Local publishers sign deal to publish Lowry book
A COUNTY Wexford publishing house is hoping that it might just have a bestseller on its hands after signing a deal to publish the autobiography of controversial Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry. Three Sisters Press were delighted to pen a deal to publish the book, due for publication next year, and Michael Freeman, an editor at Three Sisters, believes that it could be among the top five best-sellers of the year for 2019.
Never too far from controversy, Lowry was convicted for tax offences earlier this year in a case that garnered massive media attention. Despite such issues, Lowry maintains a massive following in his native Tipperary and the book should certainly prove a hit in the premier county at very least. The working title of the autobiography is ‘In From the Cold’ and Mr Freeman is billing it as a ‘must read’ as Lowry recalls his experiences in government and working as a back bench TD with several Taoisigh, including Leo Varadkar.
According to Mr Freeman, just two chapters remain to be written, including Lowry’s take on his recent convictions. During that trial the prosecution accused the Tipperary TD of ‘cooking the books, not just once but twice’. Speaking afterwards Lowry declared the verdict a ‘fantastic result’ because the most serious charges against him had been withdrawn.
PR Consultant Declan Ryan is serving as the ghost-writer on the project while Freeman and Three Sisters are currently undertaking an extensive fact-checking exercise on the manuscript. Meanwhile former group photographic editor at Independent News and Media, Liam Mulcahy, is picture editor.
Speaking of the exciting new venture, Mr Freeman said that Lowry is ‘almost indifferent to what is said about him’ at this stage and believes he has been ‘hard done by’ in media coverage.
Three Sisters Press approached Lowry about the project after a radio interview at Tipp FM three years ago during the course of which he stated that he planned to set out his side of events.
‘In Tipperary, Lowry is not just a hero, he’s a god,’ said Freeman. ‘There will be huge interest in this. It will allow him to put context on the things that happened. Everyone from the Taoiseach down will want to read it.’