John Kearns

Worlds John Kearns

"Worlds" depicts four generations of the Logan family from Ireland in 1870 to New York City in 1998. In a mosaic of episodes arranged by theme, "Worlds" portrays a family through poetic shards of narrative. *** Through the lens of the Seven Deadly Sins/Lively Virtues, "Worlds" examines these representatives of four generations of Logans. *** 1) Seamus Logan: a broken-hearted lover who flees his home in 1870 County Mayo, Ireland for Connemara and New York. Seamus eventually makes his way to Philadelphia where he founds a new family and a construction dynasty. *** 2) Reverend Sarsfield Logan, S. J.: a Jesuit priest who teaches French at Xavier High School in Manhattan's Chelsea section. In 1910, Esther, a firebrand striker from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, raises Sarsfield's consciousness and tempts his heart. *** 3) Janey Logan (nee Dougherty): a sensitive introvert who falls in love with her engaged boss, James Logan, at his family company. After Janey wins James over and marries him, she struggles to be happy as a housewife and mother in the 1970s Philadelphia suburbs. *** 4) Paul Logan: a former South Bronx teacher and would-be poet/musician, Paul competes with the young Englishman, Charles, for the affections of Laura, a beautiful barmaid, on a wild late-night car trip from the World Trade Center to Times Square as the 1998 Good Friday Agreement is signed in Northern Ireland. *** "Worlds" was a finalist in the 2018 William Wisdom - William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition in New Orleans. An early excerpt from "Worlds" was a finalist for the 2002 New Century Writers' Award. Another excerpt was named a finalist for the 2012 James Hearst Poetry Prize and published in the "North American Review." The "Danse Macabre" online literary magazine has published four additional excerpts from "Worlds."***