By Karen Daly
Photos by Cat Dwyer
Kathleen Donohoe’s new novel Ashes of Fiery Weather was launched with a party co-sponsored by Irish American Writers & Artists and Friends of Firefighters at Pier A Harbor House on Monday, 9/22. It was a fitting combination: Kathleen’s an IAW&A board member, and her book depicts six generations of women in a family of New York City firefighters.
Kathleen Donohoe
Playwright Honor Molloy, who served as host, stage actor Margie Catov and NY Times bestselling author Marian Fontana portrayed characters from the book. Kathleen told them, “It was amazing hearing the stories in your voices.”
Margie Catov, Marian Fontana
Mary Pat Kelly, speaking on behalf of IAW&A, acknowledged our group’s pride in Kathleen’s success and well-deserved recognition. We thank Brendan Costello who produced the event for IAW&A and brought a great, appreciative audience to that beautiful location on the Battery.
Nancy Carbone, FoF founder and Executive Director, described about how she founded the group after 9/11 to aid the mental health and wellness needs of FDNY firefighters and their families. FDNY Battalion Chief John Dillon expressed his appreciation for their work. Find out more at http://www.friendsoffirefighters.org
Chief John Dillon, Nancy Carbone
Honor Molloy
Liam Collins, Kathleen Donohoe. Signing books alongside his mom, Liam told her “I need my own pen,” and was so inspired that he wrote his own book the next day, The Book of Animals.
Early praise for Ashes of Fiery Weather
Kathleen Donohoe must have had to assimilate the entire postwar history of the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic to produce such a remarkably authentic portrait, rich in memorable detail, with characters that come so vividly to life one forgets one is reading a novel… Anyone Irish will face an uncanny recognition in these pages; everyone else will be enthralled meeting such captivating figures. Prepare to settle in.” —Matthew Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of We Are Not Ourselves