On the Edge of the Loch: A Psychological Novel set in Ireland

by Joseph Éamon Cummins

  Why do you think Lenny acted the way she did toward those closest to her?

  What was Lenny’s biggest flaw or weakness (pick any stage or time period)?

  What was Lenny’s strongest trait?

  How would you characterise Lenny’s mental state (pick any stage or period)?

  Cilla

  How would you describe Cilla to someone who never met her?

  What feelings did you have for Cilla?

  What did you admire most or dislike most about Cilla?

  What do you think Cilla found hardest about living in Aranroe?

  What do you think would be Cilla’s idea of an ideal life?

  What were Cilla’s strongest traits?

  Why did Cilla project an air of independence and capability?

  At times Cilla seemed fearless; but what made her feel insecure?

  In what significant ways did Cilla and Lenny differ from each other?

  Did Cilla have a closeness with anyone apart from Tony?

  What changed about Cilla when she had drunk a few glasses of wine?

  What was it that made Cilla’s attraction to Tony so problematic for her?

  What action or scene revealed most about Cilla?

  Did you see Cilla as an outsider in her village? Explain your view.

  Despite conflicting objectives, Cilla and Tony got along well. Why was this?

  What drove Cilla to risk her life more than once? Foolishness? Bravery? Or some other trait?

  Cilla sometimes seemed like a simple country girl. Did you see her that way?

  What do you imagine Cilla would have done if she and Tony hadn’t met?

  Aidan

  How would you describe Aidan to someone who hadn’t met him?

  In what way did Aidan differ from other main or secondary characters?

  How would you explain Aidan’s life in Dublin?

  Were particular traits lacking in Aidan? Explain.

  Was Aidan justified in giving up on Lenny?

  What strengths did you see in Aidan?

  What was Aidan’s greatest flaw?

  What psychological factors caused Aidan and Lenny to fall in love in New York?

  What needs did Aidan and Lenny have that made their connection so strong?

  What values motivated Aidan most in life?

  How would you describe Aidan’s decline from who he had been in New York and prior to that?

  How would you have advised Aidan in his Dublin period, before he and Tony met?

  Did you consider Aidan brave? Explain?

  Did you see Aidan as naive or compassionate, or either? Explain.

  How do you think Aidan viewed Tony?

  Did you see Aidan as a misfit?

  What was it about Aidan that you feel impressed or affected Tony most?

  Were Aidan and Lenny opposites or similar? Explain your view.

  SECONDARY AND MINOR CHARACTERS

  (Secondary characters can affect the direction of the story; minor characters rarely do)

  How did you feel about the female characters: Eva Kohler? Kate? Róisín? Emer? Peggy? Eilis? Siobhan? Caitriona? Mairead? Etc.

  How did you feel about the male characters: Old William? Charles Quin? Ravarro? Paddy? Fr Coy? Liam Foley? Leo? Tom Quilty? Gussie? Dermot? Fogo? Larry? Etc.

  Which secondary characters did you find most interesting or likeable? Select two and say why.

  Which two secondary or minor characters did you dislike most? Say why.

  How did Paddy, Liam and Leo differ from each other, and what did they have in common?

  Did one minor character intrigue you more than others? Explain.

  Was there a minor character you’d have liked to see more of in the story? If so, explain.

  MISCELLANEOUS ‘IF’ QUESTIONS

  If you could invite any four of the characters to dinner together, who would you choose? Why?

  If you could interview one of the characters, who would you choose? Why?

  If you were shipwrecked, which character would you wish to have with you? Why?

  If you needed advice about life or achieving a big goal, which character would you consult? Why?

  If you could choose just one of the characters as a friend, who would it be? Why?

  If you could discuss this book with author Joseph Éamon Cummins, what three questions would you ask?

  If you could discuss just one main character with the author, who would it be? Why?

  If you could discuss just one secondary or minor character with the author, who would it be? Why?

  Final Note : AUTOBIOGRAPHY OR NOT?

  Here’s my take on a particular question that arises at workshops and seminars, often from philosophy enthusiasts.

  Occasionally I am asked if I believe that all fiction is, in a certain sense, autobiographical. It’s not a silly question. Writers are constantly recording impressions from their personal interactions with life. Some of these impressions are factual: the behaviour of the old guy on the bus, the passionate language of the hippie hiker. But even a whiff or a whisper can flower into utter fantasy, the human imagination at work. Consciously and unconsciously the storyteller works this mix of impressions into a coherent narrative soup. In this act of creation the events of a story can indeed be said to be experienced, felt, and lived through by the author. Therefore, some ask, isn’t this, by definition, autobiographical? The point can be argued, but until we agree a broader definition of ‘autobiographical’, I think no.

  A REMINDER . . . REVIEW REQUEST

  Now that you have read this far, do please take a few moments to post a review on Amazon.com or GoodReads.com. Your comments will be valued by literary fiction lovers all around the world and will help this novel reach interested readers.

  Many thanks.

  Joseph Éamon Cummins

  Joseph Éamon Cummins

  Unlike many writers, Joe has carved out a life of diversity and adventure, living in three continents and earning qualifications in different fields.

  A Dubliner, he started a diary at thirteen, was published at seventeen, and the writing bug never left. In his early twenties he travelled extensively ‘on the road’ in America, living and working where he stopped. During long spells with a touring carnival he bought a Nikon camera and began capturing images of a continent that fascinated him, while also documenting his adventures in a journal.

  Eventually though, he was drawn back to his interests in psychology, entrepreneurship, and the arts. This led him to Arizona, to study under distinguished teachers Roger Hutt, Bill Jay, Art Christiansen and Ross LaManna, each of whom he credits with influencing his thinking, an education funded by his work as a photographer.

  He next moved to Dublin, starting his own company in the then emerging field of video/film production and winning a number of national awards. Concurrently, he co-developed and taught a seminal college program in that field and took over as editor of the leading professional journal. In fine-art, he created and exhibited the world’s first collection of photographic portraits of centenarians (17 in total, all Irish), captured on large-format cameras, a show that featured in the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune.

  Then adventure called again, this time taking him to Australia and into real estate, another of his long-term interests. Later, back in the US, he wrote Not One Dollar More!, a how-to book on negotiation that sold over one hundred thousand copies (John Wiley & Son, NY), founded a micro press for emerging authors, and published articles in leading US magazines.

  At this point, however, an older passion led him back to academic study and post-graduate qualifications in psychology and human learning.

  As an adjunct professor he taught creative writing and psychology for over a decade in New Jersey, earning multiple Best Professor citations from student bodies. At the same time, he was consulting and coaching a mix of private business clients and lecturing on Modernism and Irish Studies in the Road Scholar program at Stockton University.

  Subsequently, h
e returned to Ireland and set up his own organisational psychology and performance management practice. Today, he travels widely, leading seminars on resilience and human achievement topics. He also lectures occasionally on ‘psychology in fiction’.

  On the Edge of the Loch is Joe’s first novel. More adventures to come, he says.

  Acknowledgements

  All artists – fiction writers, painters, poets, sculptors – function on more than talent and imagination, not least on the friendship, encouragement, motivation, input, love, kindness, and support of others. While writing On the Edge of the Loch, I was fortunate to have these, and more.

  Above all, my deepest gratitude goes to my wife, Kathy, a gifted stained glass artist and teacher in her own right, for her love, her ever-astute reading of my countless drafts, and her invaluable editorial input, all of which made this a better book.

  My thanks also to my brother Desi, a writer and thinker of rare insight, and an early beta-reader of this novel, for freely sharing his intellect; to my sister Ann for encouragement, caring and belief I can always count on; to Paddy for his reliability and longest friendship; and special love and gratitude to my parents Joe and Bridget for their dreams and dedication.

  And, importantly, ovations to: Karen, Carol, Eileen, Dawn & Bill; Brigid, Christina & Eric, Eamon & Hallie, and Mary Jane & John. And similarly to: Aran, Claire & Phil; and Frank and Lori. Also, warmly, to K and S and GFC. And to Bernadette, Andrew, Roy, Colin, Eoin, and the clans in Ceannanus Mór and Broadwater, WA. And remembering joyfully Mr JR Poly.

  Remembering too with deep affection, Isabel and Tom Argenti, for their gracious embracement and generosity of spirit. And very specially, my friend Anthony (Hop) Cardelli, a man and writer of high sensibility.

  Also, not forgetting my good friend Harvey and our many adventures along the highways and byways and midways of the USA.

  Plaudits also to my colleagues, students and clients on both sides of the Atlantic for their constant willingness to commit to ‘new learning’.

  For kind assistance with my research on County Mayo and the west of Ireland, special thanks to: Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland), DiscoverIreland.ie, Mayo.ie, and Mayo-Ireland.ie.

  For help with my US prison research, I am indebted to Arizona Dept of Corrections and California Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

  Finally, I extend much-deserved acknowledgement to all those who work for peace, justice, human rights, human development, prison reform, mental wellbeing, addiction prevention and rehabilitation, early-life trauma and PTSD relief, and healthcare as a basic human right.

  On the Edge of the Loch: A Psychological Novel set in Ireland

  by Joseph Éamon Cummins

  First published in 2016 by Moon Abbey Media

  Moon Abbey is an imprint of MindWave Limited, (Ireland)

  Trade enquiries: JEamon1998@gmail.com

  EB 1: 0: 0:

  The author asserts his moral right to be identified as the creator of this work under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All characters in this work are fictitious; any similarities or resemblances to real persons are coincidental.

  Copyright © Joseph Éamon Cummins 2016

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, digital or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author, except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews, nor be circulated in any binding other than that here published.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

  This eBook ISBN 978-0-9935452-1-4

  Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-9935452-0-7

  ASIN:

  Audio Book for release in autumn 2016

  Cover design by Estella Vukovic, Zagreb, Croatia.

  Cover image, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (Photo: Estella Vukovic).

  Ebook formatting by Maureen Cutajar

  Poetry quoted is from Eyes of Mine, a forthcoming book by this author.

  Codes 1-5: E2201 E3312 E4423 E5534 E6645

  Extras in this ebook . . .

  A Guide for Book Clubs, Teachers and Writing Students

  and an Interview with Joseph Éamon Cummins

  For more author interviews, stories, articles and Q&A visit author website:

  JosephEamonCummins.com

  To book author for media interviews, conferences or speaking engagements:

  JEamon1998@gmail.com

  ** Reader Review Request **

  I’d be very grateful to you if you’d write a short review of this book on

  Amazon, GoodReads, Barnes & Noble, or other distributor website.

  It really will make a difference. Many thanks: JÉC