Cora Harrison

Cora Harrison

Mullaghmore mountain on the Burren, County Clare, Ireland

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Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Yes, indeed, Toby and Elaine. There will be a new Reverend Mother book. One of my best, I do think. It's called Death of a Prominant Citizen. It will be out at the end of March. I do so much hope you will like it when it comes.

Tue Feb 22 20:53:58 2020

 
Elaine Oakley writes from UK
Dear Cora

I thoroughly enjoy your Burren books, I love the way you describe the Burren, so much so I'm planning a visit, to see for myself the landscapes that you have described. I have read all books in order but wondered if you planned anymore? I would be interested in either a print or ebook version!

Many thanks for so many Happy reading hours

Fri Feb 21 01:38:42 2020

 
Toby Young writes from USA
Is it possible a new Reverend Mother book might be coming in this new year?

Wed Jan 22 04:11:56 2020

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Dear Nan,
I just can't think what happened to my reply to your nery nice letter! I must have pressed the wrong button or something.

No, it wasn't my decision to finish the series. In fact, it came as a bit of shock. I had many more episodes planned, and was very disappointed not to have the chance to see them in print.

Hopefully the market may improve and I will get another chance.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my 'Reverend Mother' books.

Tue Nov 12 12:09:53 2019

 
Nan Musgrove writes from England
Dear Cora, I've just finished re-reading all 13 Burren mysteries and I enjoyed them just as much this time. You write so well that Mara and her scholars seem almost believably real !! So I'm sad that 'An Unjust Judge', which is the last book, ends her story so abruptly. I wonder if you have imagined anything about her subsequent life and whether you have any thoughts about writing a final novel ? It would be very satisfying to be able to say 'farewell' to her with a feeling of closure and appreciation for all her (your !!) achievements with the Brehon law.
Yours sincerely. Nan.

Mon Nov 4 00:44:25 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
That's really nice of you, Margaret. I suppose if you ask for a Burren book in a local bookshop, it would be interesting to see what they say.

I've despaired and now rely on America and UK for fans who buy books. I think some Irish libraries do keep them.

Thank you again. It's lovely to hear from a fan.

Thu Oct 24 10:35:35 2019

 
Margaret writes from West of Ireland
Cora, thanks for reply, is there anything your readers can do to promote your readership in Ireland.

Slan

Tue Oct 22 15:24:49 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
You are not the only one to wonder about this, Margaret. Americans are quite bemused when they come over here and find them impossible to source.. The only explanation that has ever been given to me is that bookshops in Ireland pick from a central buying source and that source does not think my books are what Irish people would like (!)

I suppose the best thing is to source them on Amazon where delivery is very quick, prices are good and they also sell second-hand editions - something that is useful as I am conscious that my books - nothing to do with me - are priced rather high.

Sp gland that you like them. Reverend Mother will have a new book out in a few months.

Wed Oct 16 10:18:34 2019

 
Margaret writes from West of Ireland
Dia Dhuit,

I love reading your books but am wondering why they are not readily available in Ireland. I succeeded in obtaining most of the "Burren Mystery series from various secondhand book shops around the UK. At present I am reading the Reverend Mother books when I can source them.

Best Wishes

Margaret

Tue Oct 15 11:40:27 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Thank you, Donna.
Yes, I am pondering about the possibility of a digital/kindle book to test the water for extending the Burrren series.
I shall have to weigh it up. Authors, I am afraid, get very poorly paid, for months of work and somehow a digital book doesn't give the same satisfaction, or money. Also it seems to get pirated very quickly!

I do hope you get to see the Burren some time - in the sun, if possible. I was going to say in June, but the photos on my website were taken on a frosty day in late December. I hope that you like them.

Wed Oct 2 09:01:39 2019

 
Donna writes from USA
I love your Burren mysteries! They're my favorites of the books you've written. I notice below that you asked whether someone would be interested in a Burren e-book -- I don't know what other responses you've had, but I would jump at the chance to get another Burren book in any form!

I was lucky enough to visit Ireland this past summer, and while I didn't get to the Burren, it was wonderful to read some of the books in Ireland.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Burren e-book!

Mon Sep 30 21:25:22 2019

 
Karin Bennemo writes from Sweden
Haha, so I am not the first to wonder about the bread! You are forgiven, the books are so nice. And the trip to the Burren was wonderful.
Thank you for your answer.
Karin

Sun Aug 4 17:50:00 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Oh, dear! This wretched soda bread! Whenever I feel pleased with myself about the research I have done into Brehon law etc. well, this anachronistic soda bread crops up.

Still, I'm glad that you enjoyed the Burren books despite my inaccuracy on this.

And I hope that the beauty of the Burren landscape was a good experience.

Mon Jul 29 19:57:41 2019

 
Karin Bennemo writes from Sweden
Dear Cora, I love the Burren series and even went so far as to visit the Burren a couple of years ago. Lovely and fascinating landscape. Right now I am reading Condemned to death. In chapter 6 Mara eats soda bread for breakfast, freshly baked by Brigid. But when I (suspiciously) google the history of soda bread, I find that it doesn't date further back than the 1800's. That is in its present form, baked with baking soda. Did they have some earlier method of leavening the bread in Maras time?
Regards Karin

Mon Jul 29 16:45:19 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
I'm very sorry, but the right words wouldn't come unless I knew the dogs well, and that would be a time commitment that I would be unable to make as I am very busy and have contracted to write three books this year.

Wed Jul 10 23:02:34 2019

 
Stiofan MacGabhann writes from Co. Clare, Ireland
Hello Cora,
I enjoyed all books of the Burren Mysteries Series and particularly like your style of writing.
Now this is a far shot and you are probably awfully busy, but I was wondering if you were prepared to spend a few minutes a week writing a 300-400 word piece on a rescue dog for the local paper. I am part of Clare Animal Welfare and we try to re-home as many dogs as we can. We are all volunteers and any help is much appreciated. The right words make all the difference for people to notice the dog in the paper.
Thank you very much for considering it.

Wed Jul 10 22:38:30 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
What a wonderful message to read on coming back from a holiday.

Yes, at the moment I do plan to extend the Reverend Mother books, but, alas, the Burren books no longer sell so well so I doubt that I will receive any more requests from my publisher to extend that series. A pity, because I hugely enjoyed writing them and as I live quite close to the Burren, never was at a loss for a new place to write about. Oddly, I usually start with a place, then imagine an event and then the characters come to me.

I do so hope that there will be many more Reverend Mothers for you to enjoy and thank you so much for writing to tell me how you have enjoyed them.

Tue Jul 9 15:30:20 2019

 
Joanie Gruber writes from United States
I currently work for Sisters of Notre Dame deNamur here in Cincinnati, Ohio and found Fidelma mysteries in their library. Having lived two years in the north of England, and spending a summer in Northern Ireland, I fell in love with them. They led me on a quest for similar literature, which led me to your books.

Today I just finished An Unjust Judge. I read (in sequence) the entire series. I assume you will not be adding any further of the series past this book? My knowledge of ancient and mideival Ireland, and it's laws, has become far more extensive than I imagined through your work!

I have also read all of the Reverand Mother series thus far. Is it probable this will be the series you will now extend?

As a voracious reader (my previous passion was Amish and Mennonite fiction, having devoured over 500 of those) I started on British village mysteries and now Celtic ones. I will say that your historical research and writing style are both excellent. Captures the imagination and carries the reader along. I have really enjoyed your books but mourn the further exploration into the life of Mara!

Thank you for the patience, discipline and hard work you have put in to these literary contributions. They are among my very favorites.

Fri Jul 5 16:26:19 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
I'm delighted you like them, the laws of Ireland up to the sixteenth century are fascinating and often some strange law will provide me with a germ of inspiration for a story - this happened with Sting of Justice


Yes, I think all of the books are available in paperback on Amazon and I hope you continue to enjoy them.

Sat Jun 15 00:36:52 2019

 
Dani Feierstein writes from USA
Hello- I just discovered your Burren mysteries and have enjoyed the ones that Ihe red very very much. So far I have read " My Lady Judge, Verdict of the court and Chain of Evidence. I am a long time fan of the Sister Fidelma mysteries by Peter Tremayne. I'm so glad to have found your books. I live in troy Michigan in the USA. the public library here delivers books to people who request this wonderful service. these books are intriguing and spellbinding. Are they available in paperback.
Thank you for writing them. Please continue .
Sincerely,
Dani Feierstein
drfeier@gmail.com

Fri Jun 14 23:44:28 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
I loved doing the Burren series, but somehow the Reverend Mother series is more within my DNA. I think that the stories that my father and mother told of these times - both were around during these years - my mother from a background nearer that of Eileen and Patrick and my father from the 'merchant princes' section, like the Reverend Mother and her cousin Lucy.
I seldom hesitate about reactions from any of these characters and it's a pleasure for me to write about them.

Thu Jun 13 19:43:31 2019

 
Toby Young writes from USA
Are you kidding?!! I would love the new Reverend Mother book you outlined. I wanted to read it right then. Not only do I love her but the other characters -- Patrick the detective, Eileen the rabble rouser writer, and the doctor--all wonderful characters. I'll be watching for the new book.
I have just started on the Burren series. Very interesting!
Thank you again for giving us such reading pleasure.

Thu Jun 13 16:13:34 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Yes, indeed, Toby. In fact, I have just finished off 'Death of a Prominent Citizen' - in fact I was just struggling with a summary when your message popped up on my computer - and so you can be a guinea pig. Would you be interested in this story:

The Reverend Mother’s wealthy cousin, Charlotte Hendrick, owner of many tenements in the city, has decided to revoke her previous will which divided, in equal shares, her considerable fortune among her seven nearest relatives and to leave it all to the one who, in her opinion, would make the best use of it. And so, all, including the Reverend Mother’s cousin Lucy, gather at her mansion on Bachelor's Quay to present ideas and to make a case to be the sole heir.
That night the River Lee bursts its banks; there is rioting on the quays, a landlord is murdered at midnight and next morning Charlotte Hendrick, also, is found to be dead, stabbed in the throat by a sharp instrument. Her bedroom window is wide open and a rope hangs down to pavement level. Initially the death is attributed to the rioters, but later on in the morning, half a pair of lethally sharp scissors, its sharp tip coated in dried blood, is found by Inspector Patrick Cashman in a vase of dried flowers on the hall table.
Who has murdered the wealthy landlord? Is it a one of the rioters, is it a wronged and desperate tenant, or one of her family, anxious for the legacy? The Reverend Mother brings her knowledge of the citizens of Cork and her understanding of human nature to the solving of the problem.

Thu Jun 13 09:53:29 2019

 
Toby Young writes from USA
Thank you for the wonderful Reverend Mother series. Will there be any more?

Thu Jun 13 03:56:11 2019

 
Cora Harrison writes from Ireland
Well, Kirsty, I am delighted that I have brought this sixteenth century world to life for you.
I live only a few miles from the Burren and I am continuously moved and amazed by how extraordinarily beautiful it is.
I am so pleased to know that I have managed to share some of my love of this landscape with you.
i hope you like looking through the photographs which were taken one bright, though frosty new year's day.
Many good wishes to you,
Cora.

Tue Jun 4 20:23:56 2019

 
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