Category Archives: Archives

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Peek Into ‘And Twice The Marrow Of Her Bones’

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Today I’ve invited Susan Avitzour, who is currently on a blog tour, to share an excerpt from her memoir, And Twice the Marrow of Her Bones. Her book tells the story of her life as she coped with her daughter’s leukemia and eventual death. The … Continue reading →

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

Bealtaine Beckons

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Sunday begins Ireland’s Bealtaine Festival which runs throughout May. The countrywide festival turns the spotlight on older people and the arts – celebrating our achievements and encouraging everyone in this age group to get involved and unleash our creativity. In this week’s … Continue reading →

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A Closer Look At The Devil To Pay

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Today I’m continuing my interview with Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan, author of The Devil To Pay. As I said yesterday, I was intrigued by the historic events the novel is based on and wanted to know more about them but it was the novel itself  that first captivated … Continue reading →

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