Hannie Rising

Mickey Enright isn’t ready to be dead. His life on earth has been more than satisfactory. He is an icon in Tralee, a “typical Kerryman,” an easy-going, life-of-the-party jokester, a man’s man, a decent, although unexceptional, provider who took for granted the faithfulness of his wife, the love of his children, Kerry football, and a few pints with the lads in Betty’s Pub on Rock Street. Convinced there has been a mistake, he demands another chance at mortality. St. Peter, with an agenda of his own, sends Mickey back to Tralee… as a stranger. Meanwhile, Hannie, Mickey’s widow, has begun to resurface from her loss and celebrate her freedom. She has also learned a thing or two about her late husband, enough to convince her that life after marriage might be more satisfying than it was during. Mickey, his original purpose to win back a few more years of his former life, finds himself in the unique position of attempting to court his wife, a woman he believes holds no surprises for him and, in so doing, learns a thing or two about Hannie and even more about himself.

In the winter Jeanette Baker lives in Southern California where she teaches, dabbles in organic cooking and enjoys the company of whichever of her children arrives home to destroy the spare bedroom. In the summer she returns to County Kerry, Ireland where she writes, researches and listens to her favorite jazz musicians, particularly, her husband, saxophone player Tommy O'Callaghan.