Category Archives: Uncategorized

Captivated By Crime On A Cruiseliner

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Dianne Ascroft

I’ve just finished reading Shore Excursion by Marie Moore and its humour and drama are still fresh in my mind. I put it at the top of my reading pile because I was asked to review it but it wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in March 2012, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dead Chuffed About Dead Ink

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Dianne Ascroft

I couldn’t resist the title of this post – you may groan if you wish…But I am chuffed – I just heard this morning that my short story, A World Apart, has been published on digital publisher, Dead Ink’s website. … Continue reading →

Posted in March 2012, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

World Book Day – An Excuse To Explore New Authors

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Dianne Ascroft

It’s appropriate on World Book Day (in the UK and Ireland, anyway) that I’m exploring a new (for me!) author. I reserved a copy of Elizabeth Hawksley’s Belvedere Towerlast week and it’s now at my local library. So I’m off … Continue reading →

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Martyrs and Traitors – A New Look at 1916

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Marina Neery is with me today to answer some questions about her recently released Irish historical novel, Martyrs and Traitors, a book which looks at the Easter Rising from a new angle. Here’s how the publisher describes the book: “Dublin. Good Friday. … Continue reading →

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I’ve Had My Appetite Whetted For Foreign Flavours

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

About a year ago I joined an online community of writers, Writers Abroad, who share a common bond: we all  live ex-pat lives. Many of us are Brits who have moved abroad; I’m a Canadian who has moved to Britain. I’ve found it … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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

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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