In ‘Faded Belonging,’ Maria explores family history, childhood, ancestors, and the quiet unease of losing one’s place. Rooted in emotional truth and authenticity, these poems carry a raw, unvarnished honesty born from deeply personal experience. The language is stripped back and conversational, shaped by the dialect and phrasing of the North East and Ireland - giving the work a vivid, documentary feel, as if history itself is being spoken aloud.

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Its poetic strength lies in capturing absence and longing. Often using traditional structure, rhyme and rhythm anchor complex emotions, making difficult feelings accessible and memorable. By preserving family stories and characters, this volume becomes more than verse: it is poetry as archive, holding unique historical value.

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If you seek formal, academic poetry, this is not for you. If you want warmth, humour, honesty and drama - where every poem feels like a story told directly to you - this is your book.  It is 'unputdownable.'

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Each piece is a fragment of a puzzle, fitting together to build a vivid portrait of a life, and the lives of those who came before. Many read like ballads, waiting to be sung. Author notes add further depth, explaining history, context, and the meaning behind words and Gaelic phrases - making every poem both intimate and illuminating.

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This is far more than a collection of poems: it is memoir, family history, social record, and a love letter to Maria’s heritage and life. It is brave, never shying away from hardship - poverty, danger, prejudice, loss - yet always balanced with warmth, wit, and deep respect for those who shaped her.

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Readers will feel they have come to know Maria, her family, and the world she grew up in. A lasting legacy, it will appeal to anyone interested in Irish history, mining life, or the experience of migration.