Author Malcolm McDowell Woods asks “How lost do you have to become before you can find yourself?’ in his novel, What the Tide Leaves Behind: A Novel of County Donegal.
Thomas McKay is lost. He has shuffled through life since losing his father in one of the last explosive acts of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Now he finds himself tending to his late mother's cottage in the remote, wind scoured Donegal coast and trying to connect with her enigmatic border collie. As he adjusts to life in the small village of Dunnybegs, he discovers the rhythm of the community, filled with colorful characters and rich archaeological history.
So begins a year of self-discovery as Thomas forms a deep bond with the dog and through her, learns to really see the world. On long walks along the stunning coastline, he becomes a keen observer of the area, documenting their adventures through photography. Their story gains international attention on social media, turning them into local celebrities and embroiling them in a battle over the future of Killfish Bay, the small cove near Dunnybegs. There is an American corporation eying the bay and an offer on the cottage. Thomas may have finally found his place in the world, but will he lose it all?
What the Tide Leaves Behind is a heartwarming tale of personal growth, the authentic charm of small communities and the enduring bond between man and dog. The novel explores themes of community, connection, and the transformative power of unexpected companionship.
Malcolm McDowell Woods was born in Scotland to Irish parents and spent his childhood on the move, living in Derry, Northern Ireland, before emigrating to Canada and, ultimately, the United States. He is a freelance editor and writer and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his partner and their two dogs. His two adult children live nearby.
Woods co-authored the book, Irish Wit and Wisdom, and was a co-founder and managing editor of the former Irish American Post magazine. He is a past recipient of the Milwaukee County Arts Fellowship Individual Arts Grant for Fiction Writing.
Woods is a passionate and experienced communications and marketing professional. He has edited, written, designed and managed a wide variety of communications efforts, keeping abreast of the rapid changes in communications, including social media and other digital channels. He has worked independently as a freelance journalist and marketing-communications professional, and has managed teams of employees in newsrooms and marketing departments.
In addition to his freelance work, Woods has been a lecturer in the Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies program at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee for 24 years. He has received awards for editorial writing, magazine editing, publication design, email marketing, website content, photography and fiction writing. What the Tide Leaves Behind has been selected as the 2025 Tosa All-City Reads book by the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
Malcolm McDowell Woods reads from his book on Sunday at 3:45pm in Room 111.