Will McDonald

Riordan’s story in many ways grew out of my own. The sixth of seven kids born into a Irish Catholic family, the wounds of dysfunction were deep, personal and historical. I say historical because a wounded spirit seems to be an almost universal Irish trait. Or as Yeats would say, “Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.”

Everyone knows the Irish drink, (go ahead and throw in Highland Scots while you’re at it) but even a brief look at their history will go a long way in explaining why. I forgave my father’s dysfunction because his drinking flowed from his own wounds. I wanted to give the character of Riordan a real soul, so I gave him much of mine. The King’s Bard series has a Celtic flair because of my heritage, but also because the Celtic Heart is one that is wounded. A wounded heart, and the hope for healing, is a point of connection for the whole world. Overcoming our brokenness and moving on to becoming the persons we were created to be is the theme of much of my writing.

Somewhere, somehow along the way I earned a Graduate & Post Graduate degrees, married a wonderful lady, raised 3 boys, & presently am a humble servant to a dog and cat.