Dominic McKevitt - www.dominicmckevitt.com

Our friend, Dominic McKevitt, comes from a little town called Dundalk on the eastern coast of Ireland, roughly half way between Dublin and Belfast. (Here is a link to Dominic's website.)

Dominic is 57 years of age and has led a full life, experienced all the joys of three beautiful children and unfortunately, the sadness of divorce. Dominic has travelled extensively visiting many countries on four continents.

Dominic: 'I still hope to visit more of this beautiful blue planet.'

Quite recently, Dominic went back to college and studied movie production obtaining a degree in this fantastic discipline, but he concentrated on the writing side of things where the experience taught him how to write for the big screen as well as for the small.

Dominic became interested in the written word from an early age as a primary school child. He had a wonderful teacher who would bring in his radio and let the children listen to a BBC's programme where a short story would be read.

Dominic: 'I used to dream of writing and tell my own stories, even at this early age.'

He also fell in love with poetry, the verse of all the greats, Shakespeare and Wordsworth, to name just two of his many favourites. Believe it or not, Dominic still has the poetry books from school - Soundings and Exploring English!

At the age of eleven, Dominic went to live with an aunt, and a cousin called Charles Mostyn, who was a writer and a poet. Charles took Dominic everywhere with him, like father and son. Charles scripted many variety shows.

Dominic: 'It was not like work, but the most enjoyable experience in my life! Wow, I wanted to be like Charles - to hear my words being related in song to a huge audience.'

Dominic also says: 'Thus I was bitten by the literature bug and the malady definately took a firm hold.'

Also at this time, Dominic met a friend, John Jordi Jordan, who was a writer, composer, and musician, who started his own band.

Dominic: 'He was one of the most talented intelligent people that I have ever met. Alas, he demised at the age of forty  plying his trade in South Africa. All these people had a definate influence on me with regard to writing as well as people like, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, and believe it, Robbie Williams! These people had to be inspiring and if you listen to their beautiful lyrics you will see much evidence of this.'

Dominic considers himself to be a late starter in writing novels and endeavouring to get published in what has seemed to be a closed shop.

Dominic: 'Rejection after rejection, with often the reply that 'your genre doesn't suit our company', even though they haven't read a line of your blood, sweat and tears.'

Dominic also says: 'I was disheartened at first until I learned that JK Rowling and Stephen King were rejected over one hundred times between them so I adopt a stance of 'onward and upwards' - it is their loss in not accepting my work.'

To fellow writers, Dominic offers this advice: 'Never give up as that would be your only failing and as I often say to my children, just imagine the power you have being a writer, you can make anyone do and say whatever you want!'

Nonetheless Dominic got tired of waiting on that elusive publishing deal and so decided to self-publish through Creataspace which is an Amazon company, although independent.                              

Dominic: 'I found Creataspace to be the greatest company that I have ever dealt with in my life. They have a total client focused policy and nothing seems to be a problem in dealing with them for they assist you no end.'

Dominic has two books with Amazon, one is a book of verse called 'Irreverent Irrelevant Rhyme' andthe other is a novel,'It Could Happen To You'. The book of verse is a collection of poems, lyrics, and ditties which he wrote over the years and the novel is a memoir of growing up in the sixties, seventies and ending in the eighties. Dominic's memoir has been likened to Angela's Ashes by the late Frank McCourt, but this time it doesn't concentrate on all the doom and gloom. It has also been likened to the Fifty Shades trilogy, especially the last few chapters, but Dominic likes to think of it as the ninety five shades of Dominic!

Dominic: 'There have been difficult times during my life, but I prefer to talk about how I overcame all the types of adversary with comical ingenious aplomb.'

So, if you have a sense of humour, love a good read with a good story, and love a great laugh, then this book, It Could Happen To You, is definately for you.

Dominic: 'I have many more projects in the pipeline, a follow-up to It Could Happen To You, but this time it is a fictional work although the story is based on real events. I hope to have this finished by Easter time, so fingers crossed.'

Dominic has also written many short film scripts, but his biggest project yet is a zany comedy TV Series in the Father Ted vein, but this time it concentrates on Irish Politicians who get into all sorts of hilarious situations.

Dominic: 'Watch this space for further updates and hopefully Channel 4 will like and go for it!'

It Could Happen To You - Growing Up In Ireland is available as an ebook for Kindle and through all good bookstores worldwide.

About the Author: Born in Ireland in the 1950s Dominic McKevitt vividly portrays with hilarious descriptions what it was like growing up in Ireland at that time in this his very first novel 'It Could Happen To You'. He previously penned poetry, lyrics, scripts, screen plays and is currently working on a comedy TV Series along with his second novel. He achieved a degree in Movie Production, but his main interests lie in the writing side of things. It is just a matter of time before his name is known worldwide.

Here are just some of the reviews Dominic's books have received:

'It could happen to you', Wow, I'm loving it, I'm out of service for the next few hours while I read, laugh and no doubt weep, brilliant writing and story.'

'Really enjoyed this book. My husband is reading the book now and judging by the amount of laughing he's doing whilt reading it, he's really enjoying it too. I'd highly recommend it, a very good read.'

'Dominic McKevitt has written a book called 'It Could Happen to You' about growing up in Ireland (Dundalk). The book is available on Amazon and is a great read.'

'Oh my Dominic you certainly had a story to tell... I bought mine on Amazon Kindle you can buy the book from there as well, definately a great read and a quick read as it sure is a page turner. There were parts when I was in stitches laughing, a bit I read in Ma Brady's cafe the other day I spluttered coffee all over the table much to the watresses annoyance, then I read back to her what I had read and she was in fits.'

'Ah sure we where never going to beat the Spanish but is a proud night to be Irish, what fantastic supporters we have and very well done with your degree and publishing your great book which I finished reading. Most of your book was laugh out loud, I learned a lot of history for this area, I didn't believe the last chapter but I have since been told, yep that did go on, what a sheltered life I led and I'm the generation after you, anyone want to know what I'm talking about read Dominic's book you won't be disappointed.'

'50 Shades of Grey was certainly Grey compared to It Could Happen To You which is 90 shades of the most colourful writer Dominic McKevitt. Wow a must read!'

'I enjoyed this book and found many parts funny; the book was believeable until the final section which I found hard to believe. I bought on my kindle and I would recommend reading this book.'

'I have since been told by a few people the last section of the book is very true, what a sheltered life I have lived!!! I would now award this book 5 stars as even the last bit which I initially didn't believe made great reading, for a good light Summer Holiday or just lazy days read this is your book and it is a book I will read again, ENJOY.'

'A true memoir of Growing up in Ireland, It could happen to you is funny and enjoyable. I would recommend it, an easy book to read but it will make you laugh, make you cry but most of all it will give great enjoyment.'

'Just read The book, 'It could happen to You' - Growing up in Ireland by Dominic McKevitt. I have just one word for it...brilliant...It brought so many memories of my childhood flooding back. This deserves to be a best seller and I am sure it will...brilliant!!!'

'Your writing takes a very bad time and situation and brings out the joy and wonder of the time without losing the focus of the terrible time and trouble people were going through....just brilliant work!!!!'

'It Could Happen to You by Dominic McKevitt; another Angela's Ashes but without all the doom and gloom and without all the rain. This masterpiece ventures deep into the psyche of the Irish generation and gives the reader an insight into the soul of Irish life. The author displays a unique style of writing, a true gift of storytelling that hopefully is not lost to Irish people in the future. The Irish Diaspora in every corner of the world will understand their roots, their own unique psyche, and the reason why they are as they are in this exceptional work.'

'A must read, not only for Irish people everywhere but also for everyone who enjoys a good book that is well written.'

'Have faith! Cream will always float to the top! Great work you do...& a fascinating look at Ireland!' Randall R Peterson Author Annis Idaho USA @ItsOnlyMeAndYou Twitter Account.'

'Just been reading the first few pages of Ali Gen's book 'It could happen to you, growing up in Ireland'. You were right, it's a great book. I found the opening chapters to be filled with so much local history and personal history too that I was taken aback by it. Being a local man it made for all the more a better read. I could therefore identify with a lot of the locations and it didn't take much imagination and felt like I was transported back to that era. I really enjoy Dominic's down to earth approach in his writing too so far. Some of the stories about the money train, the great flood, and others were really an eye opener for me. It gave me great laughs too but at the same time, reading his first day at school also provoked me to tears at the treatment of the De La Salle brothers back then. May God have mercy on them but this is a great book. I highly recommend people run out and buy a copy.'

'Hellloooo. I'm half way through. I'm trying to read it slowly as I don't want to finish it too soon because every time I read another chapter, I'm reliving my own childhood and I don't want it to end. It made me realise that whatever we had (some had more, some had less) we all had the same wonderful Dundalk childood. Thank you Dom for capturing it all in such an amazing book. xxxx'

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'Well, what more can we say, we are honoured to have you, Dominic McKevitt, as our friend and wish you all the very best with your talented career! Thank you for sharing your world.' All At Ivy Cottage.