TW: This book and review discuss domestic abuse A heart breaking and beautifully written story, Nesting follows the journey of Ciara, a pregnant mum of two, who makes the quick decision one evening to leave her abusive husband. This debut novel from Roisín O’Donnell grew originally out of a short story, and I must admit… Continue reading Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell
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Day trip to the seaside
“You’re too young. You don't understand.” But Tara understood more than they did. She lived it, day in day out. She pulls the door closed. The heat in the car is smothering. Stifling her own thoughts. Her heartbeat pulsing in her ears. Hot. Suffocating. Screaming reverberates through the car. Her sister kicks out, helpless. Her… Continue reading Day trip to the seaside
John Hewitt International Summer School 2025
The suitcases are unpacked, the new books neatly stacked on my shelf, and my mind has just started to settle and slow a little from the racing of new thoughts and ideas. First and foremost, for anyone considering attending the The John Hewitt Society International Summer School next year, either as a bursary student or… Continue reading John Hewitt International Summer School 2025
Little Bird
Day 4 of the John Hewitt International Summer School finished. What an amazing, inspiring and creative week… thought I would put together a little story of my journey so far … Little Bird The slight lip of the sun peaked from just beyond the horizon. Pearls of dew glistening on top of tranquil green leaves.… Continue reading Little Bird
John Hewitt Summer School – Day 2
𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙬𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚. 💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫💫 💫 💫 This quote, often attributed to Lewis Carroll although I don’t believe… Continue reading John Hewitt Summer School – Day 2
Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin
What if peace is harder than war? The story of Romeo and Juliet is one well known across the generations. Even those who may not have a Shakespeare play down as their first choice will have surely come across a version of the tale of the star crossed lovers. I love seeing and reading different… Continue reading Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin
Almost time…
“𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.” 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘺 The suitcase is almost packed… not sure if I have enough notebooks though? 😉 The countdown is officially on. Two more sleeps until I am off for 5 nights and 5 full days of thought-provoking writing, creative workshops and… Continue reading Almost time…
Forget Me Not by Claire Allan
I kid you not when I say I read this book in 24 hours!! This was a page turner right until the last sentence! I was at a recent book sale hosted by Libraries NI with my daughter and as she filled her bag with every book she had “always wanted to read”, I spied… Continue reading Forget Me Not by Claire Allan
Homework
There are breadcrumbs scattered across the page. The faint marks from my childish error’s softly pressed away. The steam from the potatoes cooking behind me has left a hazy art piece against the cold window. I read somewhere once that “a grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart”. The… Continue reading Homework
Airport goodbye
It may be only for just over a week. But still I can feel a tickle of little tears as they greet my eyes. The first airport goodbye. Yet it feels like only a minute since I felt your first kick, heard your first word and watched you take your first steps. As I stand… Continue reading Airport goodbye
Wee Bubble of Books 