Maker of Footprints was first published in 2008. The copy I have is the 2019 second edition, published by Colourpoint Creative Ltd. The writer has won prizes for both fiction and non-fiction, has written many articles for local and national publications, but this is her first published novel. The 2019 cover depicts a razor clam shell, an item which becomes significant and important in the book. As a hoarder of all sorts myself, this detail alone increased my reading investment. The title is full of multi-layered meaning, which likewise becomes apparent as the story unfolds.

My own reading evolved when I was seven and read The Jungle Book. By age ten, I’d progressed to Great Expectations. At age twelve, I read The Complete Works of Shakespeare. All that is to say, my reading skills developed early, and I tend to read fast. It is noteworthy, then, that Maker of Footprints kept me entertained for an entire week during Irish Covid-19 Lockdown, as I eked it out, chapter by chapter. An act of self-restraint? Sure, but I felt that the writer had taken such care in bringing this story to us, reading it slowly and being heedful was the least I could do. For instance, the writer’s attention to detail is exquisite, in particular depictions of nature, wildlife, seascapes, woodland, urban street life (night-time and daytime), cooking, photography and fashion. Superb descriptive writing of this calibre warranted my time to absorb and contemplate. It is that kind of story.

However, I became invested in the human characters more so in stages. In this regard, it felt to me like a two-part story in the way that character relationships developed. Points of view, within the first quarter of the book, tended to jump from character to character, forcing me to re-read sections to be certain of who was who. But this trend settled and, indeed, mattered less as the story itself ‘took off’. Despite this, the thread of exquisite detail mentioned above is borne smoothly throughout, from start to finish.

The writer demonstrates tremendous warmth and tenderness towards her characters, all of whom are flawed, yet realistic; some likeable, and others not so much. Dialogue is at all times crisp and authentic. Be it Ireland or England, it’s clear the writer has an excellent grasp of the vernacular in all settings. Case in point: Rossnowlagh Beach in County Donegal, a place I know well, is so vividly portrayed that I felt transported there. This is all a clear indication to me of the vast amount of work the writer has accomplished, in order to present a book which reads this ‘effortlessly’.

Twice I cried while reading. That’s no easy feat, but not unpleasant either, just a gentle reminder of the power of words on a page, that’s all. Towards the end of the book, there was an absolute laugh-out-loud moment (for me). By that stage, I’d taken to reading with my hand placed on the page to prevent my eyes leaping forward and rushing my reading. Slowing myself down paid huge dividends in terms of my overall reading enjoyment. I highly recommend this book to readers who love a good story that’s well told.

FUN FACT: www.colourpoint.co.uk has previously published a wide selection of transport books on Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as the Douglas Horse Tram in the Isle of Man. I discovered this as I read, when my husband, himself a keen transport enthusiast, noticed Colourpoint’s distinctive cat motif on the spine of Maker of Footprints. Happy reading days for both of us, then, from this family-run publishing company.

Jo Nestor (pen-name), retired Adult Educator, now writes full-time. She won the Leitrim Guardian Literary Award 2020, read a commissioned piece at an International Women’s Day event in March 2020, and was long-listed in June 2020 for the FISH memoir competition. She chooses to live in hope.

Order your copy online here.