9/27/2016 Deirdre Sinnott reading from her novel The Third Mrs. Galway.
Deirdre SINNOTT
Author - activist - historiaN
Advance Praise for The Loyalist’s Wife
“A relevant and extraordinary tale of America’s origins.” — Kaylie Jones
“A rip-roaring story of love and betrayal, personal and political, in the midst of the American Revolution. It brings to life a fascinating aspect of New York history, the conflict between Loyalists and Patriots in the wealthy and fertile Mohawk Valley, a struggle that divided close-knit families and turned once-friendly neighbors into brutal enemies.” — Barbara Weisberg, author of Talking to the Dead: Kate and Maggie Fox and the Rise of Spiritualism, and Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York
“The Loyalist's Wife blends vivid frontier conflict, resilient characters, and rich historical detail into an emotionally powerful story of loyalty, betrayal, and survival.” — Terry McMaster, Independent Historian, and descendant of James McMaster, an official of the Commission to Detect and Defeat Conspiracies
“Sinnott illuminates what scholars call the first US Civil War with unforgettable characters and a twisty satisfying plot.” — Judy L. Mandel, New York Times Best Selling Author, author of Replacement Child and White Flag
It’s 1777 in New York’s fertile Mohawk Valley, and tenant farmers Jane and Philip Hopper have very different ideas about the war for independence that has consumed the 13 colonies. To Philip, rebellion against the king is appalling. But Jane, recovering from the death of a newborn son, has taken solace from the hope embedded in the simple phrase “the pursuit of happiness.”
The war comes home when Philip is arrested for his Loyalist views and then escapes, leaving Jane to fend for herself. She is brought before the Patriot’s Commission to Detect and Defeat Conspiracies. One wrong move could land her in the Watchhouse. Help comes in the form of Lady Prudence Safford who puts Jane under her protection. However, it is not without cost.
With its rich panorama of characters, including a Hessian deserter, Jane’s alcoholic brother, and his wife, a member of the Oneida Indian Nation, The Loyalist’s Wife presents a unique perspective on America’s War of Independence. It is a timely and thrilling tale of American history and personal integrity.
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Deirdre Sinnott is the author of the novel The Third Mrs. Galway (Akashic Press, 2021) as well as a researcher and activist for social change. She grew up in Utica, New York, and graduated from Syracuse University. Sinnott speaks nationally about the role of Central New York’s residents in the abolition of slavery. She was the originator of Utica’s Abolition History Day Celebration and has directed two award-winning documentaries on mass incarceration and prison issues. Sinnott’s writing has appeared in newspapers, two anthologies, literary journals, and in various online resources. She was a historical consultant for the Fort Stanwix Underground Railroad History Project, funded by the National Park Service.
She lives in New York City with her husband and also spends time in the Catskills.
Sinnott has given talks at historical societies, national and regional history conferences, the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum’s program Resisting the New Jim Crow, colleges and universities, and Utica’s Abolition History Day Celebration. Additionally, she has spoken at Otisville Correctional Facility as part of the African American Organization’s Black History Month series.
Her writing has appeared in numerous places including The New York History Blog, the Utica Observer Dispatch, ForeWord Magazine, Hippocampus Magazine and the Catskill Review of Books. Her essay Right-sized Rats was nominated for a Pushcart Award by Hippocampus Magazine and appeared in the publication’s anthology titled Selected Memories.
Sinnott, who has a background in theatre, has directed two award-winning documentaries on social justice and mass incarceration issues, 23 Reasons Why 23 Years is Enough: Clemency for Pascual Carpenter and Multiple Injuries.
Sinnott attended Syracuse University where she earned a BFA in Acting/Directing from the school’s prestigious theatre program. She lives in New York City’s East Village and loves the Catskill Mountains.