Near
The Wild
Maureen
Willett
Genre:
paranormal romance or historical fantasy
Publisher:
independent
Date
of Publication: June 27, 2015
ISBN:
9781524209926
ASIN:
B010JLKZZY
Number
of pages: 229
Word
Count: 82,500
Book
Description:
Cowboys
and leprechauns both occupy Maeve MacKeighry's world in 1870, and she
must decide which will win her heart. Leprechauns are feared, even in
Ireland, but that doesn't prevent Maeve from striking up a friendship
with one who lives near her village. But once Maeve becomes a young
woman, the local villagers start to gossip, especially since the
MacKeighrys are known to practice magic in their home. It's just for
entertainment, but the town folk don't see it that way. Rather than
be outcasts, the MacKeighrys set off to America to homestead in
Kansas, vowing to leave their magical ways and friends behind. Little
do they know that Maeve's friend follows and protects them on their
journey.
The
MacKeighrys encounter many adventures along the way to Kansas, only
to find a simple sod house on their new farm at the end of the
journey. The untamed land offers a fresh start for the family, as
well as two very interesting men who both compete for Maeve’s
attention. Pretty young women in a wild western town are a rarity.
But can she forget her magical friend, and turn her attention to two
of the most interesting men she has ever met? Perhaps cowboys and
outlaws have a certain charm that a leprechaun doesn't, after all.
Most
of the novel takes place in Kansas in 1870 and is based on the
author’s family history. The idea of the MacKeighry’s sod house
came from the home of Willett’s great grandfather. She was lucky
enough to visit it as a teenager before the house was destroyed. One
of the characters, Nikki Fuerst, is based on an ancestor, a prince
from Austria who was disinherited for marrying a commoner and sent
off to America. Stories Willett has been told her entire life about
her family’s history and traditions, such as levitating tables, are
included in Near The Wild.
Excerpt:
Leprechauns
were feared, even in Ireland. Of course, Ma and Da denied that we
were related to the magical people in the forest, the sidhe, but
there was no denying that the other good families in our village of
Clonmel didn’t know how to do the things we did.
Ma
would shake her head and tease us, calling us leprechauns whenever we
asked if we could play our favorite game. But then she would close
the shutters so the fun could begin. Surely none of our neighbors
should see us huddled around a table that was two feet off the
ground. It was just a fortune-telling game to us. We’d make the
table rise into the air merely by thinking it should do so, and then
we’d ask it simple questions. The hovering wooden table would tap
one of its legs on the floor to answer, once for “yes” and twice
for “no.” As our confidence grew, our questions became more
outlandish, making my younger brothers giggle until tears poured down
their faces.
I’m
not sure where that game came from, but I do remember Ma playing it
with her sisters, too, whenever we all got together for holidays, and
such. My brothers and I would watch in fascination because my mother
and aunts were so much better at it than we were. The table would
rise much higher and then pound out the answer to the “yes” or
“no” question posed to it. None of us children understood the
implications of what we were witnessing. But the elders of the
village and church did.
Then,
there was the business about Finn and me. I didn’t think anyone
outside our family could see him, so as we got older I got lazy about
keeping our friendship secret. We began to venture out of the thick
forest, where we had played since we were babes, and sit together in
the meadow on the outskirts of Clonmel. We’d lie back and let the
tall, green grass engulf us. Finn would make fun of some of the
townsfolk to make me smile.
I
soon learned my mistake. One day, the baker’s wife marched into
the middle of the town square to point her finger in Ma’s face,
making a holy show of herself and poor Ma. The sour-faced woman said
I was inviting trouble, that I’d be stolen away to the sidhe’s
world, or worse. The baker always gave Ma a free meat pie when she
went into the shop, while his wife watched with a scowl. I think she
had it in for us.
Ma
told the woman to “hump off,” much to my delight and horror, and
then she demanded an apology from the fat, old crone. I received
less support when Ma got me home, though. She yanked so hard on my
ear, it felt like it’d come off, and the heat of her anger made her
face go scarlet.
“Maeve
MacKeighry,” she shouted through clenched teeth, still pulling my
earlobe, which I feared had now been deformed forever. “I’ve had
enough of your sprite! You will not see him again, or so help me
Lord Jesus!” When Ma took the Lord’s name in vain, it was
serious business.
But
we both knew Finn could not be so easily discarded. He was a wild
spirit, full of good intentions but no regard for rules, or
restrictions, as his kind often were. Even if I tried to avoid him,
he wouldn’t let go of me.
Ma
feared I’d never have a respectable suitor, even though boys in
Clonmel gave me admiring glances, especially when I wore my long,
thick curls loose. Ma used to say I had classic features offset by
fiery hair. Although I did inherit the high cheekbones of the
MacKeighry clan, I don’t quite know what she meant by “fiery”
since my hair was more brown than red. In either case, boys did
look my way whenever I passed by, but none approached me. Maybe
because my stride wasn’t as dainty as most girls looking for
husbands, or maybe because of the challenge they saw in my green
eyes. Most likely, though, it was because they’d heard the
whispered tales about Finn and me.
Then
the whispers became more frequent. Villagers stopped knocking on our
door. Rumors of witchcraft started to spread. Never mind that the
baker’s wife was the culprit, it still made townsfolk turn away
when we walked down the street to church. When Father Donoghue
shunned our family after Sunday mass more than once, Da left to start
a homestead in Kansas.
Ma
said they were giving away land in America. It might as well be on
the moon for all I cared. And the land must not be worth much if
they were giving it away for free, I figured. Nevertheless, some
months later, we followed.
“The
Lord is giving us a chance at a better life in a new country,” Ma
told us all one rainy afternoon. The weather made us housebound, so
we begged to play with the table. “None of our games will be
allowed in our new home. We’ll have a fresh beginning, and one
without the ways of leprechauns,” she had said with a pointed look
in my direction.
###
I
can still see myself as I was in 1870 at the dawn of becoming a
woman, standing on the deck of the Belle Asisse in high hopes for our
adventure, feeling the ocean wind whip through my hair more
forcefully than it did the patched sails overhead.
As
I looked out at the green waters of the Atlantic, I hoped we would
sight land soon. I wanted to feel solid ground beneath my feet and
get off that moldy, old ship. Finn said I looked tired, and he was
right, too. How could I sleep sharing a bunk with four of my
brothers? Even though they were all younger than me, they were tall
and took up too much room. I’d sleep on the floor, but the rats or
roaches might get me. The bay leaves and garlic Ma put around our
two bunks didn’t keep the vermin away, and things grew larger in
the dank air.
The
sudden laugh in my left ear startled me out of my thoughts. It
seemed closer than it should be, because no one stood next to me at
all. I looked around, wondering if it had been the howling of the
wind, but then the sound came again. Something was playing tricks on
me, but it wasn’t the wind.
“Finn!”
I tried not to call his name. I didn’t want anyone to know he was
onboard. It was supposed to be our secret, but he took many chances
by going on deck in daylight.
I
whirled around when the laugh came again, only this time it was
behind me. A flash of raven black hair was all I spotted before he
disappeared, but it was enough to make me go down the stairs to the
sleeping quarters below. The smell of musty wood and unwashed bodies
assaulted me. I wouldn’t be able to catch him, so I hoped I could
trick him instead. I ran down the stairs and through the maze of
wooden bunks. Some were occupied but most were empty. The deck was
crowded in the afternoons with passengers getting a few hours of
fresh air, so I jumped over empty bed after bed and ran to the
darkest corner. I knew it well, and so did Finn. We’d met there
almost every night after Ma and the boys fell asleep.
I
gasped for air as I collided with a barrel and almost fell to my
knees, but he put his hand out to keep me from doing myself real
injury.
“You
need to be more careful, darlin’ girl. Don’t run so hard.
You’ll burst your laces,” Finn said with his bewitching smile
that made his crystal-clear aqua eyes sparkle. “Young ladies
shouldn’t play so rough.”
I
pulled away and socked him in the shoulder with my fist, making him
wince for just a second. Then he smiled again.
“Although,
you are good at playing rough,” Finn said as he rubbed his
shoulder.
“What
girl with six brothers isn’t?” I flashed a smile at him, trying
to be beguiling like the girl in the novel I’d just finished, but
knowing it wasn’t working. Offending his shoulder hadn’t helped
me much either.
He
took a strand of my hair and twirled it around his finger, smoothing
out the curl as he went. He had impossibly long, tapered fingers.
The kind any girl would envy. Then, more fingers were in my hair in
a soft yet demanding way. I watched, fascinated by the way they
worked their way into my curls, entwining my heart with their rhythm.
I imagined those same long fingers running down my neck, unbuttoning
my bodice, making a pattern on my skin. A small, choking sound
escaped from my throat, much to my shame. Finn dropped my hair and
backed away.
Things
were changing between us, and I wasn’t prepared for it, especially
the way he made me feel. I had always been the one in control, even
when we were small children, but now Finn was able to set my emotions
spinning with just a glance of his eyes, or toss of his glorious
black hair. I tried to get my breath under control, but his perfect
face with its luminous skin and ruby lips got in the way.
So,
I concentrated on the dark green jewel he wore on a leather strip
around his neck instead. Finn was never without it. He’d told me
before that the emerald contained what was left of his ancient soul.
The jewel looked tarnished and murky, as if it had seen better days.
I had suggested we polish it once, but Finn had said that was
impossible and refused to talk about it further. I stopped asking
about it when we were children.
He
stood there watching me with his light eyes. My heart wasn’t
calming down at all, so I felt the need to shift my weight from one
foot to another. Then, I remembered last night and was quite pleased
to feel something other than desire.
“I’m
so angry with you! I don’t think we should be friends anymore!”
I tried to sound steadfast in my conviction, but as he stepped
closer, his sweet spicy scent made my senses spin again. I leaned
against the side of the ship, wanting to feel the hardness of the
wood and smell the mold that was everywhere, instead of Finnegan.
“You
don’t mean that,” Finn said in a husky voice as he put a hand on
each side of my head and bent in toward me. “My Maeve, you’re
the center of my world. You have been since the day I first saw you
in the forest. Why would you say such a thing?”
My
chest heaved and fell with each breath, making my skin chafe against
the course cloth of my plain gown. I longed to be free of it, but
just the thought of what would happen if I suddenly stripped off my
restrictive clothes made me feel faint. I swallowed hard.
“I
couldn’t find you. I looked all over the ship, and waited for
hours last night, but you weren’t here. Where have you been?” I
asked, not wanting to sound like a petulant child, or jealous, for
that matter, but I wasn’t successful. I held my breath and waited.
I had never clung to Finn before. It had always been the other way
around.
A
flash of concern crossed his face. “I was here, while you were
eating supper. But then Michael walked by, so I left. Your brothers
are sentries. It’s as if they know I’m on the ship.” Finn
stooped, put his lips to my forehead, and then stepped back.
The
air became a bit less intoxicating as he moved away, and I could
almost breathe again. “Were you with someone else last night?”
I didn’t want to ask, but it needed to be in the open. I had seen
Finn looking at some of the other young ladies on board, and I wasn’t
sure if it was curiosity or longing in his eyes.
All
expression left his face. “Don’t ever ask me that again. I’ve
been devoted to you your entire life, and that has never faltered.”
His voice was low, so only I could hear it, but it was filled with
emotion. “It never will.”
I
nodded, recognizing the truth in his statement, and felt the blush
fill my face, thankful the darkness covered it. I wanted to put my
hand on his arm and kiss his cheek the way I used to, but I hadn’t
felt comfortable doing that in quite some time. It would lead to
things neither of us was strong enough to control.
“Maeve!
Maeve!” Michael’s voice was close. It was too dark to tell
where my eldest brother was. There’d be the devil to pay if he saw
us together.
“I’ll
be here tonight, waiting for you,” Finn said in earnest, and then
he was gone. A flash of light remained in the air around me. It had
an odd golden glow.
About
the Author:
Maureen
Willett is a writer of fiction that pushes the boundaries of
established genres. Her stories mostly come from her own family
legends that have been passed down through generations, but then she
tops them off with a twist of faery dust and angel wings.
But
at the core of each story are great characters in very human
conflicts that anyone will find compelling. Each novel is crafted as
an experience that will take readers beyond their day-to-day lives,
incorporating themes of time travel, reincarnation, and magic.
She
lives in Hawaii and finds its ethereal beauty a source of inspiration
for her writing. She is a former journalist, public relations
professional, and media marketing specialist. Writing fiction has
been her passion since grade school.
Interview
Where are you from?
Originally from Northern California, but I’ve spent
the last 23 years in Hawaii, so I now consider it my home.
Tell us your latest news?
I’m excited to tell you that my latest novel, Near
The Wild, is now available on all ebook platforms.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing in college as a journalism major. I
went on to work as a reporter in both newspapers and magazines after college,
but I soon discovered that I’d rather write fiction. When I was pregnant with
my son, it was difficult for me to do too much as I had a high-risk pregnancy,
so I started writing my first novel.
I’ve kept at it ever since.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
After writing my second novel, A Guardian’s Tale.
The first one I wrote was awful, so I spent two years writing A Guardian’s
Tale. A revised and revised until I got
it where I wanted. The process made me a much better writer.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I don’t know that I had much inspiration with my
first. With my second novel, A Guardian’s Tale, I was inspired to write the
story of a woman who travels back in time to the World War II era by chance and
ends up becoming friends with an extraordinary young woman. That young woman
would go on to become my heroine’s mother—a mother she never knew. This was my
own personal fantasy, because my mother passed away when I was a child. So, the
first novel I am proud of was inspired by my mother.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I write easy-to-read novels that are page
turners. My readers often tell me they
can’t put them down.
How did you come up with the title?
Usually it just comes to me. I call my books
whatever comes to my head until the real title presents itself, so my early
drafts have odd, boring titles.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?
Not in this particular novel. It’s mostly a coming
of age story--how choices in life can sometimes be difficult and confusing,
especially when they involve romance.
How much of the book is realistic?
Most all of it is realistic because it’s based on my
actual family history. Some of the characters are fantasy, such as the fae who
follows the family from Ireland to Kansas. Oddly, the MacKeighry’s practice of
making tables, or objects, rise off the ground is based in fact. We did it as
kids with my aunts quite often at family holiday gatherings. It was a fun family game we all played
together. Only as an adult did I realize it was unusual.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events
in your own life?
Very much based on a combination of my mother’s and
father’s ancestors and their experiences immigrating to America. Even the sod
house where the MacKeighrys live in Kansas is based on a house my grandfather
grew up in. I had the fortune to see it
many years ago while visiting my Dad’s family farm before it was destroyed.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Interview With The
Vampire by Anne Rice, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Foxes Of Harrow by Frank
Yerby, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor?
Actually Stephen King for his non-fiction book, On
Writing. It’s a great tutorial about how to write. I absorbed it cover to
cover, soaked it in.
What book are you reading now?
I’m currently in the midst of the fifth Outlander
novel. It’s quite long, so I sometimes take a break and read JK Rowling’s
Cuckoo’s Calling.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your
interest?
New authors? No, not right now.
What are your current projects?
I’m working on my next novel, The Edge, which is
about a woman in modern Los Angeles who can see people’s past lives just by
touching them. It’s a story about redemption. She damned her soul in her last
life, which ironically she can’t completely see because what she did was too
abhorrent to be remembered. Now, she’s
trying to save herself by helping the man she wronged in the previous life.
What would you like my readers to know?
Tour giveaway 4 $10 Amazon GCs
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was intrigued with your synopsis and I am adding Near the Wild Near the top of my reading list!
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