O'SULLIVAN STEW    

Kate O'Sullivan has a way with words. When the local witch turns her rage on the village of Crookhaven Kate talks her father and brothers into following her brilliant idea for saving their village, landing them in even bigger trouble, this time with the king himself.  But with  the luck of the Irish going for her, and just a bit of blarney, Kate  bargains with the king for their freedom using her great power to spin a tale.  An adventure in the fine art of Irish storytelling, as seen through the eyes of an Irishophile.

( excerpt )

  Down the beach, the stallion was bucking and kicking furiously as soldiers tried to capture him.
   "Let go of my horse, I say!" screeched an old woman, swinging her cane at the man. They laughed at her. 
   "Crookhaven must pay it share of taxes to the king, madam," hissed the royal tax collector. "The horse will do nicely. His Majesty is fond of redheads."
   "The good lads of Crookhaven won't stand for this!" the old woman shot back. Then she noticed Kate. "Run, child! Get help!"

    ( excerpt )

It was a black day indeed when Crookhaven's witch went into a snit. The fishnets came up empty. The cows stopped giving milk. Gardens died. Trees fell on houses with remarkable accuracy. And the rain was heavier than usual. Desperate townsfolk went to the witch to beg for mercy but were met by a sign on her gate.....

   Hungry days turned into starving weeks. But just when Kate was thinking about boiling up her right shoe, she had an idea.