James Francis Smith

Biography

Philadelphia native James Francis Smith a graduate of LaSalle University with an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University, after a successful career in industry and finance, returned to his first love—historical novels. Or as he prefers, history chronicled in a novel style. In documenting the Irish-American story, he dedicated his remaining years to recording the achievements and contributions of Irish-Americans and Irish-born to their adopted land. Smith’s novels chronicle the lives, loves, and wars of people and events that have often been overlooked by history:
Druids, Celts, and Romans – Europe circa 400 BCE
The Civil War’s Valiant Irish – US 1859-1865 (currently being professionally edited)
The Last of the Fenians – Ireland 1910-1923
The Life and Times of Liam O’Donnell – US 1918-1945
Rory O’Donnell and the Kennedys – US 1946-1968
Unholy Conspiracies – US circa 1990-2005
Western Civilization – A collection of short stories from ancient history to the current era

Books

The Civil War's Valiant Irish
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 70,060. Language: English. Published: August 12, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » USA
Smith's work is fast paced, making it a great read and fantastic reference book. It invites its readers to meet the characters-Sheridan, Cleburne, JEB Stuart, Stonewall Jackson, O'Kane, and Father Corby as they conduct the war. The Irish twins will keep the reader entranced as they engage the periods historical giants including Lincoln, Lee, and Grant.
Unholy Conspiracies
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 109,450. Language: American English. Published: June 7, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Historical » USA
American and Saudi terrorists compete to control American’s foreign policy. Each uses extortion, sex, blackmail, fear, and assassination. A late night phone call, Arabic words exchanged, promising evil. It’s not long in the telling before Syria assassins butcher the nephew of Israeli’s special ambassador. FBI, CIA, & Mossad intervene.
Rory O'Donnell and the Kennedys
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 139,790. Language: English. Published: June 6, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » USA
This year-by-year historical novel features a new generation of O’Donnells. Following WWII, an unprepared America assumed the mantle of leadership for the Free World, survived the Berlin Airlift, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War, fought two inconclusive wars (Korea and Vietnam), assassinated among others our President, his brother, and Martin Luther king.
The Last of the Fenians
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 83,060. Language: English. Published: June 4, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » United Kingdom
The Irish-American Story wouldn’t be complete without referencing the Irish wars of the early 1900s. A County Cavan barmaid’s scream, “He’s a Yank,” saved the author’s father from being run through by the Black and Tan. Written in the 3rd Party Limited Point of View, The Last of the Fenians is partitioned into major events by the newspaper headlines of the day.
The Life and Times of Liam O'Donnell
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 149,970. Language: English. Published: May 30, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » USA
A year-by-year saga of the Irish-Catholic O'Donnells from 1919-1946, an era swiftly fading from memory. Told by hard-of-hearing Rory O'Donnell about life with his rascal brother Liam on the streets of industrial Northeast Philadelphia, and attending Catholic school during Prohibition, The Great Depression and WWII. Liam loses his life over the Sea of Japan.
Druids, Celts, and Romans
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 143,410. Language: English. Published: May 23, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » War & military adventure
Before the dawn of written history, horsemen from the steppes of Russia swept across the European continent In addition to bringing horses and iron to the continent, the Celts invented steel, chain mail, a yoke for the horse, the spoke wheel with its iron tire, and the iron plow, which enabled European nomads to settle in communities. In 387B, the Celts invaded Rome, this is their first encounter.