Ann Marie Gamble

Julie Bridgewater has moved seventeen times, lived in three countries, had five jobs since college, and carried out the instructions of three wills. After her great-aunt Hazel Rose dies, Julie thinks she’s lost her last relative. Moving on feels random, not adventurous. Purpose comes when she gets a letter from Declan Ferris, a solicitor in Ireland. Hazel had a sister, and Julie’s the heir to a great-aunt she didn’t know existed. This will dictates coming to Ireland for three months to settle the estate, and Julie buys a plane ticket hoping she’s acquired a heritage as well as a house.

Julie has spent her life blending in, but now she’s not just the focus of attention but the spark for conflict. Declan can ignore his past, but now it’s entwined with Julie’s. They realize there may be parts of history–even Irish history–that are worth repeating, but they have to forgive their families and acknowledge their own place in them first.

The sparks of inspiration:

1. I edited a book about identity and Ireland called Of Irish Descent. In laying out the whys of her project, the author talks about how interested people are around the world about their Irish heritage. “Why do they care so much?” she asks, and I thought, “And what if they don’t?”
2. The push-me/pull-you of families. Love, companionship, support, but also duty, expectations, fighting. Can you be your true self with your family? Even if we aren’t close to our relatives, are we starting with a blank slate? (aka I wish I’d know how many eccentrics were in my family tree when I was in high school).

Read about what went on while I was writing this novel

Some useful links

• Irish Times Ireland’s major newspaper
• Giant’s Causeway amazing landform on Ireland’s northern coast
• National Geographic video about Giant’s Causeway