Eric Foster

Why did I write this book? I fell in love with an Irish girl when I was twenty-one, and I've been fascinated with the Irish and their history ever since. As I learned St. Patrick's story I was surprised at how little I had picked up from general knowledge. I knew I wasn't alone either. A friend introduced me to Thomas Cahill's book, "How the Irish Saved Civilisation", which revealed additional elements of Patrick's activities that I hadn't come across in the many history books I'd read. Discovering new avenues about Patrick spurred in me a desire to tell the saint's story widely. History books have to deal with facts, and by definition can't fill the large gaps in the recorded knowledge of St. Patrick. I thought a realistic, research based biographical novel on Patrick would have a better chance of attracting readers; but how could I underpin the story with credibility and make it compelling at the same time? An idea germinated. Once I had seen a path to making Patrick's story absorbing and exciting I decided to write the book. My thoughts are now inked on paper - should I be fortunate enough to have readers, it is their thoughts that come to the fore. To do justice to the saint and the reader I studied Patrick's history and the fifth century setting of Ireland, North West Britain, and Gaul in greater depth, then took up courses to learn the craft of writing. This was a four-year process which led into the Covid lockdown period, gifting me the opportunity to seriously write. Thus, after five years, my book and it's sequel became a completed and professionally edited manuscript and my debut novel has come to fruition. To update the story of my romance, the Irish girl became my wife and we celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2023.