Author Ashley Hickson-Lovence based his novel About to Fall Apart on family connections in Fermanagh. The story centers on a man of mixed heritage living along the Irish border during a single weekend. He faces time pressures from a writing deadline and a search for his birth mother.

Hickson-Lovence learned of his uncle in Belleek eleven years ago after his Donegal-born grandmother died. The uncle, born in the 1950s to a Black father and Irish mother, was taken from her as a baby. He grew up addressing identity issues amid stigma and unsuccessfully tried to contact her.

The author visited Belleek and fell in love with the area. He conducted research through talks with his uncle, time in local spots like Charlie’s, The Toastery, and St Angelo Airport, plus family history review.

Hickson-Lovence views the book as a tribute to his uncle's resilience. He aims for it to address identity, race, belonging, and family silences in an Irish setting.

The novel, published by Faber, releases on Thursday, April 9. A launch event occurs at Waterstones Enniskillen at 7pm on Friday, April 10.