Tag Archives: historical fiction

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 →

Posted in May 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Christina Courtenay’s Scarlet Kimono

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

When I visited Manchester one weekend last October I took the opportunity to attend an Evening with Bernard Cornwell at the Royal Northern College of Music. Standing in the queue, waiting to enter the auditorium, I overheard 2 women behind me talking about … Continue reading →

Posted in March 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

My Favourite To-Do List – My Reading Pile

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

Ireland and Britain are celebrating World Book Day today. There’s few things I enjoy doing more than reading and I always have a pile of books waiting for me – I just need more hours in a day to get through them … Continue reading →

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

The Poet Rambling Round My Mind

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

I recently volunteered to post a review of The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson as part of the author’s blog tour. Sometimes when you agree to review a book, you have second thoughts once you start reading it if you can’t find anything positive to … Continue reading →

Posted in February 2011, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

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

M C Scott’s Rome

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Dianne Ascroft

“It looks as if we will have a new trilogy to rival Lord of the Rings. Actually, I think it will be better.” The Scotsman “A powerful novel, alive with love, deceit, wisdom and heroics of humanity and with characters … Continue reading →

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

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

Hitler and Mars Bars’ New Home

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Dianne Ascroft

We’ve been celebrating Irish Book Week this week so it’s an apt time to announce that my novel’s website has found a new home. Hitler and Mars Bars’ new web address is http://www.dianne-ascroft.com Drop by and check out a few changes … Continue reading →

Posted in October 2009 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Peek Into My Splendid Concubine

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Dianne Ascroft

One of my favourite reads recently was My Splendid Concubine by Lloyd Lofthouse. It captured my imagination and aroused my curiosity about nineteenth century China. I knew little about the period before I began reading it so the novel both … Continue reading →

Posted in September 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment