Paddy Cummins's Blog

The Irish are one of the most widely scattered nationalities in the world (did you know that one in six of us born in Ireland lives abroad?

It is of no surprise that there are now almost 40 million Americans that claim to have Irish ancestry considering that almost 5 million Irish have emigrated to the US since the 1700′s. The exodus of Irish immigrants to America really took off during the Great Hunger (Irish Potato Famine) between 1845-52 when over 1 million Irish died and many of those that survived fled in search of a better life.

Many Irish Americans feel a deep, spiritual connection to Ireland, their homeland and the birthplace of their ancestors.

What is amazing is that many American’s ancestors left Ireland because of dire poverty and starvation. Yet despite the difficulties of their lives in Ireland, they brought a great love of their homeland with them to the United States. I think there are few groups of immigrants so deeply linked to their homeland by nostalgic memories. This spiritual, mystical connection has been passed down through the generations.

Throughout the long years living in the US, many Irish American still recount fond memories of their Irish grandparents or great-grandparents. They attribute their great admiration to a warmth, wit, turn-of-phrase, or generally pleasant outlook on life that is unique to the Irish.

So, to celebrate Easter, a historically poignant time for the Irish everywhere, I am delighted to give you all a gift of a little bit of Ireland in the form of my new book: “At Home in Ireland” (The Green and Misty Isle).

It is a collection of short stories and poems all set in Ireland.

I describe the ten stories as ‘Rich & Real’ because they bring to life the real charm and character of the Irish and show the richness of the wit and warmth that you only find in Ireland.

The twenty poems which I refer to as ‘Sweet & Tender’ also come from the heart of Ireland and with their lyrical rhyme and tender themes, capture the essence and spirit of Ireland and the Irish.

So, for five days – Tuesday 16th April to Saturday 20th April – “AT HOME IN IRELAND” will be available to download, FREE OF CHARGE.

To download your FREE copy of “AT HOME IN IRELAND” just click on this link:

https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Irelan...

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My new book: ‘AT HOME IN IRELAND’ has just been launched on Amazon.
It is a collection of short stories and poems all set in Ireland.
I describe the ten stories as ‘Rich & Real’ because they bring to life the real charm and character of the Irish and show the richness of the wit and warmth that you only find in Ireland.

The twenty poems which I refer to as ‘Sweet & Tender’ also come from the heart of Ireland and with their lyrical rhyme and tender themes, capture the essence and spirit of Ireland and the Irish.
As Easter is a time of special historical significance for us Irish and the 40 million Irish throughout the world, I thought I would give them a little gift from the Emerald Isle to remind them of their homeland and the amazing little country we have built since that fateful Easter of 1916.

So, for the next five days – Tuesday 16th April to Saturday 20th April – “AT HOME IN IRELAND” will be available to download, FREE OF CHARGE.
Get it from www.amazon.com or www.amazon.co.uk

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OUR BLIND EYE

Life is a bore and a struggle

Well-heeled articulates cry.

But every three seconds in Africa,

Another little baby will die.

We feed on Globalisation,

Drink the Prosperity Boom.

A mother with no food or shelter,

Will bury the fruit of her womb.

Tax exiles study the markets,

Smile as the graph rises high.

Poor Africans scramble for water.

Many will wither and die.

Celebs and sport stars are pampered

With millions they don’t really need.

A pound works wonders in Africa,

Many little mouths would feed.

Billions are spent on the space race,

Exploring the stars above.

Pennies from Heaven are helping

Lifesavers dispensing love.

Arsenals for mass self-destruction

Stockpiled at enormous expense.

An African child’s vaccination

Costs only a meagre few pence.

Affluence, addiction and obesity,

Ills that are killing the West.

Decease, malnutrition and hunger,

Sends African children to rest.

When will we see through this scandal?

Get the big picture in sight.

To be born and live life in dignity,

Is everyone’s human right.

If the lead set by tireless campaigners

In showing the World the way.

Makes hunger and poverty history,

I’ll rejoice on that wonderful day.

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MALTA & GOZO

Showing You Around

This is the third book I have written in praise of Malta. It is my way of showing gratitude for the pleasure I have received there and my wish to share it with the world. When I first set foot on the little sun-drenched island twenty years ago I was so impressed with everything I found that I referred to it as my little ‘Gem in the Med.’ I have since returned every year for extended periods, have seen the wonderful progress and development that has transformed the landscape and infrastructure, and I am now even more impressed, filled with respect and admiration, and more than ever it is still my little ‘Gem in the Med.’

So come with me now as I begin my journey. I’ll show you around the delights of The Maltese Islands, the hidden treasures of bygone days, the quaint little towns and villages, and I’ll introduce you to the most friendly and charming people in the world. You’ll see then what it is that makes Malta so special and why it will always be my little ‘Gem in the Med.’

The long wait is over at last. I've been promising to complete this novel for three years.

It wasn't an easy write. The plots and sub-plots were complex and sensitive. I needed to get it right.

Family sagas tend to be like that, especially in Ireland where traumas and tragedies are secretive and hidden away in the depths of broken hearts.

The novel is based on a true story of the incredible events that occurred within a little Irish farm family over three generations.

It is set on a little farm on the side of ‘Slieve Coilte,’ an idyllic green and misty hill in County Wexford in the South East of Ireland.

As you read the story and travel through three generations with those charming Irish farming folk, you will also experience the joy of life on the quaint little farm, savouring nature’s treasure trove, the beautiful farm animals, the changing seasons, and the exquisite landscape.

I know some of the events will shock, amaze and astonish, but the story overall will also inform, intrigue and fascinate.

I'm happy with the end result. I hope you will be too.

THE MALTESE ISLANDS

You will find the Maltese Islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino glistening in the centre of the Mediterranean, 90 km south of the Italian island of Sicily and roughly 300 km north of Africa. The three islands have a population of around 450,000 in an area of about 320 square kilometres.

Malta is by far the largest island measuring 21 km by 14 km with 420,000 inhabitants and is the main administrative and commercial centre of the islands. Here I can soak up 7,000 years of intriguing history, enjoy spectacular baroque architecture, and relish all year sunshine across the most exquisite land and seascape. It’s a feast to the eye and a joy to the heart. Everywhere I see honey-coloured stone walls, a coastline of cute little coves, startling high cliffs, quiet sandy bays, all lovingly embraced by the deepest blue Mediterranean.
Malta is like a big fascinating outdoor museum. Relics of its astonishing past are clearly visible for me to see and I can delve into millennia of incredible history, explore the amazing feats and legacy of the Knights of St John, or walk in the footsteps of St Paul, the shipwreck survivor who became Malta’s patron saint. With all of that exhilarating activity I can never become bored in Malta. Each day I find a new delight, some quaint little spot to explore, a little hamlet or a cosy sheltered beach to rest and be massaged by the soothing sunshine.
Gozo is the second largest island, 14 km by 6 km, with 30,000 souls, greener, quieter, more casual and relaxing and a delight to wander at my leisure. I never tire of visiting Malta’s little sister where I feel time stands still, where the people are so genuinely friendly and charming and where the welcome I get is so warm and wonderful. I also get a strong sense of the religious piety of the people of Gozo. Beautiful churches adorn every little village, the Ta Pinu Sanctuary is now a world renowned pilgrimage centre and the Church of St George in Victoria is one of the most richly adorned churches in Europe. The landscape too is a joy to behold. Little farmsteads surrounded by greenery and dry stone walls, villages untouched by time, a craggy coastline of abstract beauty and a network of winding roads that always end at the edge of the blue Mediterranean.

Comino, the smallest island, is virtually uninhabited except in summer when it comes to life with an influx of divers, boaters and nature lovers. Perched midway between Malta and Gozo and measuring only 2.5 square km, it is a delight to visit for its sense of tranquillity, peace and solitude. There isn’t much to explore on this tiny barren rock, one hotel, an ancient church and a watchtower built by the Knights several centuries ago.
The Blue Lagoon is Comino’s great attraction. This little cove is famous for its unique turquoise waters floating over a bed of white sand and is a life-changing experience for swimmers and snorkelers. Scuba divers find the underwater caves irresistible and large numbers flock there to explore the mystique.

Most people, like me, visit Comino as part of a day trip from Malta. I prefer to go in the spring or autumn shoulder seasons to avoid the intense heat. I simply hop on a ferry in St Paul’s Bay and enjoy a lovely day, savouring the pleasure of the Blue Lagoon and rambling around this mysterious sun-baked island.

What is it that attracts so many millions of visitors to those little islands peeping up from the great Mediterranean? I don’t have the answer to that intriguing question. I guess it’s a combination of things, some rare qualities that define the Maltese and make them special and unique. To me, Malta is a magnate, luring me back every year and rewarding me with peace of mind, energy and wellbeing, and a yearning to return for more of their magic recipe.

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Malta's Hidden Treasures

TREASURE (1) VALLETTA.

Valletta, The Fortress City, "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen" is Malta's capital city. It is a living, working city, the administrative and commercial heart of the Islands. Valletta is named after its founder, the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valette. The magnificent fortress city grew on the arid rock of Mount Sceberras peninsula, which rises steeply from two deep harbours, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years, even more remarkable when considering the fact that mechanical tools did not exist at the time and the whole city was built entirely by hand.
For me, Valletta is the jewel in the crown of great cities, it has enraptured me since the first day I entered through its magnificent gates, and continues to warm my heart with every step I take along its welcoming streets. Most cities around the world originate sporadically, and evolve in a haphazard jigsaw of urban sprawl, with little or no distinguishing lines to indicate where the city ends and the country begins. Not so, Valletta. It becomes clear as you enter, that here is a purpose built city, brilliantly designed in Baroque architecture, massively fortified, painstakingly embellished, and with a unique and intangible charm and character,
When the Knights of St. John arrived in Malta in 1530, this area of the peninsula was uninhabited, except for a few farmers and fishermen, some small dwellings, and perhaps a little church. But these holy men had their plans well prepared. This wonderful location, high up on a plateau, and looking down on one of the great harbours of the world, soon caught their eye, seeing it as the ideal site for a big walled and fortified city, and immediately began building it. The UNESCO World Heritage City that is Valletta today is a glorious legacy of the Knights, and a testament to their wonderful vision and devotion to excellence.
The city is busy by day, yet retains a timeless atmosphere by night, that gives the feeling that you are walking back in time. The grid of narrow streets boasts some of Europe's finest art works, churches and palaces. Valletta is abundantly rich in sites to see and explore, intriguing historical buildings around every corner: votive statues, niches, fountains and coats of arms high up on parapets. Narrow side streets are full of tiny quaint shops and cafés, while the main streets are lined with larger international branded shops for fashion, music, jewellery and much more.
Since 1974, Malta has been an Independent Democratic Republic, and the Maltese are so proud of that status and distinction, that the main street of their capital city is named Republic Street. This famous street is the heartbeat of Valletta, the assembly point of a great cosmopolitan togetherness, visitors of all nationalities sharing an appreciation of the delights of this ancient and ornate Capital. While Valletta’s main street is predominantly a shopping showcase of a myriad of international brands, it is also the location of some important attractions particularly the Grand Master’s Palace, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the world renowned Cathedral of St. John.

'IN LOVE WITH MALTA'
Just launched on Kindle.

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A MAN'S LIFE
THE FOUR STAGES.


Firstly I have to say that I’m no expert on life and living. I know I have traveled a long way and had lots of ups and downs, but my trek along life’s twisting path was mostly one of trial and error – I got some things right but it was usually at the second or third attempt.
One thing I have discovered is that there are four stages of a man’s life and they are each so different that they are really separate lives in themselves. I think this cute little metaphor sums them up very well.
Childhood: You believe in Santa Claus.
Early Adult: You don’t believe in Santa Claus.
Middle Age: You are Santa Claus.
Old Age: You look like Santa Claus.

YOUTH

A very rich old man once said: “I’d give all of my wealth for one year of my youth.” I think that is a sentiment most people in the twilight of their lives would feel and subscribe to. I certainly would. Of course the sad part is that it can never happen and we just have to live on with the bitter/sweet memories of our youth and childhood.
I have heard youth described as a stage when you are ‘young, dumb and full of impulses,’ when you think with your heart and not with your head. Yes, I would agree with that. In my youth we were no different than any other generation. We were reckless risk-takers, never considered our actions and just soaked up as much excitement and adventure as we could find without any thought for the dangers or consequences of our thrill-seeking.
We thought we knew everything when we really knew nothing at all. We had little or no respect for authority, were blinkered by ignorance and stupidity, and our only ambition was to grow up as fast as we could and proceed to fix the world. We couldn’t wait to move on and now we would dearly love to move back. Forget it folks – we’re not going there.


EARLY ADULT

Having survived the wild recklessness of youth you are now struggling ahead through your twenties and thirties. Your eyes are being opened by the reality that there is a lot more to life than you thought. You begin to wonder how you could have been so dumb and stupid during your youth, it dawns on you that this world is no picnic, and you nostalgically pine for those glorious years of fun and excitement now nothing more than a distant memory.
Sara Teasdale, that much loved American lyric poet put it so beautifully:
When I can look life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the truth,
And taken in exchange – my youth.
This is the time when you build a structure to your life and have come to appreciate and respect authority. You are determined to cut out those silly mistakes and you start thinking with your head instead of your heart. If you’re lucky you’ll find a good partner to share the new burden of life, to create a family, keep your mind on the important things and keep you out of harm’s way. You are now a real man with ambition and responsibility; you can’t risk failure so you just have to work hard and smart if you are to accomplish your goals. You are learning fast, figuring things out and gradually getting results.
You really enjoy the feeling of enlightenment and achievement and you are rapidly gaining confidence and self-esteem. You are firmly focussed on the future but you are still a student in the ‘University of Life,’ and your goal is to be a complete man and fulfil your destiny.


MIDDLE AGE

The third stage of a man’s life is the reflective stage because this is where you come to terms with what you have and haven't accomplished in life. You accept your shortcomings and failures, enjoy your accomplishments, and you're now happy to pass your wisdom and life experience on to others. Your family are grown up, well educated and in good careers. You have welcomed your first grandson and bask in the knowledge that you now have an heir and your DNA is preserved for future generations. You are now a wise man with a vast reservoir of knowledge, having learned and mastered all the important lessons of life, you know what makes sense – and what doesn’t, you have no time for bullshit and you understand how everything in life works. Best of all, you’re very careful with your words, weighing up every situation, so that when you speak, everyone listens. You are now a respected senior citizen, your opinions are valued and your self-esteem is at its peak. You don’t take risks anymore. Sure why would you with your fortune made and your legacy secured for posterity.



OLD AGE

I know that my age says I am now in this fourth stage of life but I still feel I’m really in the third stage. I have perfect health of mind and body, with no pains or aches, sharp as a bee, rising each morning at dawn and enjoying every minute of my day. When I look in the mirror, instead of seeing an old doddery senile cripple, I see a vibrant, energetic fellow, happy and content, ready to embrace whatever the day brings, the mystery and opportunity, the beauty and adventure, and I’m happy in the knowledge that I am fully alive to it all. My age never bothers me – it’s only a date on the calendar - and I look forward to a healthy and exciting life for many years to come. (If all that sounds like a large dollop of smugness and pomposity, it probably is and I apologize, but what can I do – it’s one of my chronic afflictions.)
Seriously though, the fourth stage in a man's life is a sad stage because you start to regress. You can't advance; you can't become wiser, so you can only go backwards and get stupid again. You are the perfect example of the old saying: “Once a man – twice a child.” Despite your wisdom, despite your experience and what you've accomplished, the feeling is that your views and your understanding of the ways of the world have become outdated. You become irrelevant and you can't suffer it because you were once so highly intelligent and respected. So you become cantankerous and start moaning about it. You become frustrated, impatient and irrational, "no one shows me respect anymore.” But you’re not done yet.
Don’t throw me on the scrap heap
Just because I’m old.
I still have talent and skills to offer,
If I may be so bold.
My talent is called multi tasking,
Or so I’ve been led to believe.
I can simultaneously wet myself,
Laugh, cough, fart and sneeze.


No. That’s definitely not me. I just included it to remind myself that if I’m not careful, it could be me. No. I’m not going there – at least not for a long time yet.

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Excerpt from 'Doctor Google' (My Guide to Health & Happiness)
www.amazon.com/dp/B00W1ENO9M

Dream Valley is located in the heart of Kilkenny, a picturesque county in the province of Leinster, in the South-East Region of Ireland.
The rich green pasture of hills and valleys is shrouded by the quaint charm of Brandon Hill, adorned by the beads of little friendly villages, and landscaped by the contours of three trout-filled rivers, (The Three Sisters) flowing gently through its heartland.
It’s no surprise that this has always been a popular tourist destination, given its beauty, history and heritage. It is also a rich and fertile agriculture area; its landscape a tapestry of big and small farmsteads, multi-coloured livestock, and in harvest time, fields of golden grain.
It is also a renowned sporting county. The famous Irish National Game of Hurling is sacred here, and Kilkenny champion teams of past centuries are proudly honoured in song and in story. Horse racing is revered too, and comes a close second in tradition and popularity, with the historic Gowran Park Racecourse centrally located, surrounded by many stables and stud farms, nurseries of past and present champion racehorses.

It’s no wonder then that Garry Wren, having learned his trade in the big equine centres of England chose this dream location to set up his training stables in Ireland. Where else would he find a beauty spot like this?
It is also no surprise that this idyllic picture-postcard landscape is the setting for a new romantic adventure novel. Dream Valley is surrounded by beauty and charm and richly deserves this honor, but as the novel shows it is also a haven of mystery and intrigue.

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‘DREAM VALLEY’ (The Price of Paradise) by Paddy Cummins is available to download on Kindle.
To view, read a free excerpt, or buy it, Just click:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G1YITBG

Writing in the Wall Street Journal in January 2013, Nicholas Carr, author of “The Shallows – What the Internet is doing to our Brains,” says:
“Lovers of ink and paper, take heart. Reports of the death of the printed book may be exaggerated.”
He goes on to say:
“Ever since Amazon introduced its popular Kindle E-Reader a few years ago, pundits have assumed that the future of book publishing is digital. Opinions on the speed of the shift from page to screen have varied. But the consensus has been that digitization, having had its way with music, photographs and maps, would in due course have its way with books as well. By 2015, one media maven predicted a few years ago, traditional books would be gone.”

Well, it’s now 2015 and although E-Book sales are flourishing, (Thank God) the ‘Hardback’ and ‘Paperback’ are showing no signs of dying. Like you, I get the bulk of my sales from my E-Books, (Where would we be without Kindle?) but I wouldn’t like to see the demise of traditional print books. They will always be bought, read and cherished and I believe they will survive and prosper in this new digital age. Together with E-Books and Audio books they will be part of our new ‘Variety Pack’ to bring us authors and readers much business and pleasure in the years ahead.

But for us ‘Indie Authors’ the E-Book is the future. It really has been a ‘God-Send.’ We are now our own publishers, free from the indignity, arrogance and humiliation thrown at us by traditional publishers, many of whom are now struggling. I’m sorry, but I have to say, I have no sympathy for them. We are now blessed to have a new system at our fingertips, we are in full control and our success is based on our writing, promotional and marketing ability; not on the spurious call of some self-appointed ‘expert’ in some ‘Ivory Tower.’

I know traditional print books will always have a place in literature, but for me, the E-Book is my ‘bread and butter.’ When I published my travel book: ‘It’s a Long Way to Malta’ in 2012 as an E-Book on Kindle, I also published it as a paperback on Amazon. I hoped and expected both versions to sell in equal numbers. To my absolute delight and some surprise the E-Book became a multiple Kindle #1 holding a top ten position in its genre for over two years. In contrast, the paperback version, while selling well, reached only a fraction of the E-Book sales.

I can’t explain the reason for the difference in sales. Perhaps in Malta and the UK where the marketing was targeted, readers are more advanced in technology and digital-minded. Another factor might be that being a travel book, the E-Book version is more mobile in this age of weight restrictions on planes.

Perhaps, maybe. Still, I’m not really convinced, and as Oscar Wilde said: ‘Convince a man against his will and he remains unconvinced still.’ Another of my novels: ‘Green Lodge,’ is published in digital and paperback and once again the E-Book made it to Kindle #1 in its genre, while the paperback sauntered along at a snail’s pace. To me that’s further proof that the E-Book is our future and long may it continue.

'It's a Long Way to Malta'
www.amazon.com/dp/B008QNJJBE

'Green Lodge'
www.amazon.com/dp/B00B24QUWK

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