Come-Follow The Path

Recently my friend Caroline Clemmons posted an interview she did with one of my favorite characters from her book OUT OF THE BLUE.  I was so taken by the interview I asked her if she would mind me posting it in my blog and she graciously agreed to my request. And I am so glad she did!

If you have not read OUT OF THE BLUE, or even if you have, you should read this interview with Deirdre Dougherty. To me getting to know Deirdre more fully through the eyes of her creator just brought her more to life and made the story that much more fun.

Interview with OUT OF THE BLUE's heroine, Deirdre Dougherty

MA: I am so glad to realize that another author besides myself feels her characters are real. Of course I realize she's not, but....

Deirdre Dougherty

CC: I know what you mean. Yes, I do realize that to others, Deirdre Dougherty from OUT OF THE BLUE is not
a real person. She is very real to me. Shall we begin the interview? So, to help you understand her (and in the
hope you'll buy the book) here is an interview with Deirdre.

CC: How did you come to be an herbal healer?
DD: The women in my family have been healers as far back as we know. We grow many herbs, but we buy others in Galway City. We're also clairvoyants. Some call it he gift of sight, but for us it's been a curse. No one trusts another who has the sight. (Deirdre nods) Oh, but let them have sickness, and they come running to us then.

CC: How did your father and grandfather feel about your gift and your healing?
DD: Da was that proud of ma and me. Grandad, too, but he died in the rebellion of 1798 when Ma was a babe.

CC: Tell us about growing up in Ireland.
DD: Oh, it's a grand place is Ballymish. Right on the Atlantic, it is. How I loved to sit on a huge rock and look out over the ocean. The sea breeze tasted of salt and promise. Out cottage was
small--only two rooms and a bit of a loft--but it was filled with love. Flowers grew everywhere except the vegetable garden. Thinking on it makes my heart glad.

CC: What sort of industry was nearby?
DD: Only the marble quarry. The marble there is that pretty you wouldn't believe it. Many shades and colors. The green was my favorite. Da worked in the quarry until Eoghan the Elder killed him.

CC: Someone murdered your father? What happened?
DD: No one could prove it, but we all knew who was responsible for the rockslide that crushed poor Da. His mates took a collection for Da's burial and stone, for Da was well-liked by everyone but Eoghan. The evil man had wanted to marry Ma, but she turned him down and married Da. Eoghan harbored a grudge every day. You know the saying, "He might forget a favor, but he'll never forget a grudge." That sums up Eoghan and his son Eoghan the Younger. When I was ten, Da was raised up—you’d say promoted--it was too much for Eoghan. He killed Da.

CC: What about your Ma and your Gran?
DD:  The women in our family married late. By the time I was twenty, Gran was growing feeble. Ma and I went to Galway City to buy herbs that we couldn't grow, but Gran didn't feel up to walking that far. Da had cousins there and we stayed with them for two nights. It was like what you call a holiday vacation. When we returned, we found Gran laid out on out kitchen table and Mrs. Fraser sitting with her. The kind lady said Gran was found that morning by the road. Her head had been smashed with a large rock. Guilt and sorrow wracked Ma and me. We knew we should never have left Gran alone, and we were that sure Eoghan or his son had killed Gran.

CC: How did you come to travel through time from 1845 Ireland to 2010 Texas?
DD: Before I was born Gran had a terrifying vision. She insisted that Da and Ma dig a tunnel from the center of the cottage floor, under the cottage, and coming out about twenty yards behind the cottage. They dug a couple of hours each evening all winter long. Before dawn, Da spread the dirt on the garden or hauled it to the cliff and tossed it over. When the tunnel was completed, they planted shrubs to conceal the exit. That was the first vision that helped me.

When I was twelve, Ma made me learn to swim. Do you know they say that if a woman can swim
it proves she's a witch? So Ma rented a boat at Ishkerrig and we rowed out so no one could see us from shore. Then Ma taught me to swim in the ocean. We took off our dresses and swam wearing only our underclothes. I was that shocked the first time Ma took me out, but it was wonderful. That was the second vision that saved me.
After Ma died, I had visions of a man reaching for me. Oh, he was a handsome one, but I thought he intended to choke me. That was the third vision that affected me leaving Ballymish. Let me tell you, I was frightened. I was alone, and Eoghan the Younger had started calling me a witch. He was turning the villagers against me, when I had done no one harm. He said I cursed their potato crops and that's why the plants were dying. I knew I had to leave so I planned to walk to Galway City and stay with my cousins until I could find me own place. I packed my carryall and readied myself to leave as soon as the village was quiet.

Cathbad

 

It didn't get quiet, though. Eoghan the Younger banged on the door just before full dark. He had a mob with him and they had torches. He told me to come out, but I wasn't stupid. I scooped up my cat Cathbad and shoved him into the carryall. Quickly as I could, I moved the rug over the trap door to the tunnel and slid inside. Already I smelled the roof thatch of our lovely cottage burning. I emerged in the brush and headed for the road to Galway City. Someone spied me and the mob gave chase. They cut me off from all escape except to leap off the cliff into the Atlantic. I was so scared I prayed to Saint Brendan and Saint Brigid to deliver me. Eoghan almost caught me, but I leaped off into the sea.

CC: Good heavens, what a terrible series of events you've endured.
DD: Ah, but I've found the place I belong now. I like this Texas and my job. I won't tell too much about that or it will spoil the book for readers.

CC: Thank you Deirdre for sharing your past. I'm glad to know your future is peaceful.
DD: Peaceful? No, not atall. Well, now it is, but there was such trouble getting to the peaceful part. So many times Brendan almost died. I was near kidnapped and then almost killed. Whew, this was a scary book you wrote.

CC: Hey, it ends happily-ever-after. What more do you want? 

You can find OUT OF THE BLUE at Amazon.in print and e-book here:
http://www.amazon.com/OUT-OF-THE-BLUE-ebook/dp/B008ULBEK6/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354390339&sr=1-18&keywords=caroline+clemmons

In E-Book at Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/212425?ref=CarolineClemmons
Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-the-blue-caroline-clemmons/1100248431?ean=2940044772830

Thanks Caroline for visiting today and sharing insight on one of my favorite characters, Deirdre Dougherty.

You are so welcome, Mary. I hope your readers enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it.