A few of the places in this book are real. The Poisoned Glen with the roofless church was a favorite exploring spot for us. The Central Bar in Letterkenny is real and is still there. In fact, that is where I, much like Moira, ate my first real Irish meal—except for Bríd’s cooking, of course! O’Toole’s is also a real store located on the high street of Letterkenny. Glenveagh Castle is real, as is the Adair family. However, to my knowledge, John Adair was never promised in marriage to anyone in Donegal. And while British landlords ruled Donegal for ages, to my knowledge there was never a Lady Williams.
Bríd Martin is loosely based on a delightful woman named Maire who runs Teac Campbell Guesthouse in Bunbeg, County Donegal. She is an amazing cook and an incredibly kind, welcoming woman who never stops running.
Irish Gaelic is the first and daily language of the thousands of people who live along the west coast of Ireland in pockets called Gaeltachts, where the language is protected. We became comfortably conversational in this beautiful ancient language. If you’d like to hear me speaking the beautiful language, as well as hear the two songs referenced in the story—“An Bheán Dubh na Ghleanna” and the Ballyeamon Cradle Song—you can find videos on the A Dance in Donegal board on my Pinterest page (https://pin.it/ytzhv2tfzuilyk).
Acknowledgments
I almost don’t know where to start. This book has been a labor of love years in the making. First and foremost, I must thank God for His infinite kindness in allowing me to tell stories and realize this dream.
Secondly, to my incredible husband, Seth. You always work to make my dreams come true—you have from the very beginning. Thank you for supporting and championing me. Thank you for keeping me grounded and holding me accountable to meeting my goals when my confidence faltered. I cannot fathom a person I’d want to journey this life with more.
To my kids—Hannah, Cailyn, and Isaac—thank you for being my biggest cheerleaders and for being willing to talk out story ideas and eat sandwiches for dinner way more often than you really wanted to. I can’t imagine life without you, and I’m so honored to be your mom. Let this book be a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
Thank you to my mom, Bonnie Martin, for reading every chapter as it was written, rewritten, and rewritten again. Thank you for cheering me on, giving me honest feedback, and being just as excited as I was each step of the way. To my dad, Jerry Martin, thank you for the gift of my faith and showing me from an early age what a godly man looks like.
To my Irish friends—Debra and Brian O’Gibne, Deirdre Forristal, Donal and Linda O’Donnell, Mart O’Donnell, Rick Russell, and the gang at Builín Blásta Café—thank you for being our second family. For welcoming us into your homes and lives; helping us learn the language and culture; celebrating holidays, birthdays, and births with us; and grieving with us through incredibly difficult times. You were the best part of Ireland, and I miss you so deeply that my heart aches every day.
My writers group gals—Liz Johnson, Lindsay Harrell, Sara Carrington, Tina Radcliffe, Erin McFarland, Ruth Douthitt, and Rhia Adley—thank you for providing listening ears, words of wisdom, and shoulders to cry on. You ladies gave me strength and courage when I wanted to give up. Thank you for the gift of your friendship.
And to all my friends who’ve cheered me on along the way—Charity Verlander, Stacy Dyck, Christen Krumm, Donna Carlson, Rachel Fordham, Jocelyn Green, Sarah Sundin, and the incredible Palmer Small Group—my heart is forever grateful for you.
Jaimie Jo Wright and Tricia Goyer—thank you for believing in me, investing in me, and championing me. I for sure would not be here without your kindness and support.
To Chad Segersten—my principal when I was going through the process of signing the contract for this book—your support, encouragement, and flexibility will forever be in my heart. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of you, your leadership, and your excitement on my behalf. May you rest in peace.
To my amazing agent, Cynthia Ruchti. What can I say? Only God could orchestrate the string of events that brought us together in this working relationship. Thank you for believing in me, for loving my characters as much as I do, and for your prayers, guidance, and wisdom.
Finally, thank you to my wonderful editors, Rachel McRae and Robin Turici, and the team at Revell. Words cannot express how grateful I am for you, your expertise, and your excitement to bring A Dance in Donegal to the world. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and coffee lover. She believes no one should be alone on their faith journey, and through her writing she aims to redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, Jennifer now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children.
JenniferDeibel.com
Table of Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Map
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An Excerpt from the Next Sweeping Irish Romance
Glossary of Terms
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Ad
Back Cover
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