We're working to put a Press Kit online for journalists and reviewers, which will include an author photo, book cover, reviews, short bio, and other material to make your job easier. In the meantime, here's a press release in PDF format that might help.

Reviews are coming in. We'd like to share a few brief comments with you.

"In Ireland, a "keener" is one who sings at a wake, but they don't sing pretty songs to guide the dead to their immortal rest. Rather, they sing wrenching laments, crying for a future cut short, maybe singing about an example of life here and of family left behind there, before the song softens to describe a wish for a spirit's peace.

In her story of Margaret Meehan, a keening apprentice, the author unfurls the despair of the potato famine and the brewing anger of a hungry Ireland. Her novel begins in 1846, when Margaret, who is only seventeen years old, harbors sweetly innocent visions of her future, tending the home fires for her beau, Tom Riordan. It isn't long before her reverie is broken by a series of difficult events that send her spinning. The famine sparks evictions, hatred against the English, and tragic deaths. Margaret's teacher, Nuala Lynch, decides to keen for Ireland, but Margaret is forced to choose a different path. Having to leave her homeland for America, she has to abandon what she believed her future would become in order to survive, but such hardship is perhaps an example of a hardship that here deepens her character and gives her a sense of quiet resilience that is beautiful to witness.

The author has a dozen books to her credit, mostly for younger readers, including the historical novel "Owl's Journey" and the award-winning "Ten Amazing People and How They Changed the World". Here, her writing, lilting and lyrical, has a gorgeous flow that elevates even seemingly prosaic moments, such as when Margaret holds her shawl close against the chill wind, or when Shaw provides a description of men drowning in pints at the local pub. Although these bursts of detail are rich examples, it is in dialogue that Shaw really shines as an author of authentic portrayals. The interactions between Margaret and Tom, as well as the dozens of other characters populating Margaret's world, give a sense of forward momentum that's in line with Margaret's journey.

As in keening itself, no words are wasted. In the end, Shaw has written a kind of glorious lament, a keening for what the Irish lost during the famine, but also its opposite. Through Margaret, the author offers a story of the life of the living in the midst of the dying. That is a more difficult song to perfect, but Shaw shows great range and pitch through every fictional scene. (April)"
--Elizabeth Millard, ForeWord Magazine, May 2005

"Maura D. Shaw's The Keeners knows the Irish of An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) from the inside out. It's a heartrending story of people robbed even of the catharsis of their grief as they set aside their ancient, healing keens to become new Americans. Margaret Meehan is its heart and soul, answering grief and injustices with relentless optimism, courage, and humor. This lyrical novel performs that rare achievement-it breaks your heart, then mends it stronger."
--Eileen Charbonneau, Rita award-winning author of Rachel LeMoyne

"Maura D. Shaw writes a powerful novel that could move even a stone to tears. The courageous story of Margaret Meehan and her struggles for survival isn't an unfamiliar one to lovers of Irish history, but it is told in such a way that we feel as though we are fighting right along with her. For this daughter of Ireland, The Keeners is a book that will stick with me for a long, long, time to come."
--Cat Cody, RomanceJunkies.com

"A gifted storyteller with a mastery of language writes a tightly paced story, and Maura D. Shaw is such a storyteller. Her knowledge of Ireland and its history, her empathy with a people she is connected to through her great grandmother, add a depth to this story that pulled me in to feel the hunger, pain, loss, fear, love, strength, and courage that take Margaret from the shores of Ireland to a new home and a new life. She captures the devastation of a land and its people through the eyes of characters that tug at the heartstrings and tie them into a forget-me-not bow. The Keeners is a bookshelf keeper. A book, a story, you will want to read again, from a talented author who respects her craft and cares about her readers and her subject."
--Charlene Austin, Writing Road Newsletter

"This amazing read left me both laughing and cheering. The reader will feel truly invested with Margaret and her Tommy and I can truly say I was sad when I came to the end and had to say goodbye. I hope that there is another story in the works of this amazing family. I highly recommend this read and suggest if you are a fan of a well-written historical novel look no further."
--Amazon.com Top 500 reviewer

More to come …