Category Archives: Archives

National Poetry Day With A Difference

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

The blustery weather tonight reminds me of National Poetry Day last Thursday. When I would have preferred to be tucked up by the fire I joined our writers’ group, Fermanagh Creative Writing Group, at Portora Castle to share our poems.  … Continue reading →

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

A Point Not To Be Overlooked

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction writers strive to produce good quality work. During the past few months I’ve been co-editing the yearly anthology of works by a group of writers in the county where I live and it has made me aware of some … Continue reading →

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

A Modern Museum: Headhunters Railway Museum

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

At a time of cutbacks as many museums are struggling to survive I had the opportunity to visit a museum that has found a unique way to survive and thrive. Headhunters Railway Museum is housed in a barbershop and funded by … Continue reading →

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

Telling Lies: I Had To Discover The Truth

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

As the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in America is commemorated this month, I inadvertantly chose an appropriate novel to review. I was recently offered a copy of Telling Lies by Cathi Stoler to read and comment on as … Continue reading →

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

Sunday Gathering in the Barrack Storeroom

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Yesterday was the close of Fermanagh Creative Writing Group’s Autumn Kickoff week. And on a rainy, windy Sunday what better to do than gather with a group of writers (and a good few listeners) to share stories and poems? The … Continue reading →

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

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 →

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

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 →

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

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 →

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

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