New Author Published For First Time

Maria Kileen reads from her book

Maria Killeen has just published her first book of poetry and short stories, “Romance at the Race Dance”.  Maria was born in Athlone, to business parents, Mary & Jim Killeen but now lives and works locally.

Maria loved reading English and liked to rhyme poetry growing up and she was always making up stories and poems as a child. At the age of fourteen years, she wrote her first poem and had it published in the Westmeath Independent (Foot & Mouth Disease).  She found that if she was going through a crisis, she received comfort and ease from writing her poetry. 

Maria hopes this light-hearted book of poems and short stories will lift the heart of the person who reads it. The poems relate to everyday living and include themes of laughter, sadness, crisis, and loneliness expressed in a simple to read style. Killeen said she toyed around with many possible titles for her collection of poetry and short stories before she settled on “Romance at the Race Dance” but she is happy with the title she chose, in conjunction with Book Hub Publishing.

“Writing became my saviour and I found it very cathartic, so when my brother John published his own book he encouraged me to try to find a publisher for some of my own writing, which I did.” she explains.

In later years Maria completed a Diploma in nurse education and also obtained an honours nursing degree from Trinity College Dublin.  She also completed training in Chiropody / Reflexology and wellbeing therapies which she practices to this day.  Maria who lived in Galway for many years, now lives and works in Ballinasloe as a part-time nurse in the community alongside practicing in Chiropody and Reflexology.

“Romance at the Race Dance” is priced at €9.99 and can be purchased by going on the website of Book Hub Publishing www.bookhubpublishing.com and is also available in Salmons Department Store, Ballinasloe, Daybreak, Ballinasloe and other retail outlets.