Category Archives: Archives

Studying Stories

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I’ve been reading quite a variety of short stories lately. Some I really enjoy, others I wonder why they were written. The stories I’ve been reading have made me think about what makes a good short story and what I like and … Continue reading →

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A Creative Week Ahead

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Why does everything seem to happen at once? This week I seem to be juggling at least 10 activities at the same time – I’ll tell you later whether I was successful or not. My co-editor and I are almost finished preparing … Continue reading →

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

Foreign Flavours About To Boil

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

It’s less than three weeks until the deadline for submitting stories and non-fiction writing to Writers Abroad’s new anthology, Foreign Flavours.  The book’s theme is food and drink around the world. Expat writers are invited to submit material to be considered for … Continue reading →

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Irish HNS Chapter Were Back In Belfast

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

The Irish branch of the Historical Novel Society were back in Belfast at the Europa Hotel on Saturday afternoon for our quarterly meeting. We alternate each quarter between Dublin and Belfast. It certainly isn’t a chore to organise these meetings … Continue reading →

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Patricia O’Reilly Reveals A Type Of Beauty

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I recently read A Type of Beauty by Patricia O’Reilly. It was my first introduction to Kate Newton and I was fascinated and moved by this dramatisation of her life. Prior to the book’s release authors Christine Dwyer Hickey and … Continue reading →

Posted in August 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peering Into Her Past

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Technology is slipping in everywhere – even into quiet Irish villages. In my story A Link To Her Past I consider what might happen when a middle-aged Irishwoman begins to surf the net and finds a webcam in the church she … Continue reading →

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The Full Moon Bride: An Old Fashioned Contemporary Story

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Recently I received a copy of The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal to review. The novel explores arranged marriage and the difficulties living in two cultures often poses for Indian-Americans. The story follows a young Indian-American attorney, Soorya Giri, as she decides … Continue reading →

Posted in August 2011 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

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