Category Archives: Uncategorized

M C Scott and Rome: The Emperor’s Spy

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I first ‘met’ M C Scott on a Yahoo discussion group. Reading her comments in the discussions prompted me to check the library for her books. The first one I read was The Crystal Skull. I loved its fantasy escapism and drama so I next read … Continue reading →

Posted in February 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Song For Ireland’s Own

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

January seems to be the month for self-help and spiritual books in my local Easons bookshop. After the Christmas holidays each year the front display shelves are filled with them. I guess the shop knows to prepare for the New Year’s Resolutions brigade. Many people go … Continue reading →

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Overcoming Heartache: Debi Yohn’s ‘Losing Your Only’

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Welcome to another year with Ascroft, eh?. For the first post of the year I’m hosting author, Debi Yohn, to share an excerpt from her new book, Losing Your Only . The book deals with learning to cope with the death of an only child. We all lose people we … Continue reading →

Posted in January 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fermanagh Miscellany 2010 Launch Night

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

Thursday evening was blustery – the kind of evening that is best enjoyed beside a roaring fire. But it didn’t deter the hardy crowd that attended the launch of Fermanagh Miscellany 2010. One couple narrowly missed hitting a fallen tree and had to move … Continue reading →

Posted in November 2010, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Magnificent Montserrat’s Natural and Manmade Beauty

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

This week my piece about the monastery and Marian shrine at Montserrat, Spain is printed in Ireland’s Own magazine. I visited Montserrat in June and was moved by its natural beauty and the splendour of its basilica. While my husband trekked up … Continue reading →

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Call Me Kate Will Captivate Young Readers

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

Today I’m participating in Molly Roe’s blog tour for her YA novel, Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires. Molly Roe is the pen name of Mary Garrity Slaby, a veteran language arts & reading teacher at Lake-Lehman Junior Senior … Continue reading →

Posted in October 2010, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Historical Novel Society Conference

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

I attended my first Historical Novel Society conference in Manchester on Sunday and it was an exciting experience. The day whizzed by and I wished that it could just go on and on. I listened to some very interesting speakers, met other historical writers … Continue reading →

Posted in October 2010, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cappella Caeciliana Profiled For NCS Week

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

A little early for Ireland’s National Choral Singing week which runs October 3-10, this week Ireland’s Own magazine has printed my piece about an outstanding Belfast choir, Cappella Caeciliana. I heard the choir in Enniskillen last spring and was wowed … Continue reading →

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Ireland’s Own Is ‘Going Home’

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

This week marks the seventh anniversary of our move to rural Fermanagh. It hardly seems that it’s been that long since my husband and I came to his family farm and I started to blossom into a country girl – though I … Continue reading →

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Hitting the Write Note

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Dianne Ascroft

Recently I was able to indulge my interest in vocal music as I researched and wrote an article about the popularity of choral singing in Ireland for Senior Times magazine. I spoke to quite a few choirs and was inspired by their enthusiasm and … Continue reading →

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