We flew out of Newark on March 20, full of fear for the fate of Maysie, Isabelle and Marco, stowed in some netherworld between passengers and luggage. As we waited in the long security line, I found myself thinking of my great-grandparent forebears: the Caseys, Reillys, McGoverns and McLaughlins

I lived in Northern Ireland from the age of 12 to 18. That was when I learned that I would be a writer. I was surrounded by issues I didn't understand (these were largely Catholic/Protestant issues, but also boys) and I knew writing was the key I