Historical novelist, Martha Conway enters into another realm with ‘We Meet Apart’
Ireland these days is in the midst of social unrest. The issues include heightened social tension, housing pressures, and political volatility regarding Brexit, with ongoing, scattered protests; some dealing with refugees/asylum seekers, as well as rising political challenges.
It could be said that Ireland has always been in some sort of unrest as The ancient Romans could never conquer Ireland. And that is why Ireland was outside Hadrian’s wall. Nevertheless!
The Emerald Isle seems to weave an enchanting spell on many an unsuspecting visitor, even in the 21st Century. This is the situation of writer Martha Conway.
“On my 42nd birthday, I was with my husband and our two children and we were flying over the Atlantic Ocean, coming back from Europe,” she said.
“About an hour into the flight, says Conway, the pilot made an announcement that there was airplane trouble, and we had to turn around and do an emergency landing in Shannon, Ireland.”
When the heart-palpitations of what could have become a ‘near-death experience’ simmered down Conway was inexplicably charmed. As she explained.
“We landed, and the airline put us up in a little hotel outside Shannon. When my husband took our kids downstairs to get some food, I stayed behind because I wanted to take a moment.”
“Here I was in Ireland, said Conway, where my ancestors on both sides of my family had lived for 500 years.”
“It was my birth-day, she reiterated, and although I didn't just have a near-death experience, it FELT like I had a near-death experience.”
“I had wanted to write about Ireland, and now here I was, in Ireland, said Conway and it just felt like a sign.”
From the unexpected visit, emerged Conway’s latest novel ‘We Meet Apart.’
It has officially been released this month and Conway is currently promoting the book. Her schedule of appearances begins tomorrow in Santa Cruz and will continue throughout the country.
Conway’s writing has become over the past decade, a very powerful expression of the historical novel. Yet this recent novel has been compared to the works of Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami.
Murakami’s work has been described as “magical realism” with surrealist elements.
With this new novel ‘We Meet Apart,’ Conway ventures into new territory. As she explains. “I did it completely backwards. I came up with the idea, and then I started researching, hoping I would find something that I could pin it on and I did,” said Conway.
“I found a 17th century pamphlet, said Conway, about pookies and ghosts and how they are best seen at twilight. And I was like, bang, that's it. I can do it.”
The premise of “We Meet Apart” is as follows. When World II shuts down ocean travel in 1940, two American sisters are trapped in Ireland– but in different realities. In 18-year-old Gaby’s world, and true to history, Ireland has claimed neutrality and is not fighting in the war. But in 17-year-old Sabine’s world Germany has invaded Ireland, and as an enemy alien she must survive on the run.
Both sisters believe the other one has died. But when they each arrive at a grand Irish manor owned by distant relatives, they find one another again. For one hour at dusk– “the time of pookies and ghosts” in Celtic tradition– their two worlds overlap. However, when Sabine falls in love with a German officer in her reality, a man who is charming but devious in Gaby’s reality, even this short time together is threatened.
As a creative writing instructor for Stanford's Writing Certificate program, Conway has written five historical novels centered on family drama.
As she says, “I grew up in a large Irish family with six sisters—no brothers.”
“Both my school best friend and my neighborhood best friend also only had sisters, noted Conway and no brothers.”
“So I write a lot about sisters. Also, I always have a little kid in my book, because I think little kids are hysterical,” said Conway.
‘We Meet Apart’ has received praise and the unexpected enchantment of Ireland is definitely alluring. The Irish Times this past March published a list of the best Irish novels & short-stories so far for the 21st Century. Perhaps, ‘We Meet Apart’ will be among them!
To learn more about Martha Conway’s latest novel visit her website.