James Mulhern

Fiction, poetry, and essays about people, places, memory, and faith.

Over 300 PublicationsIn Print Worldwide

James Mulhern has been published over 300 times in literary magazines, journals, and anthologies in the United States and around the world.

Kirkus ReviewsBest Books of 2019

His novel Give Them Unquiet Dreams received a Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews and was named one of the Best Books of 2019.

University of OxfordExeter College

In 2015 he held a Creative Writing Fellowship at Oxford, where his work earned a grade of First Class.

A painting in the manner of Edward Hopper: an empty writer’s study in late-afternoon light, an open manuscript and green-shaded lamp on the desk, the window framing the Philadelphia skyline with City Hall’s tower at its center

Read a Page

A story, a poem, and an essay, each readable here in a few minutes.

Short Story Arise and Go Now

“I arrived at Rita’s house about noon.”

An Aiden Glencar story, a companion to Give Them Unquiet Dreams.

Read the story
Poem Honeymoon

“She asks me to put bacitracin on her heel.”

First published in Sparks of Calliope.

Read the poem
Essay Teaching at Fifty-Six

On multitudes, communion, and the ordinary miracles of the classroom.

A personal essay of about ten minutes.

Read the essay

More sample pages are on Writing. Essays and critical readings on the books are gathered in Author’s Notes.

For readers, writers, and students of the craft

Portrait of James Mulhern in the manner of Edward Hopper, seated by a tall window that looks out on the Philadelphia skyline at night, with the lit clock of City Hall and a thin crescent moon

I’m glad you’re here. I’m James Mulhern, a Philadelphia-based writer of fiction, poetry, and essays. I grew up in Irish Catholic Boston and spent three decades in the classroom before retiring as a professor of English. These days, I write and publish full time through Silver Current Press, with teaching continuing through The 2601 Salon.

This site brings those strands of my writing life together: books and sample pages, reflections on literature and the craft of writing, and paths into the teaching and publishing projects that have grown alongside my work.

For me, literature begins with attention—to a voice, a remembered moment, something familiar suddenly seen differently. I hope you’ll find something here that invites you to pause, become curious, and keep reading.

Whether you’ve come looking for a particular book or simply followed an unexpected connection, welcome.

James Mulhern

About James Mulhern

Visit the Amazon Author Page

Give Them Unquiet Dreams

The Poems and the Stories

Cover of Assumptions and Other Stories by James Mulhern

Stories

Assumptions and Other Stories

The story collection. “Assumptions,” which opens it, is the story the essays on this site return to most.

“Another of the author’s strengths is in eliciting compassion for less-than-likable figures.”

—Kirkus Reviews

More fiction: Molly Bonamici and A Prayer for Home. Every title, with retailer links, is on Books.

From the Reviewers

Praise

A selection of critical reception from Kirkus Reviews, Readers’ Favorite, the Missouri Review, the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and readers.

“A luminous, beautifully told fairy tale grounded in history and elevated by spirit.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review Give Them Unquiet Dreams 2019

“Mulhern’s writing displays all of the storytelling prowess of the contemporary Irish masters, yet manages to blend it in exquisitely with the use of modern day American settings.”

Neil A. White—Readers’ Favorite Assumptions and Other Stories

“A gripping, superbly written story with a strong-willed, unpredictable protagonist. Highly recommended!”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK) Molly Bonamici

“Impressed the editorial staff with its well-written, complex characters, themes of the piece, and its fantastic voice.”

The editors of the Missouri Review A Prayer for Home

“Give Them Unquiet Dreams is brilliant; it’s most highly recommended.”

Jack Magnus—Readers’ Favorite (Award Winner) Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“Excellent. Very visual. Mulhern at his best.”

Ann Bauer—reader comment, the Galway Review “Triggers”—a Galway Review Best of the Month, Poetry
Read all 24 reviews (18 more)

“The quieter scenes show the mind of a talented writer at work… Mulhern demonstrates considerable powers of description, particularly when portraying his saddest characters.”

Kirkus Reviews Assumptions and Other Stories

“A gleefully and wonderfully odd protagonist eases readers into a bare-bones plot.”

Kirkus Reviews Molly Bonamici

“Mulhern’s … prose is strong, delivering readers a sense of the child in Aiden’s voice and a thorough, descriptive view of the world around him.”

Kirkus Reviews—Starred Review Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“…ultimately, it’s the rich characters who bring the novel to its greatest heights…”

Kirkus Reviews—Starred Review Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“…a liberal use of quotes and sayings ranging from Bible verses to Thoreau and Yeats, grounding the various players’ cultural context.”

Kirkus Reviews—Starred Review Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“Another of the author’s strengths is in eliciting compassion for less-than-likable figures.”

Kirkus Reviews Assumptions and Other Stories 2017

“A gripping, character-led story full of tiny twists and turns that will keep you turning the page… the author knows his characters well—they literally jump off the page.”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK) A Prayer for Home

“…Molly Bonamici is thoughtful. And thought-provoking. It’s a bit of a gem!”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK) Molly Bonamici

“…a well-structured vehicle to show off the author’s superb writing skills. And, when I say superb, I’m not kidding.”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK) A Prayer for Home

“The character work is excellent, the central characters spring off the page. Plenty of twists in the plot, and an excellent ending.”

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (UK) Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“After reading the blurb, I knew this book would be special, but had no idea just what a marvelous read it would actually be.”

Jack Magnus—Readers’ Favorite Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“It is not often that I am thoroughly enthralled with a book, but Assumptions and Other Stories was a compelling read.”

Neil A. White—Readers’ Favorite Assumptions and Other Stories

“James Mulhern did an excellent job of creating strong, colorful characters that lit up the page.”

JJ Phillips—Readers’ Favorite Molly Bonamici

“The writing is consistently compelling, and sometimes serves as observations on the human condition.”

Lit Amri—Readers’ Favorite Molly Bonamici

“A powerful, emotionally rich novel that weaves together Irish folklore, family trauma, faith, and the supernatural with remarkable grace. Mulhern captures the heart of a Boston Irish Catholic family with authenticity and reverence.”

Patrick Sullivan—Readers’ Favorite Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“I almost missed my subway stops because I was so engrossed in the story. I fell in love with the characters and grieved when the book ended, wanting it to go on and on.”

Debra O.—Amazon ★★★★★ Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“What an amazing book—I didn’t want it to end. The characters are quirky and unforgettable while the adventures are both zany and thought-provoking. Mulhern’s good-humored treatment of Irish and Italian cultures disarms and charms while surprising the reader.”

Kathleen Scherpa—Amazon ★★★★★ Assumptions and Other Stories

“Mulhern’s book gets to the heart of storytelling and those moments that render us speechless. The poignancy of the brothers’ relationship and the themes of loss, grief and wonder are telltale signs of a born writer.”

Ann Bauer—Amazon ★★★★★ Give Them Unquiet Dreams

More reviews appear on each book’s page and on Reviews & Recognition.

For Writers, Teachers, and Reading Groups

For Writers & Students Free Guides

Guides for student writers and readers, free to download, with no sign-up.

Open Free Guides
For Reading Groups Book Club Companions

There is a reading-group guide for every Silver Current Press title, each with discussion questions grouped by voice, theme, and craft.

See the companions
For Teachers Teaching Resources

Course handouts, unit plans, and close readings for the classroom, with selected editions in the Store.

See the teaching resources
In Person The 2601 Salon

Courses in literature and the craft of writing for libraries, bookstores, universities, and community venues.

See the courses

The Ideas Behind the Writing

Four convictions, quoted from James Mulhern’s Credo.

Read the Credo

The Credo and the essays are gathered in Author’s Notes.

Where to Begin

“There is no wrong first book, only a gentler one.”

Silver Current Press family: Silver Current Press · The 2601 Salon · For Program Partners · The Gathering Room →