Journalist and Author

Malcolm mcdowell woods

What the tide leaves behind

How lost do you have to become
before you can truly find yourself?
My debut novel is available now in paperback and ebook editions. A heartwarming tale of a man, a dog and the home they create in a small village on the rugged Irish coast, it's a story of how life shapes us all, wave by wave.

Psst. Need some words?

I have a bunch. My freelance writer's toolkit is bursting, in fact. And true craftsman that I am, I treat each one as precious, and promise to go to the ends of the earth to find the ones that will work for you. Whether you need copy for a website, an in-depth article for a publication, a short blog post, or any other written material, my approach is consistent – extensive research, efficient interviews and dynamic copy. Call or email me and let's talk.

MY EXPERIENCE

recent blog posts

Daniel Johnson 2.27.25

Our lives are but shooting stars, briefly sparking across the dark night’s sky, the buzzing light slowly fading into black. But some...

making my mother's irish stew

This meal is as basic as they come, but it is flavored by decades of family history and love. Growing up, ours was a meat and potatoes...

the cephalopod at the end of the world

When author Shelby Van Pelt's novel "Remarkably Bright Creatures" appeared a year or so ago, I thought, huh, another book about an...

Press

Goodreads reviewer

“A poetic book of loss and discovery. The story of Thomas and Molly learning about each other and exploring Donegal created vivid imagery in my mind."

Goodreads reviewer

"What The Tide Leaves Behind is a book about discovering love: love of place, love of family, and love of self."

Kindle reviewer

“This is a wonderful love story to a place and a way of living. I was captivated by the author’s ability to paint a picture as he told his story. I couldn’t stop reading it..”

About

My Story

My name is Malcolm McDowell Woods. I am an editor and journalist, a communications professional and a university lecturer. Scottish by birth and Northern Irish by ancestry, I now reside in Wisconsin with my partner, Nicki, and our dogs, Neville and Molly. My two adult children live nearby.

I have written for a variety of periodicals in the US and Europe. I co-authored the book, "Irish Wit and Wisdom" and the unpublished "Guide to the Ice Age Trail." I have worked as a newspaper and magazine editor and helped launch several publications. I was co-founder and managing editor of the former Irish American Post magazine. I have authored numerous short stories and received national honors for editorial writing and page design as well as the Milwaukee County Individual Arts Fellowship for Fiction Writing. "What the Tide Leaves Behind" is my first novel.