Writer, Filmmaker, Mother, Grandmother
I'm delighted to announce that Linen Press has signed my second novel, Almost Then, and will publish it in early 2021. Almost Then belongs to twin sister and brother Rathlin and Breacàn Doherty. Despite their closeness, the twins have carved out lives in isolation of one other, having reacted differently to the same childhood tragedy. They… Continue reading ‘Almost Then’ to be published in early 2021.
When I was a child, dolphins were a world away from us, despite our proximity to the sea. On Rathlin Island in County Antrim, Ireland, we were blessed with bods of seals and the occasional excitement of spotting the jet black sheen of a porpoise briefly appearing from the dazzling seawater. Dolphins, though, are now… Continue reading Swimming in #Rathlin’s cultural landscape
I'm delighted to be taking part in a few events over the next wee while. First up, on Thursday 31st of May, I'll be at home on Rathlin chairing an event with the acclaimed Irish novelist Bernie McGill as part of the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival. Bernie will be reading from her brilliant Rathlin Island based… Continue reading Summer chat, upcoming events.
I am delighted that my story, 'Farming Lives', is featured on the wonderful Paragraph Planet flash fiction site. It's always a pleasure to have my wee short stories published. Here's my latest 75 word piece of flash fiction, inspired by an event I witnessed whilst at home on Rathlin last week. It's a bit dark,… Continue reading A dark November tale.
I'm returning to the city tomorrow, back to my home town of Glasgow. I've been at Maoil na nDreas, my home on Rathlin Island, for three weeks. I've been working (a lot) but I've also been holidaying, spending quality time with family, writing, laughing, looking. Just looking. We don't look enough. When we do, we… Continue reading Saying goodbye is easier when the island is keeping watch.
Rathlin Island, the only habited island in Northern Ireland, has been a hot topic recently after a half-joking (and therefore half-serious) post-Brexit campaign to join an independent Scotland was picked up by the Scottish media. The campaign was spotted by political correspondent Gerry Braiden and he subsequently wrote an extensive article in the Herald. This was followed by a… Continue reading Post #Brexit Rathlin Island isn’t just about Robert the Bruce, spiders and snakes.
It's St Patrick's Day, an event celebrated all over the world in memory of the Patron Saint of Ireland (who incidentally was born in Scotland so there's a very valid excuse to celebrate across the water too!). Whilst celebration, friendship, kinship and a few glasses of Guinness are on the menu for a lot of people… Continue reading A beautiful Irish poem for St Patrick’s Day
Margot McCuaig 