THE BLEEDING HILLS

A Novel by Wilfried F. Voss

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
- 2 Timothy iv. 7

ISBN: 978-0-9765116-4-9
Printed: 228 pages, 5″ x 8″, perfect binding, black & white interior ink.
Publisher: Copperhill Media Corporation
Copyright: © 2009 by Copperhill Media Corporation
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Edition: First Edition

The Irish War is officially a part of history, but not for Finnean Whelan, an IRA veteran of almost 40 years. British Intelligence has produced evidence that he is the mastermind behind a conspiracy to assassinate the First Minister of Northern Ireland. Finn is protected in his exile in the United States after having worked for the CIA. Consequently, British Intelligence has come up with a plan to lure Finn back into their jurisdiction, Northern Ireland, by revealing the identity of the man who is ultimately responsible for the killing of Finn’s wife, Shauna. Here they hope not only to apprehend him, but also lead them to another conspirator, Martin Sheehan, who hides in the Northern provinces. For Whelan this is not only a mission of revenge, but marks the beginning of a journey into the past and the return to the one true love: Ireland.

Ordering Information

THE BLEEDING HILLS by Wilfried F. Voss can be purchased from any of the following sites:

Also available for the Kindle:

Reviews

Reviewed by Richard R Blake for Reader Views (11/10)
- Also posted on Amazon.Com
From the opening scene of “The Bleeding Hills” I found myself engaged in the underlying issues of the cause of the Irish Republican Army. Wilfried F. Voss has captured the sense of urgency faced by his protagonists in their fight for freedom from the supremacy of Britain’s uncompromised rule. I was stunned by the emotions generated as Voss described the aggression of misinformed, misdirected, relentless youth in the horror of unabated mob violence.

With evidence that Whelan is the mastermind behind a conspiracy to assassinate the First Minister of Northern Ireland British Intelligence has devised a plan to lure Finn back to, Northern Ireland. Conspiracy, personal vendettas, and double agents all add to the mounting suspense of Voss’s complex compelling plot. Hidden clues and fast-moving action keep the reader turning pages to the final unexpected climactic conclusion of this important glimpse into the issues behind the War in Northern Ireland. Voss capably covers the history of the Irish War through the forty-year fictional career of Finnean Whelan, an IRA veteran, receiving exile protection in the United States.

Voss’s creative imagination and careful attention to detail are remarkable. His research and career background in electrical engineering and electronic components add depth and authenticity to the technical information provided in the story detailing surveillance techniques and security procedures.

I enjoyed Voss’s writing style, his unique narrative approach, character development, dialog, and his wonderful descriptions of Ireland’s unique beauty, its geography, people and culture. “The Bleeding Hills” is a must read novel for anyone interested in the recent history of Irish politics and the cause of the Northern Ireland.

Paul Dolan Iubito – Amazon Customer Review 5 Stars:
Using the yarns of the past and the present, violence and love, deceit and honesty, The Bleeding Hills is a tale woven like an Irish sweater. It is a well crafted page-turner that keeps the reader in suspense with unexpected twists throughout. This story is about more than just a the Irish Troubles and espionage; it is personalized through Finn exploring his triumphs and retrospective regrets. What is truly impressive is the author’s skill at exploring the larger issue of civil conflicts–how individuals become involved and how governments perpetuate–without being obvious or sacrificing any of the story at hand. An outstanding story that is a must read.

L. Pierro-Pulsifer – Amazon Customer Review 5 Stars:
Great novel! The story line is captivating and the characters are believable. The author incorporated events of recent Irish history, but he also addresses political issues such as the current MI5 involvement in Northern Ireland. His views may be pro-Irish, but they are nevertheless in favor of present day British policies. All this is skillfully mingled with a real-life story with all the right elements – love, romance, suspense, and humor.

Y. Campbell – Amazon Customer Review 5 Stars:
Although the story here is fictional, I felt the historical research portrayed in The Bleeding Hills was very well done. Voss has achieved weaving the three time lines portrayed in the story together with interesting twists and turns (that I was not expecting) into a solid and, I think, fair rendition of the Irish Troubles from a personal point of view – that of Finnean Whelan. The story of Finnean Whelan and his love of Ireland is both exciting and touching – a good read for anyone interested in the Irish Troubles with a touch of excitement and mystery included.

Author’s Comments

The Bleeding Hills, my first novel, is divided into three time lines; they keep the reader glued to the story by providing some surprising twists and turns. The first time line describes the life of Finnean Whelan and his first contact with the Irish Republican Army in the late 1960s. The second line is set in the presence and it portrays Whelan’s journey to Northern Ireland where he intends to accomplish his final plot. The third time line is dedicated to the activities of British Intelligence Services, namely the MI5, attempting to apprehend Whelan and his co-conspirator, Martin Sheehan. All time lines come together in the end and they make for some intriguing twists.

During the writing I have tried to weave real events of recent Irish history, namely the Irish Troubles, into the life story of Finnean Whelan. They are, just to name a few examples, the events of Bloody Sunday, and the murder of Captain Robert Nairac, an officer with the British Army. The historical facts have been thoroughly investigated, but I also took some liberties for interpretation; these interpretations are, nevertheless, based on meticulous research. One theory, for instance, is that Captain Robert Nairac was the victim of child abuse at Ampleforth College in England, which, consequently, caused Nairac’s violent behavior during the Irish Troubles.

Another interesting theory is based on the claim that British Intelligence Services, even to the present day, are instrumental in a plot to disrupt the peace process in Northern Ireland. Whether or not these claims are true is of no consequence; I hope that reading The Bleeding Hills is not only entertaining, but that it also effectively tickles the reader’s mind to learn more about recent Irish history.

Read the first chapter

Read a preview of The Bleeding Hills:

Chapter 1.1 – Click here.

Chapter 1.2 – Click here.

Chapter 1.3 – Click here.

References

For references on books I read and Online resources I used to develop the story within The Bleeding Hills click here.

Blog History

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Here it comes – My first novel…
For the longest time I had toyed with the thought of breaking the cycle and explore other topics to write about, maybe even writing a novel of some kind, but writing technical literature or writing a novel are two very different ballparks. I do have enough material in my mind that would account for at least four or five novels, but I also wanted to start with an “easy” subject, something to get a feel of the whole novel writing experience without wasting years of research and writing.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The search for a cover photo…
Besides writing I also create my own covers and I had decided it would be best to use a photo related to Bloody Sunday. The previous research had provided me with a small number of contacts and as it turns out my first contact was also where I got the photo I liked best. That contact was Mary Andrews, Pictures Syndication Manager of the Guardian and Observer. It was very uplifting to receive a response per e-mail that started with a “Hiya, Wilfried.” She offered me a number of photos, most of them relating to the recent Bloody Sunday inquiry (or to use proper English: enquiry), which would have been an interesting choice, but I felt they were not quite right considering the storyline of my novel. One photo, though, caught my attention from the beginning; it is described as Boys Playing In The Bogside Catholic Neighbourhood Of Derry, A Republican Stronghold In Northern Ireland, Antonio Olmos, 01 July 2002.
Read the blog entry.

Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Boys of Barr Na Sraide
I first heard the song The Boys of Barr Na Sraide in Ireland on the small isle of Inishbofin off the coast of Galway. My wife’s grandmother was born here and she immigrated to the United States in the early 1920s. We had visitied Paddy Joe and Regina King, some distant cousins of my wife’s. Their son, Peadar (the Irish version of Peter), had shown me a CD by Colm O’Donnell, Farewell to Evening Dances, which he was very fond of and I share that feeling now. The title of Colm O’Donnell’s CD is taken from the song The Hill of Knacknashee, another sentimental and lyrical ballad on the CD. I shamelessly copied the idea and took a line out of The Boys of Barr Na Sraide, the line that goes “And when the hills were bleeding and rifles were aflame…”, to use it as the title for my book “The Bleeding Hills“.
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, March 8, 2009
March 7, 2009 – Terror Returns to Northern Ireland
Isn’t it ironic – The storyline of my novel-in-the-making “The Bleeding Hills” invokes the possibility of a plot to assassinate the First Minister of Northern Ireland, an idea that could have been viewed as somewhat preposterous. Yesterday, March 7, 2009,  two British soldiers were killed and four others, among them two pizza delivery men, were wounded in what is the first major terrorist attack in the province for over a decade. The shootings occurred at the Massereene army base in Antrim, 16 miles north of Belfast, at 9.40pm. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but security sources said the incident was undoubtedly the work of dissident organisations opposed to the peace settlement. In my novel I refer to the so-called Real IRA as the force behind the assassination plot. The Real Irish Republican Army was founded in October 1997 by former members of the Provisional IRA, who were dissatisfied with the direction of the Irish peace process, especially the position of Sinn Fein.
Read the blog entry.

Monday, March 9, 2009
British Undercover Operations in Northern Ireland
Yet again the idea behind my book “The Bleeding Hills” has been strikingly confirmed by the the latest attack on British soldiers on March 7th. In my blog entry – and my book – I refer specifically to the operations of the so-called Real IRA and, ironically, the RIRA has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, one comment in the first report of the attacks caught my attention, since my book also addresses British undercover operations in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland’s chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde, had confirmed that undercover British army troops were on paramilitary surveillance duties in Northern Ireland. In my mind I had started another blog entry, complaining that British officials are inexplicably unable to learn from past mistakes, but I have been pre-empted (if I may say so) by somebody more competent to talk about such affairs.
Read the blog entry.

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Eerie Coincidence
Yes, the storyline of my book “The Bleeding Hills” is being repeated by reality. Well, just a little bit… It seems that the idea behind my storyline is compliant with the reality in Northern Ireland.
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bloody Sunday – January 30, 1972
I have often criticized the lack of good literature explaining the events of Bloody Sunday untainted and comprehensible. I have been faced with the same dilemma, now that I am in the middle of writing chapter four of my novel “The Bleeding Hills“, where Bloody Sunday takes center stage. For the record, I am not looking down on those who were present at Bloody Sunday and wrote a book about it. An atrocity like this should be a part of a well recorded history, but I also believe that, in order to spark the interest of future generations, you need to start with the basics and these basics should, first of all, not be politically tainted; consequently they will lose credibility. In regards to comprehensiveness of recorded history, it does not help to confuse the newcomer to Irish history by frequently referring to Unionists, Republicans, Loyalists, MRF, SAS, MI5, MI6, Real IRA, Continuity IRA, RUC, Provisional IRA, INLA, NICRA, Saville, Widgery, MP, PM, etc., etc., without providing a comprehensible reference. The majority of books and web sites I found on the subject were written by experts for experts, having only their own indulgence in mind. What a waste of resources and what a waste to make it so difficult for our children to understand history!
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry
The story line behind my novel “The Bleeding Hills” would not be complete without a look into the two inquiries of Bloody Sunday, the Widgery Report of 1972 and the official Bloody Sunday Inquiry initiated in 1998. The Widgery Tribual was held in the immediate aftermath of the events of Bloody Sunday; it was set up to look into the events. This was conducted by Lord Chief Justice Widgery. The report was widely criticized as a whitewash. Even though the judges of the official Bloody Sunday Inquiry retired on November 23, 2004, there has been no measurable result to this day. Statements regarding a possible publication of the Inquiry’s Report have been modified from year to year. The current statement on the Wikipedia web site is that the publication “was expected at the end of 2007, or possibly early 2008.” – Note: This blog entry was written on March 22, 2009.
Read the blog entry.

Monday, April 13, 2009
The Dream World of Writers’ Forums
Last week, just out of curiosity, I signed up at a writers’ Online forum and like everybody who is new to the forum I posted an entry in the “Welcome” section. I briefly explained my current writing project, The Bleeding Hills, and received numerous responses wishing me well. All responses included links to the respondents’ individual web sites, since they all are working to extend their “awareness platform” (I still fail to understand where writing about writing improves your chances for a book deal). One entry, while written in the best of intentions, rubbed me the wrong way. The person, who apparently won several first prizes in short story contests, wrote “Writing a novel is hard work.” I couldn’t help to – respectfully – object to this view, but was promptly corrected by another forum member.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Chapter 4 – First Draft – is done…
The rest of the story line is pretty much in my head, even including dialogs, and I am hopeful to have the first draft finished by the end of May 2009. From there on I will spend more time to flesh the story line out where necessary and revise my earlier writing. I have set end of June as a target for this step. The final review by the professional editing service will take ten to fifteen days and after that I need to revise/accept their changes. All in all I am targeting end of July 2009 as the release date of my novel, The Bleeding Hills.
Read the blog entry.

Friday, May 22, 2009
Robert Nairac – Hero, Butcher, Homosexual…?
During the research for my book “The Bleeding Hills” I stumbled upon the intriguing story of one charismatic character, British Captain Robert Nairac, an undercover agent active during the Irish troubles (For more references see the hyperlinks at the end of this article). While Irish republicans consider him a butcher, and the British Army calls him a war hero, they all share the view that “he was strange” – to use a mild expression. First of all, after studying various articles on the life and death of Robert Nairac, I have come to the conclusion that Nairac was driven by a death wish, a point that may not be disputed by many of those who knew him. My next conclusion may be, however, far more controversial. After applying a simple method of studying behavioral patterns and comparing it to recent as well as historical cases, I have come to the personal conclusion that Captain Robert Nairac was either gay and/or the victim of sexual abuse during his childhood.
Read the blog entry.

Saturday, June 6, 2009
Robert Nairac – Supplement to previous entry
At this point I am satisfied with the view that my suspicion, that Nairac may have been gay and/or the victim of sexual abuse during childhood, is not without substance. I take the research for my novel seriously, and while I do have the liberty of “distorting the facts”, I wouldn’t want to include claims just based on a hunch. I found two more references referring to Nairac as being gay.
Read the blog entry.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
“Fleshing out” a novel
Well, it’s done! As of today I have finished my first novel… But wait! In all truth, the real work starts now. This first draft – and that’s all it is – is roughly 48,000 words long. The bare minimum is 60,000. Also, according to the size I will use (5.5″ x 8.5″) the book would only be 153 pages thick. I had envisioned around 300 pages to make it worth-while for the reader. It is time to add more substance.
Read the blog entry.

Friday, July 10, 2009
A final word before publishing…
I am very close to publishing my first novel, The Bleeding Hills. The actual writing is done, and we are currently going through the consistency test, before we pass the novel to a professional editor. In the meantime I feel compelled to share some experiences I made during the writing process.
Read the blog entry.

Saturday, August 22, 2009
The editing process has begun…
Well, as of today I have submitted my first novel to a professional editing service. My last entry was on July 10, 2009 at which time I was sure I was shortly before publishing. However, I decided to run yet another editing process, and I believe it was well worth the efforts. Since my first draft I had added roughly 10,000 words and another run was necessary. I like the result and, believe me, I am my worst critic. I am counting on the professional editing service to add a little cream on top of the pie.
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, September 6, 2009
It’s scary…but we’re finally publishing!
As of today I have finished the last revision of my novel, The Bleeding Hills. The document is converted into a PDF, as is the cover. We’re ready to upload the files to LightningSource.com, an Ingram Books service. Monday is Labor Day, but they will work on the files by Tuesday, and I might receive the proof copy by the end of the week or early the week after. It really goes that fast. As soon as I approve, it will take only a few days for the Amazon.com listing. Amazon is usually faster than other Online sellers, but these other sellers – including Barnes & Noble – will follow soon. It’s time to get my well-prepared marketing plan into work.
Read the blog entry.

Friday, October 30, 2009
A Writer’s Lament
Even though I felt sure that the research for my novel was meticulous, it leaves a bitter aftertaste when you hurt the feelings of somebody with something you wrote, and, naturally, doubt arises. As a result, I spent all of yesterday and this morning – starting at 5:30 am – with further research on the subject of Julian Ball and Robert Nairac. Without going into details – it doesn’t make sense to drag this matter on and on – I was relieved to find that my research was not flawed. Let me also state that my references to Julian Ball and Robert Nairac in my novel add only one small aspect to the Irish troubles as it takes place in my novel.
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sigerson Clifford (1913 – 1985)
Sigerson Clifford was an Irish poet and playwright. I took a line from his poem The Boys of Barr Na Sraide, the line that goes “And when the hills were bleeding and rifles were aflame…”, to use it as the title for my book “The Bleeding Hills“. The research for my also revealed that there is not a lot of information available that would describe the person Sigerson Clifford in more detail, and that is the reason I created a web site in the hope that people all over the world find it and possibly add more data.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday Bloody Sunday – Beyond U2
January 30th marks an anniversary in recent Irish history that most people living outside of Ireland and the Northern Provinces recognize only through a famous U2 song, Sunday Bloody Sunday. Unfortunately, the song is still misinterpreted as a “rebel song.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The band was aware of the controversial nature of Sunday Bloody Sunday, that its lyrics might be misinterpreted as sectarian, and possibly jeopardize their personal lives. Some of The Edge’s original lyrics explicitly spoke out against violent rebels, but were omitted in order to protect the group. The result is a song with virtually null relevance – other than its title – to the events of Bloody Sunday, and, in all consequence, U2should have taken the efforts to find a different title for an otherwise extraordinary anti-violence song.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ian Paisley Will Not Seek Re-Election
Former Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley will not seek re-election in the forthcoming general election. The 83-year-old founder and ex-leader of the Democratic Unionist Party is to relinquish the North Antrim seat he first won in 1970. Mr Paisley announced his decision to stand down in his local constituency paper, the Ballymena Guardian. Famed for his firebrand oratory, Mr Paisley was a founding member of the Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1951. His evangelical theology heavily influenced his political views and throughout the Troubles he forthrightly denounced Catholicism and the papacy.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Helping To Bring Lasting Peace To Northern Ireland
Creative Irish Gifts was originally founded for the sole purpose of financially supporting the activities of the Irish Children’s Fund, Inc. (ICF). The ICF is a not-for-profit organization that fosters understanding between Protestant and Catholic youngsters in the troubled areas of Belfast. Both non-political and interdenominational, ICF programs include a Teen, Summer and Year Round Program in Northern Ireland that have enriched the lives of over 3,000 children since its founding in 1982.
Read the blog entry.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Bomb Explodes At Palace Barracks Near Belfast
The MI5’s office in Northern Ireland is located in the British Army Palace Barracks in Holywood, on the outskirts of East Belfast. During the high time of the Irish troubles, the Palace Barracks were the site for in-depth interrogation of Republican detainees. There they were beaten and subjected to noise and sleep deprivation. One of the more popular detainees was Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, who was arrested and interrogated there in 1972. The official establishment of an MI5 office in Northern Ireland was, and still is, highly controversial.
Read the blog entry.

Friday, April 23, 2010
Car Bomb Blast Outside Police Station In South Armagh
A car bomb exploded last night outside a police station in a Northern Ireland village close to the border with the Irish Republic. The explosion in Newtownhamilton in South Armagh came half an hour before midnight and damaged the building and nearby houses.
Read the blog entry.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Rudeness Is The Weak Man’s Imitation Of Strength
It is an unfortunate situation that comments not agreeing with my assessment of British Captain Robert Nairac’s sexual orientation are harsh to the degree of unfairness, and they are usually insulting, which indicates to me that the commenters are unable, if not incompetent, to contribute solid facts that would contradict my writings. The only solution out of their dilemma is plain rudeness. All they offer are unsubstantiated opinions.
Read the blog entry.

Sunday, June 13, 2010
Bloody Sunday – Saville Report Will Be Published
More than twelve years after the hearings started, and after numerous delays, the Saville Report addressing the findings of the events of Bloody Sunday will finally be released today. Also today I found an article in The Guardian which represents the most critical account of British handling of the affair I have ever read in an English newspaper. It bluntly addresses the cover-up by British troops that continues to this day. In my novel The Bleeding Hills I refer to the British Army’s poor handling of the situation during and after the events of Bloody Sunday, and my views are definitely not shared by British militaries. Nevertheless, I feel great satisfaction that my views are confirmed by the Guardian’s reporter, Richard Norton-Tayler.
Read the blog entry.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Blair Pressed Not To Call Bloody Sunday Inquiry
In my novel The Bleeding Hills I raise the view that conservative powers, including those of the British security establishment, are, in a passive aggressive way, not interested in upholding the Good Friday agreement, and, in all consequence, refuse to support lasting peace in Northern Ireland. In my book I also refer to Tony Blair as “the first prime minister with a brain.” In fact, Tony Blair, despite his failure of handling the Iraq question, was the first prime minister who successfully established peace in Northern Ireland, which included the disarmament of paramilitary organizations of both sides, Protestant and Catholic.
Read the blog entry…

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Bloody Sunday: PM Apologizes For Killings
David Cameron today issued a formal apology on behalf of the state for the “unjustified and unjustifiable” killing of 14civil rights marchers by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday in Derry 38 years ago. The prime minister said the Lord Savilleinquiry’s long-awaited report showed soldiers lied about their involvement in the killings, and that all of those who died were innocent. He said the inquiry was “absolutely clear” and there were “no ambiguities” about the conclusions. Read the blog entry…

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Oops, I Lost A Facebook “Like”
Blogging is supposed to be fun – well, mostly it is, unless you have to deal with rude comments, or a comment you made on Facebook – always have a Facebook account with your blog as it develops a readership for you – angered one of your “Like”, formerly known as “Fan”. Exactly that happened to me yesterday. Usually I wouldn’t make a big deal about it, but in this case I lost a reader due to a historical event, namely the apology of the British Prime Minister in regards to the events of Bloody Sunday.
Read the blog entry…

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Police officer seriously injured after loyalist march ends in sectarian riot
The violence across Belfast and in two towns in Co Armagh was blamed on republican dissidents who have been accused of exploiting tensions over Ulster’s loyalist marching season. A significant number of prominent republican dissidents were seen on the Crumlin road last night. Police were pelted with petrol bombs, iron bars, bricks and bottles at the border between nationalist and loyalist areas in Belfast’s Ardoyne district after 100 police officers in riot gear pushed the Orange Order march up the Crumlin Road.
Read the full article…

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Shots fired at police on third night of rioting in Belfast
Police in Belfast have come under fire for a third successive night asNorthern Ireland’s political leaders condemned those behind the violence. In Ardoyne, the scene of Monday night’s disturbances, a number of petrol bombs were thrown at riot police, who responded with water cannon. There were no immediate reports of injuries and officers said they were working with community leaders to end the disturbances. Northern Ireland’s first minister, Peter Robinson, and deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, last night criticised the rioters and defended their political efforts to ease tensions over controversial parades. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Alistair Finlay earlier singled out Robinson and McGuinness for criticism after the sustained violence surrounding July 12 Orange Order marches left 82 officers injured.
Read the full article…

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tony Blair’s ‘naivete’ risked Northern Ireland peace deal
George Bush’s administration, alongside the Irish government, viewed Tony Blair as guilty of “complete naivete” in considering handing over the policing of Northern Ireland’s Catholic streets to Sinn Féin rather than the police. White House staff and Irish officials were exasperated that Blair and his Downing Street chief-of-staff, Jonathan Powell, were prepared to allow Sinn Féin to run community restorative justice programmes and effectively establish a parallel justice system, according to a new book on Bush and the Irish peace process. Blair and Powell’s willingness to hand over policing powers almost scuppered the historic deal at St Andrews in 2006 that led to the establishment of the current power-sharing government, senior White House staff told the author.
Read the full article…