Cry of the Phoenix: manuscript synopsis
Interested publishers can contact Colleen O’Connor by leaving a comment on this post, or by contacting the Shebeen Club directly at lorraine . murphy at gmail . com.
Cry of the Phoenix is a story of devastating loss and unforeseen accomplishment. In this first-hand account, Colleen O’Connor tells her own story, of a life beset by almost insurmountable challenges and of the strength she found to overcome them.
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to an embittered family, Colleen was married by the age of fifteen to a young Navy seaman. Within five years, despite her protests—and without just cause—Colleen’s three children had been apprehended by the court and taken from her.
Cry of the Phoenix tells of Colleen’s self-doubts, her embattled marriage, and her attempt to reunite with her children. At the heart of this story lies an unsuspected secret; its discovery makes reconciliation between Colleen and her family an impossibility.
This is a Canadian story, ranging from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic, and back again. It records Colleen’s struggle to raise a family, her meeting and friendship with the Premier of British Columbia, and her instatement as a criminal court Justice of the Peace.
“Here I am a Justice,” she says. “I could be as easily standing on the other side of my bench, one of the people I see every weekend . . . I could have been a prostitute or a drug addict quite easily, but here I am sitting in a court room, trying to do my best to help people.”
Colleen O’Connor has managed not only survive but to enrich her life and benefit the life of others. Along the way, it has been the song—the cry—of the phoenix which has given Colleen the will to rise from the ashes of defeat. When all else fails, it has been the phoenix she has counted on to give her strength and hope.
Thursday, February 8th 2007 at 12:16 pm
Since I knew Colleen O’Connor personally and have even lived in her house back in 1993, then I wonder if I will be mentioned in her story.
Much love to Colleen O’Connor,
James Truthseeker
Saturday, February 10th 2007 at 12:34 pm
You might be thinking of a different Colleen O’Connor, but anything is possible. Stay tuned for more announcements about the book.
Monday, October 22nd 2007 at 3:08 pm
I purchased colleen’s book at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference last weekend and it has a bright sticker on it which says “Soon to be a Major Motion Picture.” I was wondering who was producing the film and when it was coming out?
Tuesday, October 30th 2007 at 4:16 pm
I emailed you a reply. The book is now in the hands of the screenwriters, so it will be about 18 months to get it to theatres. Believe me, we’ll be letting the world know when that happens!
Hope you enjoyed the book.