How I stumbled into the Boston Irish Festival… Was it fate or the luck of the Irish?

This June will be the first-year anniversary of the publication of my novel, Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke. When I reflect over this past year I realize I’ve been incredibly fortunate to meet people who’ve offered their guidance and support to help promote my book. But how did this happen? The word that best describes my experience is serendipitous.

Last May I was frantically planning my book launch in June and wondering to myself: will people come? Will they be interested in my story of Irish immigrants? Will they read my book? Will they like it? What was I thinking publishing a piece of writing that is now open for public scrutiny and possible public humiliation? Is it too late to cancel this whole thing!?!  Yes, I realized; it was. I had already spent three years on this project and now this was the defining moment. But darn, it was petrifying.
Adding to my fears was knowing that I would have to use social media, a platform that I had consciously avoided. I wasn’t even on Facebook and now my publisher said I should promote on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Wouldn’t this only provide more opportunities for judgment and discouraging comments? My anxiety was at all all-time high.
Ironically enough, it was my first week on social media when I came across an advertisement for the Boston Irish Festival, promoting Irish music, dance, sports and culture.
In very fine print I noticed that there would be an author’s tent. Wow, I thought, this could be a cool place to promote my Irish-themed book. I also discovered that the festival was organized by the Irish Cultural Centre of New England, and I’d been hoping to connect with them.
So, I thought, what do I have to lose? I mistakenly emailed the festival’s manager, but he was nice enough to forward my note to the Director of the library at the Irish Cultural Centre. One week later, I received a call from the librarian, Dave Barrett, saying that one of their renowned authors had pulled out and now he had a vacancy! He said the story of my Irish immigrant ancestors sounded interesting, especially since the book was based on my great, great grandfather’s Civil War letters. He further stated that the Cultural Centre library had a “soft spot” for first time authors and that he himself had relatives from the Springfield area as well an ancestor who had served in the Civil War. Serendipitous I tell you; and it was music to my ears! I was connecting with what would turn out to be the most valuable and important organization.

The Irish Festival rocked. I was given the opportunity to talk about my book twice a day, and sign and sell copies over the two-day event. It was also a weekend of firsts: It was here that I signed my first book, gave my first live interview to an Irish reporter, and delivered my first author talk.

The overall learning experience of meeting successful authors and learning how to present my book made this weekend invaluable to me. (Not to mention that my family and friends joined me for the evening and we certainly took in the celebrations of Irish Culture with live music and plenty of food and Irish libations.) 

Since the Irish Festival I have continued my relationship with the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton. They have helped me create a multi-media presentation for my author talks using native Irish talent to read excerpts from my book. I’ve also been a guest of “Famous Seamus’s” Feast of Ireland radio show and I have been introduced to countless Irish organizations and prominent Irish scholars and historians—I even met the Consulate General to Ireland!! I can’t thank the Irish Cultural Centre of New England more for taking a chance on a new author and for aiding me with the book promotion. That was one lucky break. So, I wonder, was it fate or the luck of the Irish? Serendipitous for sure!

THE 2017 BOSTON IRISH FESTIVAL IS NEXT WEEKEND, JUNE 3 AND 4—COME CHECK IT OUT!