by Jennifer Deibel
The damp Irish air kissed my cheeks as we strolled along the streets of the quaint Donegal Town over two decades ago. After enjoying a bracing cuppa tea and delectable pastry, we happened upon Magee’s of Donegal—also known as Magee 1866. As we entered the shop, the unmistakable aroma of lambswool greeted us, along with a veritable rainbow lining every wall. Racks and stacks of garments, hats, jackets and more all made from the infamous Donegal Tweed. I’d always adored the famous fabric, but was never able to afford more than a flower lapel pin or clearance-priced scarf.
Then, a few years ago, I stumbled across a documentary chronicling the life of three brothers—two are “cottage weavers” contracted by Magee’s, and the third minds the house and garden. The video talked about how even in the wildly fast-changing times of the early 1980s, the brothers’ craft and lifestyle stayed much the same. But it also spoke of the hardships that accompanied such a life, and how the art would likely die with them. It was a quaint and fascinating watch, and immediately sparked the idea for a story about a brother and sister living a similar lifestyle to the brothers in the video. And I asked myself: What would happen if the weaver suddenly couldn’t weave anymore? And thus, the seed of an idea for Heart of the Glen began to grow.
As the story began to take shape on the page, so did the spiritual and emotional themes of the book—as usually happens with my writing. The theme presents itself to me somewhere along the way; I’ve yet to set out to write a story with a specific theme or spiritual message already in mind. But as Glen’s theme began to show itself, I realized how the main characters’ lives were mirroring in many ways the story of Gideon in the Old Testament. I was delighted by this, because as a young pastor’s daughter, my father’s sermon on Gideon was my favorite. His message carried the perfect balance of seriousness and humor, and was (not as irreverently as it sounds) entitled, “God’s Stupid Battle Plans.” He would read the story of how Gideon was called by God to save his countrymen from a large and powerful enemy (Gideon was neither large nor powerful). But the point of the story is that often God’s plans make no sense to us—and may even seem stupid or silly. But His plans are always good, and for our ultimate good.
It was such a delight to be able to weave together my love for Ireland, my intrigue for the tweed tradecraft, and one of the messages that was foundational in my own faith journey, while also honoring my father’s service to the Lord and His people. The resulting story is a tapestry in its own right—the perfect blending of imagination, personal experience, research, faith, hardship, romance, and—of course—Irish charm.
About the Author
Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Aware for Historical Romance), The Lady of Galway Manor, The Maid of Ballymacool (winner of the 2024 Selah Award for Historical Romance), and The Irish Matchmaker. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at JenniferDeibel.com.
About the Book
Running from the tragedy that claimed her family, Saoirse Fagan wanders through the darkening glen until Aileen McCready offers her a place to stay for the night. Aileen's brother, sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, is injured and his entire livelihood is endangered. Though Saoirse is eager to help, Owen is hesitant to accept aid from this strange young woman, no matter how inexplicably magnetic he finds her.
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