By Maureen Hossbacher
Photos by Eamonn McKay
Novelist Anthony C. Murphy’s work has been described as “funny, sweet, moving, gentle and bold,” all of which might be said of “Murph” himself, the host for this edition of the Irish American Writers & Artists Salon.
Singer/songwriter Daniel Harnett was on hand, this time without his guitar, to start off the evening with a cluster of short stories and poetry. As always, the crowd was welcoming and appreciative on a lovely summer night at the Ellington restaurant on the corner of 105th and Broadway.
Rebecca Coffey, novelist, humorist, and science journalist read from her hilarious book, NIETZSCHE’S ANGEL FOOD CAKE . . . and Other “Recipes” for the Intellectually Famished. The tasty chapter she selected was “Anais Nin’s Hot Cross Buns,” an indelicate pastiche meant to titillate the funnybone. Information on Coffey’s latest book, Beyond Primates: New Essays on Darwin and Evolution, and other literary works can be read on her website.
Judith Rodgers read an excerpt from her novel in progress. The novel follows several individuals behind the headlines of a 1980s NYC news story: the crack-fueled shooting of a child in Brooklyn. Over the ensuing 20 years, the central players grapple with the impact of the crime with varying degrees of success.
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The essays and short stories of Corinne O’Shaughnessy have been published in numerous online lit magazines. A retired NYC public school teacher, she is currently working on a memoir about the desire for family, tentatively titled Everything That Breathes. She shared an excerpt about one of the many unexpected casualties of divorce: losing one’s dentist.
M.J. Flood presented a piece called ‘Havin’ a Smoke with Grandma Agnes,’ in which he recounted a tender memory of his maternal grandmother, Agnes Legrady, as well as of his family gatherings in his grandmother’s smoke-filled kitchen. Flood is the author of Where Are You? Finding Myself in My Greatest Loss, a memoir of grief and healing. He will be reading from his memoir at Hofstra University, 6:30 pm, October 9th. All are welcome to the free event in the Hofstra University Cultural Center Theater.
The audience at the Ellington was fully engaged and somewhat apprehensive as they followed along with Kate McLeod’s amusing recounting of her attempt to fly at the age of 9. Fortunately the jumping off point was the top of a staircase rather than a roof. McLeod is currently writing a musical with composer Megan Cavallari and planning a reading of her monologue play, For The Love of Me, which will be presented at American Irish Historical Society on September 17th.
IAW&A Board Member John Munnelly provided the music that enlivened both the first half and finale of the salon. His original lyrics, braced by blues guitar riffs, addressed the angst many in the room were feeling on this unique evening that followed the curtailment of the Biden presidential campaign. John is an ASCAP ‘Jay Gorney’ award winning songwriter for song with a social conscience. He regularly performs with the IRTE Improvised Repertory Ensemble here in NY. Sign up for John’s newsletter to browse through new songs, memoir and poetry pieces (and you can order John’s amazing hot sauces here.).
