Paul’s first memory of writing was when he received an award in grade school for a short science fiction story that he wrote to illustrate the dangers of polluting. But even then, the writing bug had not yet bitten. It wasn’t until that day in ninth-grade English class that everything changed when his teacher asked him to write an essay illustrating an object lesson. Instead, he wrote a short story, and once the story was committed to paper, it seemed there was no turning back. He knew he wanted to be a writer.

It was at that time that the Flaugherty Twins Mystery series was born. Paul wanted to create a series for both boys and girls to read, and the idea of the psychic connection between twins always fascinated him. He also wanted his characters to reflect his Irish Catholic heritage. His characters are not perfect, but they have a strong moral foundation that keeps them from getting into too much trouble when they bend the rules a little.

The original first story in the series was penned when he was still a teenager himself, near the age of his protagonists. This was followed by a second story, but then the writing stopped. The idea for the third book in the series was percolating in Paul’s mind for many years when finally, with a nudge from a coworker to begin writing again, the third book was completed and then a fourth and a fifth. With another nudge from one of his sisters, Paul finally connected with Newman Springs Publishing, who agreed to publish his works, and so the adventure begins.

To see other examples of his writing, please visit pauldmcdonald.com. For more information about the Flaugherty Twins Mysteries, please visit flaughertytwins.com.