Depicting the Civil War, the great western cattle drives and Custer’s Last Stand, Albion resident Thomas M. McFarland’s new novel “River To Cross” combines fiction, love and history.
The novel follows the life of Tom Corliss, an Irish immigrant who moves to Albion as a young boy. The story follows his journey from Albion to Texas and watches him be a part of the historic American Civil War and Custer’s Last Stand. It also follows Tom as he falls in love and finds his hopes shattered when he returns from the war. McFarland’s novel shows the ups and downs of one man’s life as he struggles to find his dream during an important time in history.
McFarland said he had been thinking about writing a book for more than 30 years. A history major at the University of Rochester, McFarland said that he had always been interested in the Civil War.
He was also the president of the Rochester Civil War Roundtable for nearly 10 years. He lives in Albion with his wife, Nicki.
Finally sitting down to write the novel, he said that it took him about five years to complete the entire process. McFarland’s stepdaughter, Bronyn Green, a teacher in Medina, edited the book.
McFarland said that the main character partially came from people he knew.
“A relative of mine who actually came to this country from Ireland,” McFarland said of naming the main character, Tom. “I’m Irish myself. My family came from Ireland about the same time as the main character came from Ireland, during the potato famine.”
McFarland said his ties to Albion made the town an ideal setting for the beginning of the historical novel.
“I was familiar with Albion,” McFarland said. “I grew up in Albion. My family has lived there since the 1860s. I used some historical events and some things that are made up. I used some of the local names, but they are fictionalized.”
Copies of “Rivers To Cross” can be purchased at the Book Shoppe, 519 Main St. and at Swan Library, 4 N Main St., Albion. He hopes that soon he can expand to other book stores in Batavia, Brockport and the surrounding areas and libraries.
At 7 p.m. Jan. 8, McFarland will be at Swan Library hosting a book talk and signing. According to Swan Library, a copy of the book will be given away at the program to someone in attendance. Visit www.swanlibrary.org for more information.
Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
Albion
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Discussion
December 11, 2008
ALBION: Author Thomas M. McFarland to present book talk, signing
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