Category Archives: Archives

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 →

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

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

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