Belfast: out of the Shallows (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781665597913)

A story of love, loss and striving for redemption. Joe, awkward and indecisive, is reared in the heart of West Belfast, roaming the streets with his wee pal Ramie. All around the city was smouldering ready to break into a conflagration. As teenagers playing football, pursuing girls but looming closer was the shadow of Northern Ireland's "Troubles."

At 18, Joe fell in love with a girl, Jess, from a different cultural dimension. Their romance was short-lived. Joe and Ramie took a decision that was to have ultimately tragic consequences for both. The pair became embroiled in the 'armed struggle, ' robbing a betting shop manning roadblocks and trying to execute 'Driller Doyle'. Joe had a serious conflict with another volunteer. Seemingly inconsequential to Joe, his adversary dedicates his life to getting revenge. Scarred by all the events, Joe escaped from Belfast.

Along the way, there were women he met who influenced him. Dolores, Lisa, and Jess will be forever in his thoughts. He thought he left behind the trauma after building a new life in Scotland, but the influences from Belfast continued to reach out to him, drawing him back and pursuing him into the 'safe haven' of his new life.