- The Real Crimes
- British Justice- My Arse!
- A Love Letter to Liverpool?
- Radio Interview
- How we got here…
- Who we are
- Under The Bridge- Buy it now!
- 10 Questions With… Jack Byrne
- Humanity and Solidarity vs the ‘ Covid war profiteers’
- Buy now-sit back and relax
- A Fairytale in …
- It’s not about Corbyn or Bernie it’s about us.
- Dev’s Dream. Our Reality.
- All in a day’s work
- A rose in the river
- Risen
- The Black Christ
- United We Stand
- Speke Promenade. If only…
- Death by a Thousand Cuts
- So good they closed them down.
- Building Lives and Families Not Just Motorways
- Another Place
- Chickens coming home to roost.
- Norwegian Wood, and Rubber Dinghies (from Hindi dingi ‘small boat’ )
- To be or not to be…
- A Truly Irish and British Thriller
- The Ragged Arsed Philanthropists
- Another Crash?
- Readers Favorite Review 2
- Reds on top again?
- Follow the link for your Free Ebook Download. Sun 5th July
- A Day in the life…40 years from home.
- The Blue Union
- Humanity Restored
- Speke Hall- A Scary Future?
- Match and Bobbin girls
- The longest journey starts with a single step
- From Wicklow to The Liverpool Mysteries
- The world is burning…and Liverpool are on fire.
- Reading Catherine Cookson- The making of a Scouse militant.
- Above us only sky
- Fire Next Time
- From the Cast Iron Shore to a Glass Onion
- Red or Blue-what does it mean for you?
- Four more lads from Liverpool
- All Together Now
- Imagine- A working class hero
- Give Ireland Back to The Irish-Fear and Loathing in Liverpool.
- Do you know Liverpool Lou or Maggie May?
- Come Together – Covid19 Social Distancing and Social Solidarity?
- The Irish ballad of John and Sean
- A novel approach-Liverpool and Brexit
- Day Tripper- Do you know the name of the shore?
- Secrets and Lies- Oglet Shore
- The ebb and flow.
- Where can I buy your books?
- Oglet to The Glass Bottle Shore
- Run for your life.
- Walkways in The Sky
- The best band Ireland never had.
- Ring of Fire- The prince and the frog. Liverpool Style
- How much do you know about Garston?
- Paperback Writer
- With a little help from my ….
- A long and winding road…
- Chapter 8 Garston
- The truth wrapped up in a lie.
Welcome to the four novels that make up The Liverpool Mystery Series, each can be read independently, but reading all of them will help you get more out of each one. The first book I wrote was Under The Bridge (to be published Feb 18th 2021) set in Garston, but that book had its roots in Wicklow, Ireland. Join the FB group for Under The Bridge here;
https://www.facebook.com/groups/522800758257136
The Morning After is the second and it was writing this book that I realised this was a series all along. I am currently writing Fire Next Time and The Wicklow Boys will follow. You can read the novels in any order, like our lives they are a moment in time, connected to what happens before and after.
The Real Crimes
I am booked to appear on a panel with two other ‘crime writers’ for the UK Crime Book Club on Facebook I will post a link when it comes around. But it got me thinking about UTB as crime novel, this might seem strange, but for me the book has always been primarily about theContinue reading “The Real Crimes”
British Justice- My Arse!
The following exchange from Under The Bridge happens early in the book, the conversation is in The Dealers Arms in Garston, between Michael who is in his 60s and a younger Vinny. **** Michael changed the subject. ‘And what do you do? Vincent, is it?’ ‘I work in a shop in town, nothing very exciting.’Continue reading “British Justice- My Arse!”
A Love Letter to Liverpool?
Liverpool based author SE Moorhead https://semoorhead.com/ called Under The Bridge ‘A love letter to Liverpool with a touch of the Peaky Blinders’. I really liked this line and I have used it a number of times, its even on the cover of the book. I have to admit the first time I saw it, theContinue reading “A Love Letter to Liverpool?”
Radio Interview
Short interview on Under The Bridge the Sean Styles show Radio Merseyside 14th March 2021
How we got here…
The history of Liverpool never ceases to amaze and surprise me, there is always something more to find out. A few readers have commented that they learned something about their home city from reading Under The Bridge. This process is going on all the time for me, but for many, including Vinny in the book,Continue reading “How we got here…”
Who we are
A member of the facebook group for my novel Under The Bridge https://www.facebook.com/groups/522800758257136 prompted me to think a bit this week. She said that she wasn’t Irish or a republican so wouldn’t join an event hosted by the Irish Centre last week.I wrote back saying ‘you don’t have to be Irish or a republican’ thatContinue reading “Who we are”
Under The Bridge- Buy it now!
CHAPTER ONE MICHAEL The bone poked out of the mud and into Michael’s life. ‘Whoa, stop, stop!’ Michael, the site caretaker, waved his hands above his head and shouted over the grinding diesel engine. The digger emptied its load on a growing mound of damp earth, a strip of blue tarpaulin hanging from its scoop.Continue reading “Under The Bridge- Buy it now!”
10 Questions With… Jack Byrne
Originally posted on Serial Writer:
Hi everyone, and this afternoon I’m delighted to welcome Jack Byrne to the blog. Jack is from Liverpool and has set his debut novel there. I was delighted when he agreed to an interview, and to find out about his writing journey. Details of how to contact hun are below…
Humanity and Solidarity vs the ‘ Covid war profiteers’
The martial metaphors abound, fighting the war against the pandemic, the next battle and so on, and this week has made it clear that where ever we are, we are not at the end of this particular fight. Every time we think we see the light at the end of the tunnel, it gets darkContinue reading “Humanity and Solidarity vs the ‘ Covid war profiteers’”
Buy now-sit back and relax
Northodox Press @northodoxpress·Dec 17Under the Bridge by @Jackbyrnewriter is now available for pre-order in ebook (Kindle & EPUB) and paperback. Publishing 18th Feb 21. Kindle – http://ow.ly/rL4T50CNBKg Ebook – http://ow.ly/atft50CNBKe Paperback – http://ow.ly/F0Wd50CNBKf a free sample – http://ow.ly/LW1250CNBKk Publication day 18th February it will be sent to you.
A Fairytale in …
One of everyone’s favourite Xmas songs has to be Fairytale in New York, but behind the song’s international fame is a story that will ring true for Irish descendants everywhere.. As many of you know Garston was home to a community of emigrants from Wicklow. My books follow some characters from that community through theContinue reading “A Fairytale in …”
Dev’s Dream. Our Reality.
‘The Ireland that we dreamed of.’ Eamon De Valera 1943 The ideal Ireland that we would have, the Ireland that we dreamed of, would be the home of a people who valued material wealth only as a basis for right living, of a people who, satisfied with frugal comfort, devoted their leisure to the thingsContinue reading “Dev’s Dream. Our Reality.”
All in a day’s work
The following is an excerpt from the novel Under the Bridge to be published Jan 2021 Micheal is on the night shift at Standard No 2 plant in Speke, Liverpool. 1975 Michael checked the clock. One minute to ten: just enough time to put his sandwiches, flask and newspaper away, and get to his workstation.Continue reading “All in a day’s work”
A rose in the river
In 1945 the Labour government deported hundreds of Chinese seamen from Liverpool. Thousands had been brought to the UK to support the war effort and risked their lives on British ships. Many married and started families. Wives and children were left desperate as fathers and husbands were picked up by the police and deported. ThisContinue reading “A rose in the river”
Risen
Risen Arthur John Dooley (17 January 1929 – 7 January 1994) Worker and sculptor He coughed his way downstairs, tousled thinning hair, his heavy overcoat took the place of a dressing gown over his pyjamas. His wake up fag hung from his lip as he turned on the gas. His fumbling hands expertly struck aContinue reading “Risen”
The Black Christ
The sculptor Arthur Dooley was born in The Dingle, worked in Cammell Lairds, and travelled the world with the Irish Guards, at one point he was a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. A well travelled man he eventually settled back in his native Liverpool. For a period he worked in Dunlops in Speke toContinue reading “The Black Christ”
United We Stand
I posted an article from the Jacobin earlier in the week on the famous battle of Cable street in London. https://www.facebook.com/groups/522800758257136 There was also short qoute from someone born in York St, Garston. He explained how a Polish Jew Mr Tumarkin helped his mother out when she was desperate. The speaker was Jack Jones, theContinue reading “United We Stand”
Speke Promenade. If only…
Does it sound like a fantasy? We will never know how close we came to it being a reality. The plan of Speke estate from 1937 at the Liverpool Records Office, shows a roundabout at Western Avenue, and a major road continuing right through to the shore. Tom who grew up in Speke has uploadedContinue reading “Speke Promenade. If only…”
Death by a Thousand Cuts
I heard this week that the Metal Box in Speke had been knocked down. It had been closed for years so I guess it’s no surprise. My last blog post reported on the closure of many of Liverpool Eight’s clubs, a whole social scene was removed, wiped out. In their heydey some of those clubsContinue reading “Death by a Thousand Cuts”
So good they closed them down.
In my book Under The Bridge, Vinny and Anne are talking, she’s picked him up from Huskisson St in Liverpool Eight and is driving him to Garston. She pulled out into the street, moved up the gears, slowed, and turned into Catherine Street. As they moved through the lights into Princes Avenue, Vinny asked, “RememberContinue reading “So good they closed them down.”
Building Lives and Families Not Just Motorways
Wicklow, Rathnew and Garston in Liverpool have a long lasting connection, not one recognised by councils and authorities but one long know about among residents and families. The One Road is a collection of short stories you can download free here. https://jackbyrne.home.blog/ The stories set the scene for ‘Under The Bridge’ a novel that willContinue reading “Building Lives and Families Not Just Motorways”
Another Place
Another place…another time…another people…silent figures defying time and tide, looking out to the Mersey Estuary to the migrants who came and left and those who remain. I guess because I am from one of those migrants I feel the pull of these statues. If you haven’t seen them do yourself a favour and make theContinue reading “Another Place”
Chickens coming home to roost.
This is one of the most famous political remarks in modern history. It was used by Malcolm X in 1963 when he was in the Nation of Islam but finding it increasingly difficult to remain outside of politics. He was ordered by the leader of the Nation not to comment on Kennedy’s assassination, instead ofContinue reading “Chickens coming home to roost.”
Norwegian Wood, and Rubber Dinghies (from Hindi dingi ‘small boat’ )
The Beatles song always struck me as strangely titled. Wikipedia informs me it refers to the wood panelling in a house in London, where John Lennon was conducting an affair. The novel I am working on at the moment ‘Fire Next Time’ has its final dramatic scenes in The Baltic Triangle. It is an areaContinue reading “Norwegian Wood, and Rubber Dinghies (from Hindi dingi ‘small boat’ )”
To be or not to be…
I am waiting for an email from a publisher, either of the first two paragraphs below could be true come Monday morning. Scenario AI am really happy to be able to report that an independent publisher has agreed to publish Under The Bridge, although I am sure there will many details to be worked out.Continue reading “To be or not to be…”
A Truly Irish and British Thriller
The headline above, and the quote below are both from reviews of my novel Under The Bridge “Written for adult audiences, this thrilling novel explores class distinctions, nationality, identity, and the dynamics of power by combining historical and contemporary content for its mystery plot.” You can read the full reviews here https://jackbyrne.home.blog/under-the-bridge/ They mark theContinue reading “A Truly Irish and British Thriller”
The Ragged Arsed Philanthropists
Philanthropist noun noun: philanthropist; plural noun: philanthropists a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. ‘Ragged Arsed,’ sounds much more authentic. Robert Tressell or Noonan on his mother’s side left a legacy of a book first published in 1914 but credited by some with ‘helpingContinue reading “The Ragged Arsed Philanthropists”
Another Crash?
Fifty-five years ago this week, on 20 July 1965 a there was an event that shocked the people of Speke and Garston. In a way, it was a foreshadowing of what the recession of the seventies would do to the industry in the area. In this case, it was a Cambrian Airlines plane that hadContinue reading “Another Crash?”
Reds on top again?
Congratulations to Liverpool and all the club’s fans. I am not a big football supporter. I wasn’t as a kid, and am not now. There was a period when I followed Everton quite closely, but it was mainly to be able to talk to my dad who was a big blues fan. Toward the endContinue reading “Reds on top again?”
Follow the link for your Free Ebook Download. Sun 5th July
You have until midnight Sunday the 5th of July to get your free kindle ebook from AmazonA dark comedy, a buddy story, and a road trip all in one. If you get the amazon kindle version you can leave a review which will be great for me. It can be just a couple of linesContinue reading “Follow the link for your Free Ebook Download. Sun 5th July”
A Day in the life…40 years from home.
Two songs a world apart, or are they? “He blew his mind out in a car.” The Beatles song A Day in The Life references the death of Tara Browne an Irish socialite, heir to the Guinness fortune, who had a house in Luggalo, County Wicklow and died in England in a car crash inContinue reading “A Day in the life…40 years from home.”
The Blue Union
Many from Garston will remember the blue union as a social club on Window Lane and a football team that played in the Sunday league, a team that was the starting point for some famous names like Jimmy Case. For decades it played a role in the social life of people Under The Bridge. ItContinue reading “The Blue Union”
Humanity Restored
Robert Burns poem called Man was made to mourn: A Dirge in 1784. ‘Man’s inhumanity to man’ The response to the murder of George Floyd for most people has been an overwhelming rejection of the racism that ended his life. The casual denial of his humanity, and as police knelt on his neck it brought back all theContinue reading “Humanity Restored”
Speke Hall- A Scary Future?
Speke Hall was a place of adventure and escape for kids from the Speke estate, encapsulating the split personality of Speke, on one side the factories, Fords, Standard Triumph, Evans Medical, Metal Box, and Dunlops. On the other side the river, farmers fields and the distinctly rural feel of Hale village, a weird combination thatContinue reading “Speke Hall- A Scary Future?”
Match and Bobbin girls
The Mersey Matchworks, was a scene of architectural progress and innovation, while being witness to the ruthless treatment of the women and girls of the Garston Bobbin works. Bryant & May had a reasonably good reputation in Liverpool, mainly because the industry had moved on by the time the Garston factory was built. Mechanisation andContinue reading “Match and Bobbin girls”
The longest journey starts with a single step
This is an interview with Chat and Spin radio on the 28th May 2020 broadcasting from Tyne and Wear in the UK over the internet to half a million listeners internationally.
From Wicklow to The Liverpool Mysteries
I like the new cover designs above, they are simpler, starker, and grittier just like the books. They highlight the mystery nature of the novels. Creating an atmosphere of tension in the cover is no easy thing to do, so I am pleased. (Thanks to Leila ) There is one image missing, I haven’t startedContinue reading “From Wicklow to The Liverpool Mysteries”
The world is burning…and Liverpool are on fire.
Below is the first chapter of the book I am currently working on, while trying to edit the last one, and query the first one with agents and publishers- Anyway I hope you enjoy this sneak preview – Chapter One The World is Burning January 7th 2020 Liverpool UK. A voice rang out over theContinue reading “The world is burning…and Liverpool are on fire.”
Reading Catherine Cookson- The making of a Scouse militant.
The question ‘What made you a socialist?’ Was recently discussed on his Facebook page by a political activist and writer who was active in Liverpool. I was in and out of Liverpool, Sheffield, Oxford and Nottingham in fact wherever the IMG or its successors wanted people to move, there I would be..But back to theContinue reading “Reading Catherine Cookson- The making of a Scouse militant.”
Above us only sky
Paul arriving back at Liverpool Airport, just a couple of miles down the road was one of Paul’s favourite spots as a child, Oggy shore. Anyone who grew up in Speke, Liverpool knew it as a place to escape from the streets. Above is the 1930s art deco building I remember. As kids, we wouldContinue reading “Above us only sky”
Fire Next Time
‘Fire Next Time’ is the title of my current work in progress. The first chapter starts when Charlie a young guy in Liverpool is going to work listening to the Anfield Wrap podcast. Liverpool FC have just beaten Everton in the fourth round of the FA cup, he is happy as can be. All isContinue reading “Fire Next Time”
From the Cast Iron Shore to a Glass Onion
By Radarsmum67 from Liverpool, UK. – A grey day on the Mersey., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85872474 Liverpool with its back to the land has always been the departure point to the West. From the slave trade to the millions of Irish emigrants who left through the port to cross the Atlantic. The trade route sawContinue reading “From the Cast Iron Shore to a Glass Onion”
Red or Blue-what does it mean for you?
The number one question any Scouser gets asked when outside Liverpool. Football and The Beatles are Liverpool’s claim to fame internationally and the tourist industry in the city is a combination of these draws. It might seem strange but the two things were rarely combined in real life. Until preparing for this post I hadContinue reading “Red or Blue-what does it mean for you?”
Four more lads from Liverpool
In the blog post last week I highlighted the song ‘All Together Now’ by Liverpool band The Farm. When I was writing that blog post it reminded me of the late eighties in Liverpool. I am pretty sure the The Farm played anti-apartheid fundraisers for us in the Polytechnic Student’s union around that time. IContinue reading “Four more lads from Liverpool”
All Together Now
Covid-19 All in it together – Wishful thinking or reality? The Beatles All Together now recorded in 1967 and released in 1972 is a feel-good tune, expressing peace and love for everyone. Help build the audience for this blog =leave your email- or tag a friend- like and share All Together Now released by LiverpoolContinue reading “All Together Now”
Imagine- A working class hero
Subscribe free -Why wouldn’t you? Leave your email below. I remember as a kid, one particular afternoon playing two records over and over again. A working class hero by John Lennon and Ben by Michael Jackson. With Ben the attraction was the purity of the soaring vocals and of course the idea of loyalty despiteContinue reading “Imagine- A working class hero”
Give Ireland Back to The Irish-Fear and Loathing in Liverpool.
Paul McCartney’s first single with Wings in 1972 ‘Give Ireland Back to The Irish’ shortly after the Bloody Sunday shootings of innocent demonstrators in Derry in Northern Ireland, was an act of protest, and built on the musical legacy of Liverpool. https://jackbyrne.home.blog/2020/03/19/do-you-know-liverpool-lou/ Liverpool Lou written and performed by Dominic Behan is an expression of thisContinue reading “Give Ireland Back to The Irish-Fear and Loathing in Liverpool.”
Do you know Liverpool Lou or Maggie May?
Are you interested in writing from, or the culture and history of Liverpool? Then leave your email so you don’t miss out on future posts. Help me me build this blog -spread the word- join the conversation-like and share. Written by and performed by Dominic Behan Liverpool Lou is part of the connection between IrelandContinue reading “Do you know Liverpool Lou or Maggie May?”
Come Together – Covid19 Social Distancing and Social Solidarity?
John Lennon began the song for Timothy Leary a US liberal radical in an election against Ronald Reagan. The Reagan/Thatcher axis and neo-liberalism sought to minimise the state as a tool used to change society to help people, like building the NHS and education system etc to an instrument to maximise the conditions for profit.Continue reading “Come Together – Covid19 Social Distancing and Social Solidarity?”
The Irish ballad of John and Sean
‘Liverpool the capital of Ireland’ famous for its large Irish population and historic connections to the ‘Old Country’ is a popular and widely held image. In a lot of respects, this gives a false impression. Most people of Irish descent in Liverpool were defined by Catholicism, not Irish culture, history or politics. Irish identity wasContinue reading “The Irish ballad of John and Sean”
A novel approach-Liverpool and Brexit
Looking for readers for a new book pre-publication – blurb below- click the link and leave a comment and your email on the blog- 20 will be accepted The morning after the Brexit vote 2016 and history professor Vinny’s world is turned upside down. What starts as a minor traffic accident grows in importance asContinue reading “A novel approach-Liverpool and Brexit”
Day Tripper- Do you know the name of the shore?
Jam butties and lemonade, my mam, auntie Lilly, and a gang of kids down by the river. An experience many of us shared growing up like Paul in Speke. But what was the name of the Shore? Locals will know it – but a real teaser for those not from the area. If you don’tContinue reading “Day Tripper- Do you know the name of the shore?”
Secrets and Lies- Oglet Shore
An excerpt from The Morning After In one sense, Macca was right, the area had changed. Speke park, a green space in the middle of the estate had been built over. A supermarket, library and administration centre now stood in its place. The cynical bastards did keep the name thought Vinny, the whole area wasContinue reading “Secrets and Lies- Oglet Shore”
The ebb and flow.
I’m back in Liverpool this week revisiting old friends and haunts. On the second day here I had to find the office of a publisher. It was cold and wet. I was walking the streets of the ‘Baltic Triangle’. This is a part of Liverpool between the town centre and The Dingle. Old warehouses andContinue reading “The ebb and flow.”
Where can I buy your books?
Is a frequent question – a nice one to hear, but also a little frustrating. Is it worth waiting? Read below and tell me what you think. Robert Turley has written a moving and interesting memoir about a family tragedy in Canada and his relocation to Liverpool, the original home of his father. He recordsContinue reading “Where can I buy your books?”
Oglet to The Glass Bottle Shore
From the coming novel The Morning After- leave your email for updates and more Friday June 23rd 1981 Friday 11am to 12pm The kid was scrambling back up the slope. Sammo had stepped out and started moving toward him. “Sammo,” Macca shouted. “Wait. What are you doing?” Vinny and Macca watched Sammo as he startedContinue reading “Oglet to The Glass Bottle Shore”
Run for your life.
Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girlThan to be with another man The first two lines of this Beatles song make clear the subject and the writer’s view. There can be no doubt that the song accepts violence against women as the norm. This is from a time when women and children were seenContinue reading “Run for your life.”
Walkways in The Sky
Walkways in the sky. Buurrr buurrr lips pursed, Harry blew out the trumpet sound of the last post. The wail of his voice was in mockery, not respect. The funeral was real, the death was real in Allerton cemetery grounds, the trumpet and tears were real. In the act of grieving for one of theirContinue reading “Walkways in The Sky”
The best band Ireland never had.
Liverpool Irish and Scouse There was a debate in Facebook group about Liverpool being cosmopolitan and anti racist because of the large numbers of Irish people here, descended from emigrants who came to Liverpool during and after the famine of the the 1840’s. The idea was that a city based so heavily on immigration mustContinue reading “The best band Ireland never had.”
Ring of Fire- The prince and the frog. Liverpool Style
Click to listen. Disclaimer- No actual frogs were harmed during this recording. Want more goodies? Leave your email address to subscribe- copy and share this link on your Facebook https://jackbyrne.home.blog/ or click the like and share buttons at the bottom of the page to spread the word.
How much do you know about Garston?
Free entry to win signed copy of Under The Bridge – leave email to enter or click the like and share buttons at the bottom of the page to spread the word.
Paperback Writer
Help me decide – does the cover match the storyline? A skeleton is unearthed on a building site close to the docks in Garston. Anne, a fledgling reporter, is assigned to what should be a routine story. Her friend Vinny, starting a postgrad degree, is plagued by nightmares and visions of death. As he strugglesContinue reading “Paperback Writer”
With a little help from my ….
Friends, leave your email below for more free writing on Liverpool or click the like and share buttons at the bottom of the page to spread the word. Friends….three boys meet in Speke Liverpool early summer 1981. Chapter 2 All for One Friday 3rd July 1981 Macca builtContinue reading “With a little help from my ….”
A long and winding road…
Writing is more than telling stories. For me it’s about working out what happened and why. Why did we become the people we are, why is our society the way it is? Hopefully explored in an interesting and engaging way. Leave your email to get updates or click the like and share buttons at theContinue reading “A long and winding road…”
Chapter 8 Garston
Leave your email above, and enjoy below. Chapter 8 Garston from The Morning AfterJuly 3rd Friday 1981 Lunchtime “Does anyone know the way?” asked Macca “Yeah, I do, my nan lived here.” Vinny led the way as they scrambled up from the shore. The road in front of them was at the back of theContinue reading “Chapter 8 Garston”
The truth wrapped up in a lie.
That is what writing fiction is for me. This is a slight change in a quote from another author (Michael Scot). In telling a story we can sometimes get closer to and communicate the truth better than if we present a series of facts. If you subscribe to this blog you will get an audioContinue reading “The truth wrapped up in a lie.”
