Just in time for Christmas, a new book is out by Kansas City, Kan., author Helen Walsh Folsom.
Called “An Irish Christmas and the Storyteller,” the book focuses on a storyteller who travels from village to village, according to Elizabeth Folsom, Helen’s daughter, who served as editor of the book and also did the cover illustration.
In this fictional account, the storyteller arrives each year at a country village at Christmastime, she said.
The book is set in 1894, and it tells stories about the 12 days of Christmas, and what happens during the season in the O’Farrell family, she said.
The Irish, according to Folsom, celebrated Christmas including some customs from their American cousins like Santa Claus, and enjoyed making special food. Christmas there is generally a very holy time, she added.
Other traditions were part of Christmas time, as well. There are stories about a couple of old customs, such as making a cake baked with a ring or penny in it, and caroling on St. Stephen’s Day, she said. There’s also a holiday romance in the book, she added.
The new 72-page book is available in paperback and on Kindle, from the amazon.com website. It also can be ordered from any website. Sheehan’s Irish Imports in Kansas City, Mo., is selling some of the books, also. Broadcaster Kathy Quinn will narrate an audio version of the book, she said.
Helen Folsom will be appearing at Grinter Place, 78th and K-32, from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at its annual Christmas event, and will be available to sign books.
It’s Helen’s sixth book, Elizabeth Folsom said, and there are a couple more books she is currently working on. Some of the previous books included “Fianna,” “Kells” and “Brandeen.”
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/HelenWalshFolsom/.
Thank you, Mary, for a wonderful article. I am also proud that Wyandotte County still has a news source in our area!