What readers have said
The Terminal Diner
***** FIVE STAR REVIEWS Smashwords: Caitlin Tompkins
As soon as I got the book put onto my Kobo and started reading, I couldn't put the book down! I was completely drawn into the story. I love the characters, they're very well developed and I can relate to them easily. Their reactions to situations are believable, I've found some authors whose characters are too ready to accept weird things happening, but I never saw that in The Terminal Diner. Having grown up in the area where the story takes place makes this book have a deeper meaning to me. I know the places she describes well, especially the airport having just come home from Florida two days ago. Seeing the name of the area where I've grown was thoroughly exciting and added an extra sense of attachment to the story. Mary Pat Hyland is an AMAZING writer, her characters come alive and interact well with each other. If you want to read a book, I would highly recommend this one.
Amazon: Cheryl Owen
Terminal Diner
Just finished reading this on Kindle - absolutely loved it! Had a bit of everything in it - bit of drama, bit of mystery and intrigue, bit of romance and a bit of humour. It kept me up till the early hours of the morning as I couldn't put it down! Fabulous plot and an interesting twist on how peoples lives were affected after 9/11, if you want a straightforward fun and exciting read then this is for you.
Amazon: Common Barn Owl Fan
My First Mary Pat Hyland Book
This is the first time I have read a book by Mary Pat Hyland. I found the cover intriguing and the theme of "men like pie" intersting. Don't own a Kindle (own a Sony Reader) so I purchased the paperback. I love to read books but just don't take enough time to do so. Once I picked this book up and started reading it, I was immediately drawn into the story. This book held my interest to the very end. I finished it in record time (for me) even staying up very late at night because I just wanted to keep reading. I loved how Mary Pat Hyland laid this story out and just when I thought I may have some things figured out or thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was surprised by the turn of events in the story. For me, a good or great book is one that I hate when the end comes and I have finished reading the book. I found myself not wanting the book to end. As I was finishing this book, I had several interruptions so I waited until quiet time so I could devour that one last slice of pie... Hated to see the story end, but all books have to have an ending and I would even read this book again which says a lot for me. This book will remain in my library and again I will one day re-visit The Terminal Diner.
Amazon: By TByrd
The Terminal Diner; Holds The Reader's Interest
Mary Pat Hyland has done it again. From start to finish The Terminal Diner kept my interest while at the same time feeling a plethora of emotions. I found myself relating to the emotions of the main character. I didn't want to put it down until I finished reading it. Thank you for providing such an entertaining read. Making it available on Kindle is a big plus. Ms. Hyland is a gifted author and I'm looking forward to her next book.
Amazon: By Merritt
Delicious
Prepare to gorge yourself on the witty, thoughtful, and intriguing words of Mary Pat Hyland. The Terminal Diner is a delicious read that will leave you wanting more.
Amazon: By XSkater1014
Diner's Delight
The Terminal Diner is the latest effort by talented writer Mary Pat Hyland. She does a wonderful job of creating interesting characters whom you feel right at home with. Her descriptions and attention to everyday nuances allow you to step right into the upstate NY setting. The book is a quick, easy read and one you'll have trouble putting down. So grab a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and enjoy The Terminal Diner!
Amazon: annecollie48
A Slice of Mystery With Your Pie...
As an avid fan of Mary Pat Hyland's works, I was eagerly awaiting the release of her newest book, The Terminal Diner. I was not disappointed! Ms. Hyland has already proven to me that she is a master of believable characters, situations and humor in her 1st 3 books, The Cyber Miracles, A Sudden Gift of Fate (its sequel) and 3/17. Each of those books has something that appeals to me...the Finger Lakes in NY, my Irish heritage, and Keuka Lake in particular. I couldn't wait to see what she would do with one of my favorite genres, suspense!
This book is absolutely brilliant! With a new set of characters placed in a setting of one of our nation's worst tragedies, it was interesting to see how she wove her story and built suspense. Her treatment of 9/11 was neither overstated nor maudlin as she told the story as seen by characters affected by the awful tragedy, but well removed from its origin. As usual, her characters were superb, each with his/her own lovable (or despicable!)intrigue. I did not see the ending, which was unbelievably clever, coming! Also as usual, I could not put her book down and truly missed the characters when I was done with the book (in less than 24 hours, I might add!). Hollywood agents would do well to snap up the rights to this masterpiece before it is gone!!!
My advice to potential readers? Buy the book, make yourself comfy, and cut yourself a nice slice of pie as you read this outstanding novel...you never know who might join you for pie!!!
Amazon: Sheila Forsyth
A Slice of Life
The Terminal Diner is a well written, enthralling book. Mary Pat Hyland has written something totally different from her Maeve Kenny series. This is about the people who own and work in their diner and how their lives changed as a result of 9/11. The characters grow as the plot deepens. The book held my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!
**** FOUR STAR REVIEWS
Amazon: By Writing On The Wall
The Terminal Diner gives reader "life support"
"Men like pie". Simple, intriguing and mysterious, with a touch of melancholy and a host of memories attached - the key phrase of "The Terminal Diner" sets the tone for this read-in-one-sitting novel by Mary Pat Hyland. At times tense, at times wistful, and always engaging, Hyland has returned to Upstate New York to bring us a world filled with unanswerable questions and questionable answers. A book lovingly written by a woman who knows her characters, "The Terminal Diner" catches you and carries you along to it's all too soon conclusion. There is always a quirky sense of hopefulness in Hyland's writing. Even when taking you into a world of confusion and mistrust, ultimately, a sense of optimism resides just under the surface. Hyland gets better and better with each novel - expanding her reach while honoring her unique voice. "The Terminal Diner" is her best work yet.
Amazon: Diana Schleicher "LBT Lover"
My first, but not last, of Mary Pat Hyland!
This is my first adventure with author M.P. Hyland. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style from first to last page. Her characters are well rounded, displaying a wide range of emotions that only a well versed author could attain. Although there is mystery and intrigue, there is a surprising lack of bloody details, making it all the more enjoyable for the reader. Ms. Hyland left the reader wanting the book to continue, and not come to a close. I'm looking forward to her next novel, and will read her other already published ones in the meantime.
Amazon: By Cinda
Mary Pat Hyland does it again!
This is the third book of Mary Pat Hyland's I have read. She really has the knack of totally immersing the reader in the characters and the story with her prose and writing style. It's so hard to put down her books! The characters are so well-rounded that they feel like old friends by the end of the story. The elements of mysticism and karma woven in leave the reader with a hopeful ending that's never schmaltzy. The Terminal Diner takes you on Elaina's journey to live life outside of the diner in post 9/11 upstate New York. You'll be hooked on it and rooting for her from the first chapter!
3/17
* Hilarious!
* It's not fiction ... I've LIVED it! All nine levels of that hell! Damn! You nailed it!
* Amazing! Spot on and Deadly! YOU have a very special gift and the grá for capturing the whole savage Irish trad. scene!
* By the end of the book, you had me roaring with laughter. I know these people, and lordamercy so do you!
* As usual, Hyland's mastery of believable conversations and endearing characters make it very hard to put the book down. You will laugh, you will wince, and you will be unable to wait to hear what happens next...all the makings of a GREAT book!
* Absolutely loved it! Well done!
* From Powell's Books: Mollie, January 12, 2011 * * * * * One of the funniest books I ever read in my life--and I am hard to please. It's right up there with "Lucky Jim" and "Whisky Galore." Mary Pat certainly knows her way around Irish music and Irish musicians, and she can spin a yarn with the best of them--Dante included. A band of traditional Irish musicians gets lost on the way to a St. Patrick's Day gig in upstate New York and spends the next few days trying to get back to reality. On the way, they encounter pukas, little girl step dancers, tyrannical Comhaltas session players, clueless and keyless singers of "Danny Boy," and even Danu herself (maybe...), all the while defending themselves from offerings of corned beef and cabbage by the locals. The structure of the story is frankly, and with tongue-in-cheek apologies, taken from The Inferno, but the style is completely picaresque. The climax is a hallucinatory brawl featuring all the characters the band has encountered, and ending with an epiphanic parody so hilarious that I couldn't catch my breath for several minutes, I was laughing so hard. A novel Flann O'Brien would have been proud to write.
From BigAl's Books and Pals, March 24, 2011 * * * *
Murphy was Irish. It seems fitting that his law would apply so well to the characters of 3/17. In what is described as a “loose parody of Dante’s Inferno,” Irish Trad Band Slí na Fírinne (which means “path of truth”) go on their first American tour in upstate New York. Before reaching their first gig they slide off the road in a snowstorm – an accident that might have been prevented if they had paid attention to their seemingly possessed GPS. From there, it only gets worse.
What follows is a nightmare that gets progressively worse. Missed gigs, cultural clashes – especially with those who think they understand Irish culture, and plenty of gigs from hell (none of which were those originally booked). Although almost anyone capable of laughing at Murphy gone amok should enjoy 3/17, it should especially ring true for musicians, or anyone who has observed artistic types trying to put food on the table.
FYI:
You’ll find a lot of Gaeilge words (the Irish language) used. For some, like eejit, the meaning might be obvious. Some you’ll figure out from context. For all, the handy lexicon in the back is available to help.
The Cyber Miracles
* "The plot was wonderful. The characters were engaging. I especially liked the crisp dialog. The pacing and cleverness of the dialog reminded me of the banter in one of my favorite movies – “His Girl Friday.” Your book would make a hell of a movie!"
* "Mary Pat Hyland has a wonderful sense of honest and believable dialogue with her characters, and the book flows like a gentle upstate New York waterfall on a warm summer’s day. I absolutely LOVED the characters, all of them! I could not put this book down, and actually MISSED the characters when I was done."
* "Sometimes I want a book that challenges, amuses, comforts or recalls fond memories. This book did all of this. The characters are engaging and realistic. I can imagine a conversation with any of them. The experiences of Irish immigrant and Irish-American characters ring true without seeming cutesy. I read it in one sitting, and look forward to reading it again soon. First, I’m going grab a cup of tea and read the sequel."
A Sudden Gift of Fate
* "Mary Pat Hyland’s sequel to The Cyber Miracles, continues the stories of Maeve, Andy, Fergal and Bridgeen in the beautiful setting of upstate New York. This endearing foursome, that so many readers of the first book fell in love with, face new challenges with Irish wit and a generally upbeat outlook on life. They’re a group of friends that anyone would want to hang out with.
Set largely in Binghamton and on Keuka Lake, the novel takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of starting up a winery and an organic bakery with a pro-small-business environmental consciousness and an emphasis on the local agriculture and organic food movements. The dialogue sometimes makes you laugh out loud and often makes you smile.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a fun and fast read. The next step is for both novels to appear on the silver screen where they can give My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun a run for the money."
* "I enjoyed the book so much. After finishing it, I kept thinking of the characters and wondered how they were doing. I had to remind myself they weren't real and had to let them go…."
Press Reviews
The Cyber Miracles
Bill Jaker, WSKG Radio: The Cyber Miracles by Mary Pat Hyland opens with a scene of apprehension and glamorous excitement in New York City, turns from a silly misfortune to a personal tragedy and then whips its protagonist through incidents that are both trying and comical before settling into themes of genuine religious experience. All this happens with an Irish lilt and, for readers in New York’s Southern Tier, a strong sense of local color.
A Sudden Gift of Fate
Mary Pat Tuxbury, Irish News USA: Pour a glass of wine and sit down by the fire; the scéalaí, (storyteller), is in the house.
A Sudden Gift of Fate, by Mary Pat Hyland, is pure dead brilliant. Hyland takes you on a read from the west of Ireland to New York state in this fast-paced novel.
Fergal and Brídgeen Griffin are newlyweds planning a quiet life in Ireland, when wealthy cousin Colm, gifts them a failed winery in upstate New York. With only their Irish charm, they arrive at the Finger Lakes to start anew.
Maeve Kenny, on the other hand, has a life of uncertainty. Her love interest, Andy Krall, is not only younger, but is wheelchair-bound from a spinal cord injury. Brídgeen and Maeve share a long-standing friendship. Their sisterhood keeps them hopeful for tomorrow as they make their way through each day.
Maeve’s stormy highs and lows give her cause to cross paths with multifarious characters, who give her insights about life. Each story brings something to her soul which she adds to her knowledge to find the strength and inner peace to carry on.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a sequel to Hyland’s novel, The Cyber Miracles. The author’s fast-paced journalistic style keeps the reader turning pages. The use of Irish language brings the lilt needed to round out the persistent dark humor and pragmatism found in Irish speakers
PRESS
Danby Town Talk by Gay Huddle, 12/23/2010 Ithaca Journal
Getting her Irish up
My friend Anne Woodard from Ithaca College is a devoted fan of this column, so I am happy to include here information about Anne's sister, Mary Pat Hyland, author of the new book "3/17." Mary Pat is a former graphic artist, designer and art director who spent 15 years as a journalist, including writing for the Press & Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton until leaving in 2007 to become a novelist. She has an interest in the Irish language Gaeilge, which she has taught, and has danced in Irish companies and performs with the traditional Irish band The Hylands, all of which have given her a rich background for her third book.
"3/17," a loose parody of Dante's "Inferno," is about four Irish traditional musicians who get lost in the backwoods of upstate New York the week before St. Patrick's Day, after their car slides off the road when an Irish pony darts out in front of them. On the journey, the band descends through nine hellish circles of American-style "3/17 revelry," such as step-dancing princesses, bobbing shamrock headbangers, and shillelagh-waving geezers. An Amazon.com review raves: "You don't have to be Irish to love this book. Grab a corned beef sandwich and a pint and sit back for a wild ride."
Mary Pat ... frequently visits Tompkins County, and much of her first two books, "The Cyber Miracles" and "A Sudden Gift of Fate," take place in the Finger Lakes, with a large part transpiring in both the Binghamton and Ithaca areas.
***** FIVE STAR REVIEWS Smashwords: Caitlin Tompkins
As soon as I got the book put onto my Kobo and started reading, I couldn't put the book down! I was completely drawn into the story. I love the characters, they're very well developed and I can relate to them easily. Their reactions to situations are believable, I've found some authors whose characters are too ready to accept weird things happening, but I never saw that in The Terminal Diner. Having grown up in the area where the story takes place makes this book have a deeper meaning to me. I know the places she describes well, especially the airport having just come home from Florida two days ago. Seeing the name of the area where I've grown was thoroughly exciting and added an extra sense of attachment to the story. Mary Pat Hyland is an AMAZING writer, her characters come alive and interact well with each other. If you want to read a book, I would highly recommend this one.
Amazon: Cheryl Owen
Terminal Diner
Just finished reading this on Kindle - absolutely loved it! Had a bit of everything in it - bit of drama, bit of mystery and intrigue, bit of romance and a bit of humour. It kept me up till the early hours of the morning as I couldn't put it down! Fabulous plot and an interesting twist on how peoples lives were affected after 9/11, if you want a straightforward fun and exciting read then this is for you.
Amazon: Common Barn Owl Fan
My First Mary Pat Hyland Book
This is the first time I have read a book by Mary Pat Hyland. I found the cover intriguing and the theme of "men like pie" intersting. Don't own a Kindle (own a Sony Reader) so I purchased the paperback. I love to read books but just don't take enough time to do so. Once I picked this book up and started reading it, I was immediately drawn into the story. This book held my interest to the very end. I finished it in record time (for me) even staying up very late at night because I just wanted to keep reading. I loved how Mary Pat Hyland laid this story out and just when I thought I may have some things figured out or thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was surprised by the turn of events in the story. For me, a good or great book is one that I hate when the end comes and I have finished reading the book. I found myself not wanting the book to end. As I was finishing this book, I had several interruptions so I waited until quiet time so I could devour that one last slice of pie... Hated to see the story end, but all books have to have an ending and I would even read this book again which says a lot for me. This book will remain in my library and again I will one day re-visit The Terminal Diner.
Amazon: By TByrd
The Terminal Diner; Holds The Reader's Interest
Mary Pat Hyland has done it again. From start to finish The Terminal Diner kept my interest while at the same time feeling a plethora of emotions. I found myself relating to the emotions of the main character. I didn't want to put it down until I finished reading it. Thank you for providing such an entertaining read. Making it available on Kindle is a big plus. Ms. Hyland is a gifted author and I'm looking forward to her next book.
Amazon: By Merritt
Delicious
Prepare to gorge yourself on the witty, thoughtful, and intriguing words of Mary Pat Hyland. The Terminal Diner is a delicious read that will leave you wanting more.
Amazon: By XSkater1014
Diner's Delight
The Terminal Diner is the latest effort by talented writer Mary Pat Hyland. She does a wonderful job of creating interesting characters whom you feel right at home with. Her descriptions and attention to everyday nuances allow you to step right into the upstate NY setting. The book is a quick, easy read and one you'll have trouble putting down. So grab a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and enjoy The Terminal Diner!
Amazon: annecollie48
A Slice of Mystery With Your Pie...
As an avid fan of Mary Pat Hyland's works, I was eagerly awaiting the release of her newest book, The Terminal Diner. I was not disappointed! Ms. Hyland has already proven to me that she is a master of believable characters, situations and humor in her 1st 3 books, The Cyber Miracles, A Sudden Gift of Fate (its sequel) and 3/17. Each of those books has something that appeals to me...the Finger Lakes in NY, my Irish heritage, and Keuka Lake in particular. I couldn't wait to see what she would do with one of my favorite genres, suspense!
This book is absolutely brilliant! With a new set of characters placed in a setting of one of our nation's worst tragedies, it was interesting to see how she wove her story and built suspense. Her treatment of 9/11 was neither overstated nor maudlin as she told the story as seen by characters affected by the awful tragedy, but well removed from its origin. As usual, her characters were superb, each with his/her own lovable (or despicable!)intrigue. I did not see the ending, which was unbelievably clever, coming! Also as usual, I could not put her book down and truly missed the characters when I was done with the book (in less than 24 hours, I might add!). Hollywood agents would do well to snap up the rights to this masterpiece before it is gone!!!
My advice to potential readers? Buy the book, make yourself comfy, and cut yourself a nice slice of pie as you read this outstanding novel...you never know who might join you for pie!!!
Amazon: Sheila Forsyth
A Slice of Life
The Terminal Diner is a well written, enthralling book. Mary Pat Hyland has written something totally different from her Maeve Kenny series. This is about the people who own and work in their diner and how their lives changed as a result of 9/11. The characters grow as the plot deepens. The book held my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!
**** FOUR STAR REVIEWS
Amazon: By Writing On The Wall
The Terminal Diner gives reader "life support"
"Men like pie". Simple, intriguing and mysterious, with a touch of melancholy and a host of memories attached - the key phrase of "The Terminal Diner" sets the tone for this read-in-one-sitting novel by Mary Pat Hyland. At times tense, at times wistful, and always engaging, Hyland has returned to Upstate New York to bring us a world filled with unanswerable questions and questionable answers. A book lovingly written by a woman who knows her characters, "The Terminal Diner" catches you and carries you along to it's all too soon conclusion. There is always a quirky sense of hopefulness in Hyland's writing. Even when taking you into a world of confusion and mistrust, ultimately, a sense of optimism resides just under the surface. Hyland gets better and better with each novel - expanding her reach while honoring her unique voice. "The Terminal Diner" is her best work yet.
Amazon: Diana Schleicher "LBT Lover"
My first, but not last, of Mary Pat Hyland!
This is my first adventure with author M.P. Hyland. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style from first to last page. Her characters are well rounded, displaying a wide range of emotions that only a well versed author could attain. Although there is mystery and intrigue, there is a surprising lack of bloody details, making it all the more enjoyable for the reader. Ms. Hyland left the reader wanting the book to continue, and not come to a close. I'm looking forward to her next novel, and will read her other already published ones in the meantime.
Amazon: By Cinda
Mary Pat Hyland does it again!
This is the third book of Mary Pat Hyland's I have read. She really has the knack of totally immersing the reader in the characters and the story with her prose and writing style. It's so hard to put down her books! The characters are so well-rounded that they feel like old friends by the end of the story. The elements of mysticism and karma woven in leave the reader with a hopeful ending that's never schmaltzy. The Terminal Diner takes you on Elaina's journey to live life outside of the diner in post 9/11 upstate New York. You'll be hooked on it and rooting for her from the first chapter!
3/17
* Hilarious!
* It's not fiction ... I've LIVED it! All nine levels of that hell! Damn! You nailed it!
* Amazing! Spot on and Deadly! YOU have a very special gift and the grá for capturing the whole savage Irish trad. scene!
* By the end of the book, you had me roaring with laughter. I know these people, and lordamercy so do you!
* As usual, Hyland's mastery of believable conversations and endearing characters make it very hard to put the book down. You will laugh, you will wince, and you will be unable to wait to hear what happens next...all the makings of a GREAT book!
* Absolutely loved it! Well done!
* From Powell's Books: Mollie, January 12, 2011 * * * * * One of the funniest books I ever read in my life--and I am hard to please. It's right up there with "Lucky Jim" and "Whisky Galore." Mary Pat certainly knows her way around Irish music and Irish musicians, and she can spin a yarn with the best of them--Dante included. A band of traditional Irish musicians gets lost on the way to a St. Patrick's Day gig in upstate New York and spends the next few days trying to get back to reality. On the way, they encounter pukas, little girl step dancers, tyrannical Comhaltas session players, clueless and keyless singers of "Danny Boy," and even Danu herself (maybe...), all the while defending themselves from offerings of corned beef and cabbage by the locals. The structure of the story is frankly, and with tongue-in-cheek apologies, taken from The Inferno, but the style is completely picaresque. The climax is a hallucinatory brawl featuring all the characters the band has encountered, and ending with an epiphanic parody so hilarious that I couldn't catch my breath for several minutes, I was laughing so hard. A novel Flann O'Brien would have been proud to write.
From BigAl's Books and Pals, March 24, 2011 * * * *
Murphy was Irish. It seems fitting that his law would apply so well to the characters of 3/17. In what is described as a “loose parody of Dante’s Inferno,” Irish Trad Band Slí na Fírinne (which means “path of truth”) go on their first American tour in upstate New York. Before reaching their first gig they slide off the road in a snowstorm – an accident that might have been prevented if they had paid attention to their seemingly possessed GPS. From there, it only gets worse.
What follows is a nightmare that gets progressively worse. Missed gigs, cultural clashes – especially with those who think they understand Irish culture, and plenty of gigs from hell (none of which were those originally booked). Although almost anyone capable of laughing at Murphy gone amok should enjoy 3/17, it should especially ring true for musicians, or anyone who has observed artistic types trying to put food on the table.
FYI:
You’ll find a lot of Gaeilge words (the Irish language) used. For some, like eejit, the meaning might be obvious. Some you’ll figure out from context. For all, the handy lexicon in the back is available to help.
The Cyber Miracles
* "The plot was wonderful. The characters were engaging. I especially liked the crisp dialog. The pacing and cleverness of the dialog reminded me of the banter in one of my favorite movies – “His Girl Friday.” Your book would make a hell of a movie!"
* "Mary Pat Hyland has a wonderful sense of honest and believable dialogue with her characters, and the book flows like a gentle upstate New York waterfall on a warm summer’s day. I absolutely LOVED the characters, all of them! I could not put this book down, and actually MISSED the characters when I was done."
* "Sometimes I want a book that challenges, amuses, comforts or recalls fond memories. This book did all of this. The characters are engaging and realistic. I can imagine a conversation with any of them. The experiences of Irish immigrant and Irish-American characters ring true without seeming cutesy. I read it in one sitting, and look forward to reading it again soon. First, I’m going grab a cup of tea and read the sequel."
A Sudden Gift of Fate
* "Mary Pat Hyland’s sequel to The Cyber Miracles, continues the stories of Maeve, Andy, Fergal and Bridgeen in the beautiful setting of upstate New York. This endearing foursome, that so many readers of the first book fell in love with, face new challenges with Irish wit and a generally upbeat outlook on life. They’re a group of friends that anyone would want to hang out with.
Set largely in Binghamton and on Keuka Lake, the novel takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of starting up a winery and an organic bakery with a pro-small-business environmental consciousness and an emphasis on the local agriculture and organic food movements. The dialogue sometimes makes you laugh out loud and often makes you smile.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a fun and fast read. The next step is for both novels to appear on the silver screen where they can give My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun a run for the money."
* "I enjoyed the book so much. After finishing it, I kept thinking of the characters and wondered how they were doing. I had to remind myself they weren't real and had to let them go…."
Press Reviews
The Cyber Miracles
Bill Jaker, WSKG Radio: The Cyber Miracles by Mary Pat Hyland opens with a scene of apprehension and glamorous excitement in New York City, turns from a silly misfortune to a personal tragedy and then whips its protagonist through incidents that are both trying and comical before settling into themes of genuine religious experience. All this happens with an Irish lilt and, for readers in New York’s Southern Tier, a strong sense of local color.
A Sudden Gift of Fate
Mary Pat Tuxbury, Irish News USA: Pour a glass of wine and sit down by the fire; the scéalaí, (storyteller), is in the house.
A Sudden Gift of Fate, by Mary Pat Hyland, is pure dead brilliant. Hyland takes you on a read from the west of Ireland to New York state in this fast-paced novel.
Fergal and Brídgeen Griffin are newlyweds planning a quiet life in Ireland, when wealthy cousin Colm, gifts them a failed winery in upstate New York. With only their Irish charm, they arrive at the Finger Lakes to start anew.
Maeve Kenny, on the other hand, has a life of uncertainty. Her love interest, Andy Krall, is not only younger, but is wheelchair-bound from a spinal cord injury. Brídgeen and Maeve share a long-standing friendship. Their sisterhood keeps them hopeful for tomorrow as they make their way through each day.
Maeve’s stormy highs and lows give her cause to cross paths with multifarious characters, who give her insights about life. Each story brings something to her soul which she adds to her knowledge to find the strength and inner peace to carry on.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a sequel to Hyland’s novel, The Cyber Miracles. The author’s fast-paced journalistic style keeps the reader turning pages. The use of Irish language brings the lilt needed to round out the persistent dark humor and pragmatism found in Irish speakers
PRESS
Danby Town Talk by Gay Huddle, 12/23/2010 Ithaca Journal
Getting her Irish up
My friend Anne Woodard from Ithaca College is a devoted fan of this column, so I am happy to include here information about Anne's sister, Mary Pat Hyland, author of the new book "3/17." Mary Pat is a former graphic artist, designer and art director who spent 15 years as a journalist, including writing for the Press & Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton until leaving in 2007 to become a novelist. She has an interest in the Irish language Gaeilge, which she has taught, and has danced in Irish companies and performs with the traditional Irish band The Hylands, all of which have given her a rich background for her third book.
"3/17," a loose parody of Dante's "Inferno," is about four Irish traditional musicians who get lost in the backwoods of upstate New York the week before St. Patrick's Day, after their car slides off the road when an Irish pony darts out in front of them. On the journey, the band descends through nine hellish circles of American-style "3/17 revelry," such as step-dancing princesses, bobbing shamrock headbangers, and shillelagh-waving geezers. An Amazon.com review raves: "You don't have to be Irish to love this book. Grab a corned beef sandwich and a pint and sit back for a wild ride."
Mary Pat ... frequently visits Tompkins County, and much of her first two books, "The Cyber Miracles" and "A Sudden Gift of Fate," take place in the Finger Lakes, with a large part transpiring in both the Binghamton and Ithaca areas.
