote part of Ireland. Its part of his Empire Trilogy about the decay of
British colonial power. Extraordinary books.
4.Which of your characters is most like you?
That’s a tough one! There’s a little bit of me in most of
them. In some ways Molly, Dan’s cousin exemplifies what I would like my better
self to be – compassionate, spirited, resourceful. But I often fall short of
the mark! I’m perhaps more like Cassie in the Chingles trilogy – my Celtic fantasy novels – or was when I was
younger. Curious, cheeky, fiercely argumentative with my siblings but loyal
when it mattered.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Patricia
Murphy is an award-winning children’s author and Producer/Director of
documentaries. Her most recent novel is Deadly Shot – Dan’s Diary - the War of
Independence 1920-22. Previous works include the critically acclaimed Easter
Week 1916 – Molly’s Diary, described as “brilliantly imagined”, “beautifully
written and compelling” and “ fantastic at bringing history alive for
children”. She is also the author of The Chingles Celtic Fantasy trilogy. She
was the winner of the Poolbeg “Write a Bestseller for Children” Competition
2004.
She is also an award-winning Producer/Director of primetime
documentaries for BBC and Channel 4. These include Children of Helen House on
the Oxford children’s hospice for BBC. She created and filmed the launch
programmes of Born to Be Different the Channel 4 flagship series following six
children with disabilities through the 21st century. Other films include Behind
the Crime about criminals and Raised by the State on growing up in care. She
has also made Worst Jobs in History with Tony Robinson for Channel 4.
Book Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6mmxFyaWc
https://vimeo.com/139031328
PUBLISHER
Poolbeg
Links to buy Deadly Shot – Dan’s Diary
Links to buy Molly’s Diary
Patricia Murphy will be awarding a $20 Amazon or
Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the
tour. Use the link below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
