Carrick-on-Suir born author's book invites readers to be reflective

Carrick-on-Suir born writer Margaret C. Hayes' first book, Unfolding: Harvesting the Growth, A Reflective Journal, was officially launched before a large gathering of well-wishers at the town's Nano Nagle Community Resource Centre.

The book was officially launched at the function on October 17 by Fr Jim Cogley, who is a published author of more than 14 books.

Margaret, who lives in Blarney, county Cork, shared a selection of poems from her book and the stories and inspiration behind them, offering insight into the personal reflections that shaped her writing.

When asked what inspired her to write the book, Margaret replied that it started out as a 52-week journal and unfolded into something different.

“I never sat down to write a book... the poems in the book arrive through me and if I don't record them immediately, they are gone.

"One day I printed them off to see if there was a theme and I colour coded them; it unfolded from there. Uncertainty features a good bit."

Unfolding: Harvesting the Growth, has been described by Margaret as an invitation to pause, to listen and to look more deeply into the unfolding of your everyday life.

“What if uncertainty is not something to fear, but a doorway to new possibilities?

"What if, beneath the noise of everyday life, there is an inner wisdom quietly waiting to be heard and felt,” she asked.

She says her book invites you to listen differently: to become curious about what lies beneath your thoughts and emotions and to discover the deeper awareness and understanding that already lives within.

“Exploring the what ifs, alongside the even ifs, this is a gentle journey towards healing past pain, recognising hidden strengths and opening ourselves to new possibilities.

“It's a creative pathway towards greater understanding, deeper connection and the courage to become more fully yourself.”

In his address at the launch, Fr Cogley explored some of the key themes of Margaret’s work, including unfolding, reflection and love. Using wooden visual aids, he brought these themes to life for those in attendance at the event.

A particularly meaningful aspect of the book is that a percentage of the profits will go to Reaching the Unreached, a charity based in India. Margaret was introduced to the charity by her late cousin, Sr Loreto Houlihan, who was also originally from Carrick.

The launch was a wonderful occasion for Margaret, marking the beginning of her journey as an author while bringing together members of the local community to celebrate her achievement.

Unfolding: Harvesting the Growth is available to purchase from Lettertec Bookstore, https://lettertecbookstore.com/product/unfolding/ or by emailing: [email protected]