Luke O'Connor made me an author - Brexit robbed me of a best seller

I wrote my book 'From Irish Orphan to V.C. Hero' after years of researching the O'Connor family from Kilcroy, Hillstreet, Elphin Co. Roscommon. After being repatriated to Ireland, Luke became the hero in the Crimean War and was the first soldier to win the VC it being presented to him by Queen Victoria on horseback. He and his siblings were orphaned when they lost their parents among the coffin ships whilst sailing for Quebec and onward to Wisconsin to escape the Great Hunger and the later potato famine of the early 1840s. His brother Daniel also became a hero of the American Civil War and had the VC been available there, he would have also received it resulting from his heroism at the battle of Missionary Ridge where he was left for dead. He had abandoned his many businesses to form his own company - 'Company D' (The Casey Guards) or formally known as the 90th Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army.

My books, particularly Luke's story hit Ireland and a very helpful craft / book shop in Boyle, where Luke was first repatriated to an uncle's business, was very helpful and offered to sell it for me. In addition, the local newspaper in Boyle wrote a whole page article about the book. I sent my first batch but the tax problems resultant from 'Brexit' hit and the shop was forced to pay extra cash before being delivered the box of books. FULL STOP. No longer could I get books imported to Ireland. I believe that the situation has now improved by setting up a printing press in Ireland but not writing for profit anyway, I just did not bother to follow my efforts up as my motivation was through my genealogy hobby and not writing about it. 

I also traced survivors of the O'Connor family in Illinois and I think I sold one of Daniel's book (Major Daniel O'Connor - The 'Posy' Captain and his orphaned siblings') to them via Amazon where both are available.

Luke and Daniel never met each other until they had both retired. The books therefore became tear jerkers and some suggested they would make a good film. Maybe for someone else though as I am now approaching 80!!

One interesting fact was simply that I believe that I discovered Luke's proper date of birth. It has never been proved but when he joined the army it was noted as 20th January 1831 but in his own memoirs, he says that he was born in 1832. The 21st February later being added. Now look at  the 20th January 1831 date which would have made him about a year older (suggested to join the Army having ran away to do that twice) and add one unit to the three elements of that date. 20th becomes 21st, January becomes February and 1831 becomes 1832. No wonder I was a senior detective!!!!!!