At exactly six forty-five we were all standing in the reception area of the Clara Devlin Foundation building. Everyone was tired, but happy. The place looked wonderful. There was a feeling of anticipation and excitement, and we couldn’t stop grinning at each other. It was a mixture of delight, relief and disbelief that we’d actually pulled it off.
Christelle had arrived with the triplets, Tom and Clara. We’d kept them away for as long as we could while we got ready. Harry had wisely brought an iPad for the boys to watch a movie on. Clara was talking to Colin about birds.
Louise tapped her glass to get our attention. ‘Does everyone have a drink?’
We nodded.
‘Well, before the guests and the press arrive for the official opening, I want to say a few words. None of this would have been possible without your help. I’ve been blown away by your enthusiasm, commitment and hard work. I wanted this foundation to be perfect, and because of you all, I think it is.’ With her voice quivering, Louise turned to Clara. ‘Sweetheart, you are the reason we’re here today. Your amazing spirit, personality and courage inspired me to set up this foundation. You’re such a wonderful little girl and I’m so proud to be your mum.’
I stifled a sob, then saw that everyone had tears in their eyes.
‘I’m proud of you, too, Mummy,’ Clara said.
Harry handed me a tissue.
‘I don’t want to single anyone out, but I do have to say two extra special thank-yous to Julie and Gavin, who have devoted themselves to this project. Honestly, guys, I’ll never be able to thank you enough.’
‘I’ll take cash,’ Gavin said, allowing us all a much-needed laugh.
Louise smiled. ‘So, if you’d raise your glasses, please help me to toast the Clara Devlin Foundation!’
We cheered loudly and took a sip of our wine. I looked around at my wonderful, colourful, crazy, dysfunctional, warm, supportive, close family and felt so happy.
Our future seemed bright and filled with promise.
Letter from Sinéad
Dear Reader,
Thank you! Thank you for putting aside time in your busy life to read my book. I really hope you enjoyed reading about the Devlin sisters and their trials and tribulations.
I think families are so fascinating. Julie, Louise and Sophie are all very different and face many challenges in the book.
I’m very close to my own family and when things go wrong, they are the people I turn to. I think this is the same in the case of the sisters.
I’ve had a really great reaction to the character Clara. I did a huge amount of research into Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and I must say I totally fell in love with Clara as I was writing her character. I hope you did too.
Research is one of the best parts of being a writer. I always learn so much before I sit down to write a book as I like to immerse myself in research. I think if you are passionate about your subject matter, it will translate to the readers – I hope so anyway!
My Mum was a writer so I grew up surrounded by books and manuscripts and it was a great inspiration to me to watch my Mum working on her books.
I’d love to know how you felt about the book, all comments and reactions are most welcome. Feedback is so important and valuable for all writers, it’s how we connect with our readers, so please do get in touch.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my book, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. If you enjoyed it, perhaps you’d be kind enough to recommend it to your friends and family too. And if you’d like to keep up-to-date with all my latest releases, just sign up at the link below:
Sinéad Moriarty email sign-up link
Gratefully yours,
Sinéad
P.S. if you loved The Secret’s Sisters Keep then you would also love Me and My Sisters, available here!
@sinead_moriarty
Sinead-Moriarty-1822018917960
www.sineadmoriarty.com
Me and My Sisters
Read here!
‘I really and truly loved it … it was a flawless read I didn’t want to put down.’ The Book Bag
A sister always knows you better than you know yourself…
Julie would do anything for her family. She loves her four boys and her devoted husband, but is struggling to keep sane and finds herself turning to an online mum’s group for some much needed advice.
Louise is at the peak of her career, a successful lawyer in a male-dominated world. She’s always been there to offer support to her sisters. But when she falls pregnant and decides to raise the child on her own, for the first time ever, she needs a helping hand herself.
Sophie has it all: the luxury lifestyle, the millionaire husband and a perfect daughter. She never expected that she might one day lose everything. But will she let the new cracks in her perfect life show, and tell her sisters that she’s in trouble?
The three Devlin sisters haven’t always seen eye to eye. But now that they each face the hardest times in their lives, they might just have more in common than they think.
Me and My Sisters is a heart-warming, funny and touching story of love, friendship and the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe.
Buy here!
What readers are saying about Me and My Sisters:
‘The inevitable comparisons with Marian Keyes are justified and well deserved...a brilliant book for lovers of intelligent chick-lit. You’ll identify with elements of all the characters, guffaw in parts and scowl in others.’ Heat
'I adored this book and have found a new favourite author. Sinead writes the sort of fiction I favour with strong female characters and plenty of family dynamics...Highly recommended. I plan on reading much more by this author.' Shelley Back Books
‘Anyone with a sister will identify with this sad, funny and touching story.’ Closer
‘Timely, funny, smart...give yourself a break from the doom and gloom and get stuck into this cracker of a novel.’ Image
‘Marian Keyes has for years been the undisputed queen...Sinéad Moriarty is now a worthy competitor.’ Sunday Independent
‘Moving, disarmingly honest and at times laugh-out-loud funny.’ Sunday Times
‘Fans of Sinéad’s writing will know that they can expect honesty, humour and great story-telling.’ Hello
‘Her characters are well drawn, their dilemmas are all too realistic and their personalities certainly fizzle.’ Irish Independent
Also by Sinéad Moriarty
The Devlin Sisters books:
Me and My Sisters
This Child of Mine
The Baby Trail
A Perfect Match
From Here to Maternity
In My Sister’s Shoes
Keeping it in the Family
Mad About You
The Way We Were
Published by Bookouture in 2016
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
23 Sussex Road, Ickenham, UB10 8PN
United Kingdom
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Sinéad Moriarty, 2014
Sinéad Moriarty has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
Published in the UK in 2014 by Penguin Ireland
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-78681-051-9
Book 2)
The Secrets Sisters Keep: A heartwarming, funny and emotional novel (The Devlin Sisters Book 2) Page 35
