Synopsis
Da Mick tells the story of a firefighter who blames God for his wife’s tragic death and embarks on a self-destructive spiral of alcohol, drugs and women. Morally rudderless, Mick Mullan flirts with salvation when a beautiful Irish-Catholic fiddler starts tending bar in his nightclub. Erin Callahan is everything he’s not, religious, anchored and ethical. Despite her love for Mick, she can’t reconcile with his hedonistic lifestyle and ends up in the arms of Mick’s best friend, Jamie. The tension builds with a subplot finding Mick torn between the virtuous Erin and the girl of his salacious dreams, an Australian prostitute named Grace. While fighting fires in a busy Bronx station stocked with screwballs, Mick battles both atheism and alcoholism. This witty love story turns deadly serious when Erin and Mick reach an impasse that can only be broken by such a cataclysmic force as 9/11. This dramatic and prodigally generous tale tackles Mullan’s inner moral battles while introducing readers to a host of gallant but flawed firefighters who risk their lives laboring in one of New York’s wackiest firehouses. The entire story takes place in the year leading up to its fiery, poignant and powerful conclusion at 9/11.
About the Author
Billy O'Connor was born in County Cork Ireland and grew up in the Bronx. After Vietnam, Billy was an illegal bookie, a Teamster, a pub owner, and a New York City firefighter. More importantly, he was also an alcoholic. The tragedy of 9/11, and the loss of 343 of his brother firefighters brought with it an epiphany. Billy sobered up and attended the University of Florida. At the age of 62, he earned his journalism degree and began to write. O'Connor has written two highly praised weekly columns, two screenplays and numerous political pieces. His second book, Da Mick, follows his award-winning first novel, Confessions of a Bronx Bookie. For the past seven years, Billy's acerbic wit as a stand-up comic has also entertained audiences throughout, California, Florida, New York, Nevada, and Arizona. He has shared the stage with great comedic talents such as Jim Florentine, Orny Adams, Todd Berry, Jon Lovitz, Paul Virzi, Julian McCullough and Finesse Mitchell. His inspirational story reminds us that with the proper attitude, life begins at 60. Billy can be reached at Oconnor.williamp@gmail.com or at BronxBilly.com
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