Irish America magazine - Feb/Mar '06 issue: Samuel Beckett, John Patrick Shanley, Ed Harris, Great Blasket Island, First Holy Communion, Bono and the Gateses: TIME Persons of the Year, Gabriel Byrne, Celtic Women, Johnny Cash

By Tom Deignan

Lord of the Dance: My Story by Flatley
Michael Flatley & Douglas Thompson

American radio shock jock Howard Stern likes to call himself the “King of all Media.” However, Irish-American dance man Michael Flatley has a right to begin using the moniker as well. To go along with his blockbuster dance shows and TV specials, not to mention the ongoing talk of a Flatley Hollywood movie, the Chicago-born hoofer can now add “author” to his resumé. Lord of the Dance: My Story by Flatley (co-written with Douglas Thompson) is hitting bookstores soon for those legions of fans who can’t get enough of Flatley’s life, loves and philosophy. The son of Irish immigrants, Flatley describes his youth as hardscrabble, during which he helped his dad dig ditches. Most of the footwork Flatley did while growing up was in the boxing ring, not on the dance floor.

At the age of 11, against his will, he attended Irish dance classes and thus were born Flatley’s famous feet of flames. What is perhaps most interesting about this book is Flatley’s take on his rise to stardom. There’s quite a bit of name-dropping, late-night club hopping and elbow rubbing with stars. All this, of course, is from Flatley’s own point of view, so don’t expect much controversy here. However, he does address the 2003 rape he was very publicly charged with (he was later exonerated). Say what you will about Flatley, but as this book shows, his life story is an inspiring, undeniable example of the Irish-American dream.

(Touchstone / 320 pages / $24.95)

The Opal Deception
Eoin Colfer

The Artemis Fowl franchise keeps rolling along. Often dubbed “the Irish Harry Potter,” written by former schoolteacher Eoin Colfer, the fourth book in the Fowl series is now out, entitled The Opal Deception. In this latest adventure for kids and teens, Artemis, the brilliant 14-year-old mastermind, has had his mind wiped clean of all previous knowledge — including the secret world of battling fairies in which he exists. The biggest problem is that he cannot recall all of the positive lessons he has learned. Will Artemis be tempted to turn to the darkside? Pick up The Opal Deception and find out.

($16.95 / 352 pages / Miramax)

The Last of the Heroes
Billy Keane

Billy Keane, the sports columnist for the Irish Independent (and also son of beloved author John B.) also has a new historical novel out. The Last of the Heroes is a comical, yet touching look at one family as it struggles with the rest of Ireland throughout the 20th century, from the hard years of the Irish civil war to the Celtic Tiger and the new millennium.

($19.95 / 289 pages / Ballpoint —Irish Books and Media)

Lord Loss
Darren O'Shaughnessy

Another Irish children's author doing very well these days is Darren O'Shaughnessy, whose vampire epics published under the name Darren Shan are worldwide hits. Eight million copies of his books have been sold and, as with Colfer and Artemis Fowl, Hollywood has come calling.

O'Shaughnessy wrote two novels for adults, but his 2000 book for young adults Cirque du Freak made him famous. Born in London to Irish parents, O'Shaughnessy, 32, now lives in Limerick. With the vampire saga wrapped up, look out for the first book in O’Shaughnessy’s new series Lord Loss, part of a saga he is calling The Demonata.

($15.99 / 240 pages / Little, Brown)

Farewell Forever
John Malone

If you prefer historical realism to fairies and vampires, check out John Malone’s haunting new novel Farewell Forever. Set in the 1830s, the book follows a young Cavan couple who fall in love. They leave Ireland just before the Famine strikes, making their way through Dublin, New York, Philly and other points before settling in Pennsylvania. The novel is partially based on the life of Malone’s great-great-grandfather. In this brief but compelling novel, Malone does a fine job of making the reader feel as if he is being taken back in time.

($17 / 145 pages / Trafford)