Michael McCarthy published his first historical novel From Cork to the New World in 2009 and his second novel The Flight of the Wretched in 2011. Both stories chronicle Irish immigration in the 1800s. He has published articles for NorthEast Colleges and Universities Security Association´s (NECUSA) The Clipboard and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators´ (IACLEA) Campus Law Enforcement Journal. In his spare time, Mike and his wife, Ann, enjoy their grandchildren, kayaking and camping.

Two Irish immigrants raise their family in the Western New York frontier in the 1840´s and 1850´s. In an area that is still a wild part of the United States, blacksmith Dennis and his wife Johanna do their best to guide their children through the challenges of living in a diverse neighborhood and still-fledgling nation to prepare them for their roles in adulthood. The struggles of the adults and adolescents are set against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of war, and help to define their commitments to family and community. Meanwhile, the future of a hostile homeland hangs in the decisions of its citizens. Thomas is the firstborn living child of the couple, hence he is received with great joy. As the eldest, Thomas grows into a strong, reliable young man aware of the responsibilities of being the elder brother of seven younger siblings. Interspersed with the joys and sorrows of life is the constant threat of civil war, a war that will divide the nation and cause rifts that survive far into the future. From the might and natural splendor of Niagara Falls to the struggles of Union prisoners of war in the unforgiving south, human nature in all its complexities comes through … noble and corrupt, forgiving and contemptible.

A young Irish farmer must face the reality of a grim future, starvation, and a corrupt justice system in the mid-1800s. During his flight from a seemingly hopeless situation, he meets a young woman who is also fleeing her own personal demons, and together they seek substance, love and survival in a new and unfamiliar world. Their journey presents a challenge to their personal values, determination and place in the world.

In America, where ethnic and cultural discrimination precede their arrival, 19th-century immigrations must face familiar prejudice in a land that promises equality for all.

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From Cork to the New World: A Journey for Survival is a work of historical fiction based on a true story: rather than watch their children weaken and starve, the McCarthy and Sullivan families leave poverty-stricken Ireland to become part of the Peter Robinson Settlement in Canada. Robinson, a member of the Canadian Upper Parliament, was responsible for bringing thousands of Irish settlers to Canada, where they vastly improved their situation through hard work and determination. The story follows the fortunes, trials and tribulations of Thomas McCarthy, his wife Johanna and their three children. At the same time, we learn about the William Sullivan family, who travel on a different ship to Canada. The two families become acquainted when Denis McCarthy agrees to teach the Sullivan children to read. Both families must deal with tragedies and never is a day taken for granted, although every day there is cause for thanks. Interspersed throughout is the Irish love of song, music and dance. And through all the trials and joys, the spirit of these immigrants remains strong.