Fireman to set literary world alight

An Irish fireman has been signed by the same agency which has represented legendary authors CS Lewis and AA Milne.

Global literary agency Curtis Brown, which launched the careers of some of the world’s greatest authors including CS Lewis, TH Lawrence, WH Auden and Winnie the Pooh creator, AA Milne, and who also represented Winston Churchill, has now released Daniel Mallen’s first book in the US, and online around the world.

Mr Mallen, 47, a father of three and a member of Cork City Fire Brigade’s Green Watch, said it’s a dream come true to see his first work of fiction in print. But he insisted he has no intention of giving up the day job.

“I’ve been a fireman since I was 22 and I love it. I won’t be hanging up the fireman’s helmet,” he said.

Mr Mallen drew inspiration from the tragedy he encounters during his work, and from the mother of 9/11 firefighter Mike Roberts, who visited Cork a year after her son died.

“Certainly the inspiration for this book came from my experiences as a firefighter,” Mr Mallen said.

“When you witness firsthand how sudden and how quickly human life can be taken, it really makes you think about life, death and the meaning of our fleeting time on Earth. Hopefully people will find this book thought-provoking and uplifting.”

He spent his down time between training and call-outs writing The Judging of Abigail Perdue and sent it to a publishing house in Dublin which recommended he send it to literary agents in the US.

Already receiving rave reviews, the novel takes a completely unique look at life after death.

It features six characters — including one based loosely on Mike Roberts, a Lebanese fisherman who is also a human trafficker, and a French plastic surgeon with dark secrets — who all die suddenly and meet in the afterlife. They are given a week to get to know each other, before they each have to make decisions on how each other lived their lives. The book probes the human drive and motivations from money, sex, greed, power and loss.

The Judging of Abigail Perdue is available in the US in paperback, and globally on Kindle or e-reader. Buy online at amazon.com or order from your bookstore.