Interview between the Rev. Terrence O’Neill, Author of Till Death Us Do Part And Barbara Penn, Publisher
Photo by Kate Penn
Barbara Penn (BP): How is that a clergyman with a quarter century of parish experience finds himself writing a murder mystery?
Terrence O'Neill (TO): Since a youth, I have been fascinated with the written word and first began to write short stories in high school. As a pastor, I found early on that story was a wonderful medium to convey the truths that scripture holds for us and our lives. Not that I used fabricated stories to communicate a meaning, but telling the real life stories of those I knew over the years that related the depth of faith, and the depth of a relationship to God was a means of inspiring others to greater heights. People remember stories and the meanings those stories hold for them long after any sermon points have faded into obscurity.
BP: You say you use story to communicate truth. What truth do you hope to communicate with this novel?
TO: Actually a number of truths. The issue of divorce, for instance, is addressed in the book, and I hope to communicate a message of grace and absolution to those who may feel unjustly guilty about divorce when they have done all of those things necessary to justly dissolve a marriage relation. Jesus never actually spoke against divorce, but spoke out against unjust imprisonment of women by their husbands. So, let’s move beyond unnecessary guilt over getting out of a bad situation and get on with living a constructive and spiritually and emotionally healthy life.
BP: Tell us more about that.
TO: It's explained in the book. I don't want to give it away here. Suffice it to say here, that my understanding of Jesus is about personal responsibility and justice, not about rigidity. The message on that topic in the book is one of grace, and a fullness of life. How the characters respond is another issue. But the reader will have her or his own response.
BP: Then what other truths do you hope to communicate?
TO: We live in a world torn by terrorism underwritten by a bastardization of religion. Religion is used to justify violence. That is a terrible violation of virtually every religion. Yet, we persist in proclaiming 'God is on my side!' My view is that God weeps when we commit violence in God's name. The book explores how a misinterpretation of Judeo-Christian scripture is used to justify violence in a small town. In some respects, the story - I hope an entertaining story - is a microcosm rendition of the larger issue faced by the world today. Whether it's a lunatic claiming to be a Christian who is willing to murder an abortionist or a lunatic claiming to be a Muslim willing to blow up a market place, it's the same kind of misplaced and misdirected religious fervor used to justify violence in God's name. I sincerely believe God weeps over all of this. The interplay between radicalism and a more measured approach toward life is played out in the story, and in some respects serves as a warning to us all about the kind of threat that exists when radicalism is allowed to play out on the right or the left.
BP: The book opens with a pretty steamy scene. As a clergyman, how do you justify that?
TO: What's to justify? It's a scene between a husband and wife in a fairly dysfunctional relationship. It develops the characters, particularly one of the lead female characters, and helps the reader understand her frustrations, her ambitions, and the lengths she is willing to go to achieve those ambitions. As a device, it’s meant to grab your attention and it seems to work. But it also provides great insight into the characters and motivations that weave throughout the story.
BP: What do you say to those who would criticize a clergyman for writing steamy scenes?
TO: There is no point attempting to defend yourself against the self-righteous. Their premise is that they are right, and you're condemned to hell. I simply prefer to let them stew in their own fervent juices and move on with my life. Fortunately for all of us, neither they nor I are in charge of heaven or hell. God is. I rest very well at night in that knowledge.
BP: The relationship between Keegan O'Connor, the clergyman/sleuth of this mystery, and his wife, Eileen Letterman, a professional psychologist, seems an interesting one of tensions. Can you give us some insight?
TO: Keegan is retired military. He's spent twenty years in the Navy before training for the ministry. He's a man of decisive action. His wife is a trained psychologist with her own practice and also in her own life and death struggle with cancer. They have a lot of years together facing numerous Navy experiences but in this environment, Eileen is ill, and fearing that a young woman has designs on her husband. Eileen is feeling very ill and vulnerable and frankly too sick to defend herself or her man. The tension in the book between Eileen and Keegan is the age old question of fidelity. How does fidelity play out when real threats, even life ending threats come into play? Reader response has been wonderful in this regard with many writing me about how much they "love the ending." That's the phrase I hear most often, "I absolutely love the ending!"
BP: What would your hope be for people who read your novel?
TO: To be entertained. Truly, my goal is to write an entertaining story that may provide a bit of grace, and a bit of theological insight - both as a by-product of the reading, and show how true fidelity can win out over some extreme obstacles in life.