Amelia Island's Mark of a Man Excerpt- Pat Dunnigan

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man,
part of The Goodbye Lie Series

      Jack Patrick is a little boy in 1882 in The Goodbye Lie, the first in my trilogy set on Amelia Island, Florida.  He gives his Irish family, the Dunnigans,  headaches and worry and lumps in their throats, but his intentions lean, for the most part, to the honorable. As the years go on, he uses his charms to his advantage when he must. He has a potent sense of right versus wrong, most of the time ...
     The third novel in the series, Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, features Pat, the name he prefers to be called as an adult.  Here is an excerpt from that book, likewise set in the Victorian seaside town of Fernandina. The time is 1898.

     "Mrs. Ickles has two tummies," announced six-year-old Nugget, "but Aunt Noreen wins 'cause she's got five!" 

Pat Dunnigan

      Agreeing with his nephew, Pat  Dunnigan wore a grin until, in the shadows beneath the stairwell, he spotted Marie, fingering the lapel of the cornet player. And she was whispering in his ear! But this reality was not what Pat perceived. No, he saw a stranger bent over an innocent--his innocent--slobbering onto her neck. Then he saw red! Without a word, with no hesitation, he grabbed the man's arm, spinning him off his sister. A solid left fist followed to the violator’s mouth. He damn sure wouldn't be nuzzling necks or puffing on horns any time soon, not with both lips split. 

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, part of The Goodbye Lie Series

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Carolena Decorates with Jewelry

Late 1800s
 Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Carolena Dunnigan writes:  I heard  word my sister, Breelan, wrote to you, Jane Marie, sharing her perfume tip. I can't have my baby sister show me up, so this is my idea. ( See Breelan's tip here. )
     Instead of leaving my bracelets and necklaces tucked away in my drawer or jewelry box , I decorate my room with them.  I drape my favorite necklaces on lampshades and hang my bracelets from the pulls on my chest of drawers. 
     I am forever changing them out for new pieces as I wear them. And they look different when the candles are lit compared to the the light of day.
     Jane Marie, thank you for trying my style of decorating and taking photos to share with your friends.  I don't want to brag, but little creative touches of all types add to my interior designs for our family's Aqua Verdi Passenger Line grand ships and yachts.  Business is brisk, so I must dash.  Daddy promised I would have my sketches to the gentleman from Boston completed and in the post to him by week's end.

shade by night decorated with butterfly necklace

bracelets on drawer pulls

                      necklace on lamp by day

same necklace, shade turned at an angle, by night

Carolena Dunnigan is the
 featured player in
 Amelia Island 's Velvet  Undertow.

                            Carolena Dunnigan

Click here for Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow  eBooks and paperbacks.  Set on Amelia Island, Florida in 1889, Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow will twist, turn and torture you with Carolena's passion for her family, her art and her lovers, all from her deep and dawning creative soul.

-Necklaces handmade by Jane Marie's sister, Nancy Kamp

-Bracelets handmade by Jane Marie's granddaughter, Ava, Nancy Kamp and Jane Marie 

From the Author of The Goodbye Lie Series

I now understand the definition of a labor of love. 

Discover-ing the personal-ities of the Irish Dunnigan family, the players in my Goodbye Lie series set on historic Amelia Island, Florida, has been all-enveloping.  As I walk the beach, with the Atlantic Ocean's cool waters washing over my feet, Breelan and Carolina and Pat and Marie, the siblings featured in the novels, whisper their secrets in the passing sea breeze. I can't help but listen as they tell their stories.  Sometimes they call me out for sharing too many of their personal details, but then understand the necessity of it.  Without those details, they would hold far less interest for me or my readers.  Their actions and reactions, their deeds and misdeeds are the result of deep and sometimes dark developments in their lives. I am fascinated, intrigued and just plain curious as to where their whispers will lead me, and in turn, the reader. Please join our band of beloved friends, the Dunnigans of Amelia Island. 
                                    - Jane Marie Malcolm  


#Fernandina, #Fernadinabook, #AmeliaIslandbook, #AmeliaIsland, #Irishdrama, #Irishfamily, #romance, #historical, #smalltown, #mystery, #passion, #comic, #island, #Floridanovel

Meet Leona Visper- Goodbye Lie Player

The Goodbye Lie

Set in 1882 in the city of Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida

Leona Visper

Leona Visper - Now she is somebody everyone wants to meet. Why?  Because she is known worldwide as The Songbird of the North.  With her blond hair piled high, glistening eyes  and a figure she is not ashamed to show off, Miss Visper has a voice of silk, which can lure men into her devilment.  However, she wants no ordinary men for they do not satisfy her.  Her men must have mountains more money than that in her own swollen bank account plus they must be highly regarded in society.  
     Additionally,  Leona doesn't much like being compared to other women, especially if they are younger. Because of this, she has few female friends. 
     Her master plan is to permanently land the richest male she can. She prefers him unmarried, but only because there are less tedious complications with a bachelor.  If he is handsome, all the better.  And she doesn't care what she has to do to complete her mission ... 

#GoodbyeLie, #AmeliaIslandRomance, #AmeliaIslanddrama, #Irishfamily, #GoneWithTheWind, #LittleHouseonthePrarie, #AmeliaIslandtrilogy, #smalltown, #Victorian, #Centre

Family Affair

#The Goodbye Lie series

     I am quick to acknowledge I have many blessings in my life.  One is the support I receive from my family with regard to my writing. They read my rough drafts, manuscripts and finished stories, all the while making suggestions and asking questions. They tease me. They laugh and cry where I mean them to as they turn the pages. They tell their friends about the wonder of me, their oft times wacky relative who lives on Amelia Island in Florida. 

     A most meaningful gesture to me came from my little granddaughter, Ava.  One wonderful summer day at the beach, she told me to close my eyes.  I heard her playing in the sand and expected to spy a fine sandcastle.  Instead, when I was given permission to look, I discovered she had written out the title of my series for passersby to find until the tide washed it away. (See the photo above.) When it comes to toughing hearts, Ava is at the top of her game.              

                                                 - Jane Marie  

                                                                  

An Irish Welcoming-Excerpt from Amelia Island's Mark of a Man

☘Every day is St. Paddy's Day for the Irish  Dunnigan family from The Goodbye Lie series. Read an excerpt below from my novel, Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, for a taste of their kind of family chatter. 

1898

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida:

Amelia Island's Mark of a Man HERE

    Peeking around the corner was a short woman somewhat smaller in circumference than Aunt Noreen. White curls escaped from the bun at the back of her head. The severe hairstyle couldn't conceal the glow of kindness in her eyes. "Is there someone here who might be rememberin' me?"

   "My stars! Is it Kathleen?"

   "No other. And 'tis himself, Michael Dunnigan! It's been eons since last I've laid me eyes on ya."

   Her rich Irish brogue hearkened back to the sweet sound of their mother's voice. As if propelled by dynamite, he sprang forth to hug her. Tears trickled down his face as his wife and family watched the loving exchange.

   "There now, Michaeleen, don't be slobberin' all over me new travelin' costume. Salty streaks will never do for the sister of Fernandina's greatest city father ever ta draw a breathin' breath."  She held him at arm's length to take him in. "Ah, you're lookin' fine. Real fine. And you'll be recallin' me husband, Lawrence?"

     The men shook hands and embraced as well. "What?  Where?  What?" Michael stammered.

   "Michael, darling," Miss Ella helped, "may we share some of that sugar?"

   "Ella! You're as pretty as the day you was weddin' our Michael."

   After identifying each in the gathering, Kathleen said, "We might be arrivin' a bit late, but when we got the invitation from Winnie, we decided to be surprisin' ya.  It appears we've done just that."

   "We all love surprises, Katie," said Peeper. "Specially me!"

   "Would you like to freshen up?" asked Miss Ella.

   "We're good, thank you. Took care of all that business afore we come upstairs."

   "Can we be gettin' ya somethin' ta eat and drink?" Michael asked, lapsing in and out of his own brogue. "Would ya like to rest or visit in the parlor?" His energy renewed at the unexpected sight of his sister, "Whatever ya need.  Our place has taken a hit, but the love in the house goes on strong as ever."

   "We can feel it," said Lawrence. "It was getting late so we ate at that Florida House hotel near the docks. Several locals recommended it.  I'm thirsty for some tea now, though.  How about you, Kate?"

   "That sounds refreshin', it does."

   "Sweet tea, ma'am?" asked a timid Angelique.

   "That would be lovely, missy," and Angelique was gone to get the refreshments. "But if you won't be mindin' any, we'd like to do our visitin' up here with young Jack Patrick. A-course, he's nary so young these days. I remember—"

   "Excuse me, ma'am," Clover said, fitting two more chairs for them in the room.

   A winded Aunt Noreen burst through the door, pushing aside those in her way.  "Land's sake, I wish you people would be more thoughtful and hold court downstairs in the parlor.  It's bad enough I have to trek all the way over here every time I'm needed, but then to climb those steep stairs, again and again, and under threat of rain, too.  It's a wonder my heart doesn't explode from the exertion." After one lengthy sigh, "If it isn't old Kate!  I just heard you were here. That you came clear from Washington, D.C., just to see me?—You have touched my heart."

   "That ain't all that's touched in ya," Peeper added, sincere in her ill will.

   "You sure the floor up here will hold so many people?" Noreen asked her brother, the architect.

   Thinking now was not the time to let Noreen's insults spoil the happy mood, Michael's reply was minimal. "I'm sure."    After they'd hugged, "You're the very same, Noreen," noted Kathleen.

   "Thank you, Kate, but you certainly have changed. Your hair's gone white."

And so it goes in the sometimes squabbling and always blabbering, loving and devoted Dunnigan family.  -Just the same as yours.