Author Archives: Dianne Ascroft

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About Dianne Ascroft

I'm a Canadian writer and author, living in Britain. My Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series is set in 1980s rural Canada.

Kathleen Gerard Crosses Genres With Gusto

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Anyone who has written a novel which doesn’t neatly fit into a particular genre will know how this can hinder the book’s journey to the bookshop shelf. Genres can be useful for publishers and readers to define books but they can also … Continue reading →

Posted in July 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sean McElgunn Ventures Online

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

When should a writer begin his own blog? That’s a question that’s sometimes discussed in advice for writers. I’m not going to add to that discussion here. But, I’d say that once he’s passed his 80th birthday seems as good … Continue reading →

Posted in July 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ireland’s Own Finds Space To Feature Lough Derg

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

On the first weekend of May I satisifed my curiousity about the cluster of grey buildings on Station Island in Lough Derg. Since the first time I saw the pilgrimage centre from the shore I’d wondered what it was exactly and what they do … Continue reading →

Posted in July 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not A Canada Day Celebration – I Enjoyed Irish Hospitality

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I was at a garden party yesterday. Was I starting my Canada Day celebrations early? No, it was actually a very Irish event. The garden party was hosted by President McAleese at Aras an Uachtarain to honour volunteers. I was privileged to attend … Continue reading →

Posted in June 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jump Into Johnny One-Eye

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

In February I discovered the work of Jerome Charyn, a prolific American writer who creates unique, captivating voices for his very diverse characters. I reviewed his novel, The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, and I absolutely loved the book. So … Continue reading →

Posted in June 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Looking Back At Bealtaine

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I opened and closed Ireland’s Bealtaine Festival  this year – on paper anyway…At the end of April, in Ireland’s Own magazine I had a look at the upcoming festival which runs throughout May each year and in the June/July issue of Senior Time’s … Continue reading →

Posted in June 2011 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Scribetribe: A New Resource For Northern Ireland Writers

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I’ve recently been alerted to a new networking organisation for writers in Northern Ireland. It’s called Scribetribe. The organiser, Dawn Baird, says “ScribeTribe is a business and professional writers’ network based in Northern Ireland.  The benefits for writers who get involved … Continue reading →

Posted in June 2011 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Magdeburg Seized Me

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

A few weeks ago I read Magdeburg by Heather Richardson. This novel is one of the most authentic historical fiction books that I’ve read in a long while. Set in seventeenth century Germany during the Thirty Years War, the book’s … Continue reading →

Posted in June 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Trade Winds Carried Me Along

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

When I first met Christina Courtenay at the Historical Novel Society’s UK conference last October, she was excited that her first novel, Trade Winds, had just been released. Her description of it prompted me to order a copy and I … Continue reading →

Posted in May 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Historical Novel Society’s Irish Chapter

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

On Saturday the Irish chapter of the Historical Novel Society had our second meeting. We alternate between Belfast and Dublin so our members, no matter where they live, can attend meetings. We met in the Writers’ Room (that wasn’t pre-planned … Continue reading →

Posted in May 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment