NEW BOOK: Local journalist and writer Breda Joy has released her new book ‘Under a Skellig Sky’ online on Amazon. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

A talented fiction writer from Killarney has released a humorous new novel, 'Under a Skellig Sky' centred around an imaginary valley overlooking the Skellig Islands.

Due to the lockdown, Breda Joy's latest work can only be released on Amazon and will hit bookshops early next year.

The local journalist tells the funny story of Carol O’Connell who returns to Kerry to recover from a broken relationship and discovers that the sleepy valley of her youth has woken up to a busier reality.

Carol’s plans for a new life before she turns 40 are disrupted by an old lover, a troubled friend, a bingo-loving Fáilte Ireland inspector and sinister outsiders.

This is the second novel from Breda, who has a three-book contract with Poolbeg Books. Her debut novel, ‘Eat the Moon’, was released in 2018. Her previous works include 'Hidden Kerry', 'The Wit & Wisdom of Kerry' and a biography of MEP Brian Crowley.

"Releasing my second novel as an ebook is just one more learning curve in these days of Coronavirus," Breda told the Killarney Advertiser.

"For instance, my friend suggested we go to the Shire Cafe for a cup of coffee outdoors to mark its arrival, so I turned that into a virtual launch with the massive attendance of three friends and the dog!"

In theses times she said that you need a sense of humour to see you through it.

"Just as well it's a romantic comedy, albeit one with an edge or a bite. I touch on rural crime and State neglect of areas such as South Kerry in between the humour."

However, currently the only way to order the paperback or Kindle version is online on Amazon, she added.

"The publisher, Poolbeg, wants to put it in the shops early next year, but you don't know what will happen. So, Amazon it is for now."

She added that she's been promoting it a lot online herself, and is getting great reaction on Facebook from people who have bought it already.

"Poolbeg is concentrating a lot of its marketing on Irish-Americans which is kind of timely because they can take a virtual trip to Kerry on the magic carpet of 'Under a Skellig Sky' while actual travel is restricted."

Her book is available from www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Skellig-Sky-Breda-Joy-ebook/dp/B088FTSX1K.