Brendan Gerad OBrien . was born in Tralee, on the west coast of Ireland and now lives in Wales with his wife Jennifer and daughters Shelly and Sarah.As a child he spent his summer holidays in Listowel, Co Kerry, where his uncle Moss Scanlon had a Harnessmakers shop.The shop was a magnet for all sorts of colourful characters. It was there that Brendans love of words was kindled by the stories of John B. Keane and Bryan MacMahon, who often wandered in for a chat and bit of jovial banter.Once on a Cold and Grey September is his first thriller. AmeriCymru spoke to Brendan about his writing and future plans.

AmeriCymru: Hi Brendan and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. Care to describe your first novel 'Once On A Cold Grey September' for our readers?

Brendan: Hi Ceri. Thanks for asking me to be interviewed for AmeriCymru - its an honour to invited.

My first full novel Once on a Cold and Grey September is a 130,000 word alternative-history action/ thriller, set in Wales in 1940.

The German army is massed along the French coast, poised to invade Great Britain. Only the ferocious resistance of Winston Churchill makes Hitler hesitate.

Then a persistent rumour that Churchill has died demolishes the resolve of the British people and a deep, bitter rift appears within the Government itself. Hitler seizes the opportunity and launches a devastating attack.

Danny OSheas house in Newport is bombed and his wife is killed. His ten-year-old son Adam has learning difficulties. Terrified of what the Nazis will do to him, OShea is determined to take him to the safety of neutral Ireland, and they head for the port of Fishguard.

On an isolated road in the Brecon Beacons, they witness a random attack on some German trucks by local insurgents, whore astonished to find theyve captured an awesome new weapon taken from a secret laboratory near Brecon.

German Captain Eric Weiss, responsible for the weapons safe transfer to Berlin, desperately wants it back.

But, following a major disagreement amongst the insurgents, the weapon disappears.

Then O'Shea goes to the aid of a dying woman, and suddenly everyone thinks shes told him where the weapon is.

Now O'Shea and his son are running for their lives, pursued by both the furious Germans and the fanatical Welsh insurgents

AmeriCymru: How did you get started as a writer?

Brendan: Probably when I won my first writing competition. I was about eight years old and I was so excited I ran all the way home. The Fun Fair was coming to Tralee - our little town on the West coast of Ireland - and apart from Duffy's Circus which usually came in September, this was the highlight of our year. Our English teacher asked us to write an essay about it, and I won the only prize - a book of ten tickets for the fair.

There were eight kids in our family so everyone got a ride on something. Even the Mammy herself had a go on the dodgems.

So writing was in my blood from a very young age. I loved writing essays and studying English literature.

AmeriCymru: You also write short fiction. How would you compare the creative processes - novel writing and short story writing?

Brendan: Ive always preferred writing short stories but I cant say I ever asked myself why. Perhaps it stems from when I was a child - as I said; there were eight of us and in those days we didnt have a TV, so we tended to sit around the fire on the dark winter evenings and make up stories. If your story didnt grab everyones attention pretty quickly, someone else butted in and blotted you out, so it was imperative that what you had to say was short and sharp. Also the story couldnt be too long because everyone wanted a conclusion before we were herded off to bed. But writing the full novel was a wonderful experience - I enjoyed the fact that when I sat down to write the next chapter it developed a mind of its own and took me off in numerous directions. It was originally twice as long as it is now, but on the advice of some good friends I whittled it right down so that it was tighter and less rambling. On reflection, not everyone wanted the deep and meaningful details about the politics of the day, they just want to enjoy the story.

AmeriCymru: What are you currently reading? Any recommendations?

Brendan: Boy Soldier by Andy McNab - I read everything by Andy McNab. I like thrillers that are fast and furious.

The last four I read were; The Reaper by Steven Dunne, Vanished by Tim Weaver, Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy, and Catch Your Death by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards.

AmeriCymru: Where can people go to purchase your work online?

Brendan: Amazon for Paperback and Kindle;

Brendan Gerad O'Brien on Amazon

Smashwords.com for eBooks;

Brendan Gerad O'Brien on Smashwords

AmeriCymru: What's next for Brendan Gerad O'Brien?

Brendan: Im on Chapter Twenty of my next novel Cassidy and Criddle which is a thriller set in Ireland in 1942 and concerns a Garda sergeant Eamon Criddle and a beautiful but flaky - even treacherous - girl called Amanda Cassidy. Criddles step-son is shot in a pub in front of a crowd of revellers, yet no one sees a thing. Then his step--daughter is found dead in the park. Suicide, or murder? Lots of twists and double dealing.

Ive also done the rough draught of a few short stories.

AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?

Brendan: Im so pleased I found AmeriCymru - its such a friendly and welcoming site. I only hope I can contribute to it and make everyone in the USA - and anywhere in the world, for that matter - with Welsh blood in their veins feel a little bit closer to home.

Interview by Ceri Shaw Ceri Shaw on Google+