One fine September morning 95 years ago, a small boy strolled across a bridge over the River Blackwater leading into the town of Fermoy, County Cork. Suddenly, all hell broke loose around him as he was caught in the middle of one of the very first cross-fires between the Irish Volunteers and the British army. That boy was my father-in-law, Paddy Ryan. The story of his life inspired me so much that that I blended it with other true stories to create a novel that celebrates the lives of that generation. From a psychologist’s perspective, it’s a study of childhood trauma and resilience in several characters as they move through the life span during troubled times. It makes a great holiday read for psychologists who enjoy reading fiction with a psychological emphasis and a background of living history.