Tag: books

Gladstone & St Winefrede

Leave a comment

Gladstone’s Library in Wales has always been on my writerly radar. Who wouldn’t want to sleep in a place of books, right?! Just for clarity, rooms are provided, but the actual reading rooms are open to residents all day and after hours, giving you full access not only to a range of historic tomes, but unlimited inspiration between the stacks. Each nook and cranny houses a wee desk for your writing endeavours, and a cannily placed notice will ‘bag’ your chosen spot overnight. Consistency is key to writing- I immediately settle into my work when I know where I’ll be sitting. Must be muscle memory!

The current building, raised in 1902 by public subscription and designed by John Douglas, is the home of Sir William Gladstone’s unique archival collection. In the 1880s, after retiring from politics, Gladstone began transferring his collection to a purpose-built corrugated -iron library in Hawarden village. Scholars would stay in a hostel attached to the library.

The reading rooms are delightfully silent and creaky all at the same time, and the building itself is beautifully designed. I particularly loved the lounge with its roaring stoves and leather couches you can just sink into after a day hunched over the laptop. I was very lucky to be in the company of my buddies Dawn Geddes, Elizabeth Frattaroli and Gillian Duff, wonderful writers all, and the best companions I could have wished for. We ate amazing food (shout-out to Food for Thought and the cafes and pubs of Hawarden) wandered the streets, wrote words and gossiped a lot (quietly, of course…it’s a library. Sssh!) and generally soaked up the atmosphere. After delivering The Legend of Lady Godiva to my publisher the week before, I let myself sink back into my folk horror novel The Back of Beyond. It was like spending time with an old (but rather mysterious) friend.

On the way home, we visited St Winefride’s Well (Welsh: Ffynnon Wenffrewi) a holy well and national shrine located in the town of Holywell in Flintshire, Wales. The patron saint of the well, St Winefride, was a 7th-century Catholic martyr who according to legend was decapitated by a lustful prince and then miraculously restored to life. The well is said to have sprung up at the spot where her head hit the ground. This story is first recorded in the 12th century, and since then St Winefride’s Well has been a popular pilgrimage destination, known for its healing waters. Given my novel is about a sacred well with exactly the opposite effect, it was an interesting visit for me!

If you ever get a chance to visit Gladstone’s Library, go! Society of Authors members receive a discount, which really helps a lot and it was a privilege to be allowed access to such an amazing collection.

From Glen to Page: A thrilling time at the Mills!

2 Comments

This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the From Glen to Page panel at Thrills at the Mills, part of the newly established Dundee Book Festival. The panel brought together a rich tapestry of voices from across the literary landscape, all united by a shared love for storytelling and the folklore of Scotland’s glens and rugged terrains.

My fellow authors were Lyndsey Croal, whose new collection of reimagined folktales Dark Crescent (Luna Press) is out now and Erin Farley, local historian, folklorist and storyteller, whose book Angus Folk Tales (Scottish Storytelling Centre) is a must-read for anyone keen to immerse themselves in the county’s rich oral tradition. We were beautifully shepherded in our discussion by the lovely Morag Hannah, part of writing duo MK Hardy. Look out for their new novel The Needfire (Solaris). I heard a little preview during the Cymera Festival and I promise you, it’s spellbinding!

Thrills in the Mills encapsulated the festival’s ethos perfectly—an inventive exploration of genre fiction and literature that engages audiences in a lively dialogue. Our own discussion revolved around how nature, history, and traditional tales have influenced our decisions as writers and how elements of our oldest stories still have relevance today. It was fascinating to hear diverse perspectives, and the audience was so engaged, the atmosphere beneath the dome of Mills Observatory was positively electric!

I have to say I felt a little rusty- it has been so long since I’ve been included in a panel of this sort. The book world is full of peaks and troughs and since the pandemic all has not been plain sailing for many authors. Lockdown did however allow me to focus on my off-writing career as a facilitator of various courses and workshops and it is always a huge pleasure to meet in person writers I’ve encountered during that time, including Lyndsey, and to see them embarking on their own publishing journey. I also briefly met author Rebecca Brown before her own event and her super novel The Song of the Stag (Ringwood Publishing)  will be next on my reading list!

Thank you so much if you managed to get along to any of the events. Let’s hope the Dundee Book Festival will become a regular fixture and introduce lots more talented local writers to a wider audience!

P.S. We spoke about Fenella – Erin told her story so beautifully. If you’ve never met this amazing Pictish warrior woman, do read my book The Unmaking of Ellie Rook which was inspired by her actions. My current book The House on Devil’s Lane is also available and looking for some love!

From Fiction to History

Leave a comment

As we progress through 2025, it is always worthwhile to reflect on the writing journey so far, and one significant milestone for me in recent months has been the publication of The House on Devil’s Lane. This novel, which guides readers through a suspenseful narrative filled with mysterious and unsettling events on an apparently ordinary street, began as a tentative foray into the world of self-publishing. Certainly, there are things I did wrong, and different decisions I might have taken, but the reception the novel has received has exceeded my expectations in a very good way!

I’m incredibly grateful for all the readers who have taken the time to write a review. Many have praised its intricate plotting, well-developed characters, and the chilling atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Indeed, the overwhelming support and enthusiasm from readers have been incredibly humbling and motivating.

This year, I have stepped away from fiction for a while to embark on a new literary venture that delves into the fascinating world of historical non-fiction. I am thrilled to be working with Pen and Sword Books on my upcoming project, The Legend of Lady Godiva. This book aims to shed light on the life and legacy of one of England’s most iconic figures, the legendary Lady Godiva.

Fascinating Facts about Lady Godiva

  • Lady Godiva was the grandmother of Ealdgyth, queen consort of Welsh King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and later King Harold of arrow-in-the-eye fame. This connection places her within the intricate web of medieval royalty and politics.
  • The story of Peeping Tom, who allegedly spied on her legendary naked ride, may have been invented as a joke by Royalist soldiers. This mischievous addition to the tale adds an interesting layer of myth and legend to her story.
  • Godiva and her husband, Leofric, once occupied a hunting lodge in Kings Bromley. Up until recently, a modest modern bungalow stood in its place, boasting beams made with the timber of that long-lost dwelling!

Of the many artworks that feature Godiva, or Godgifu (Good or God gift), this is one of my favourites. This is a preparatory sketch by illustrator Henry Hugh Armistead.

Why Lady Godiva?

You might wonder, why Lady Godiva? The story of her legendary ride through Coventry is one that has fascinated me since childhood. The blend of historical fact and myth, the themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the fight against oppression, all resonate deeply with me. I am excited to be bringing to life the ‘real’ story of Lady Godiva, a tale that is as compelling and inspiring as any fictional narrative.

Looking Ahead

The journey from fiction to history has been incredibly rewarding, and I am eager to share this new book with you all in due course. Stay tuned for more updates on its progress, and thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for my work.

In the meantime, if you haven’t yet read The House on Devil’s Lane, I encourage you to pick up a copy and join the adventure. Starting on Saturday, Feb 15th, the ebook will be available FREE for five days only!

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Your feedback and reviews mean the world to me and help fuel my passion for storytelling. Here’s to many more stories to come!

And if you would like to write some of your own, please check out my creative writing courses page to find out what’s happening!

How To Live In A Haunted House, Part II

Leave a comment

So, a second part to this story, and a second house! Last time, I told you about my Irish ghost. Fast forward to the 1990s, and I am living in a rather old fisherman’s cottage on the east coast of Scotland. The Deeds mention the date 1839, but that was the first formal registration of this house. There was an ancient, thatched dwelling on this site long before that. The sea boulder walls are two-foot thick, which plays havoc with the phone signal, but serves as a constant reminder of the need to keep out the North Sea gales.

What lurks within these walls? Nothing spooky at the moment. The house is at rest, but it wasn’t always so. For a brief period in the 90s, during a time when my neighbours were digging foundations for a new extension, I firmly believe that something was disturbed.

It began with random things we couldn’t explain. The smell of leather when we entered the house, and the sound of breaking glass. Yes, the sound of glass being smashed, or dropped from a height. My father was around at the time- the most ardent of non-believers!- and even he heard it. He went to great lengths to discover the cause, searching the attic and all through the house. The workmen next door had downed tools for the weekend, and there was no one else around, and anyway, we both agreed that the smashing sound had come from inside the house. There seemed to be no explanation.

Other spooky happenings followed. One of my sons woke up in terror having dreamed of ‘soldiers with dragon’s heads’ and I had a nightmare about a headless man on the beach. Worse, I woke up one night to the sound of asthmatic breathing. My first thought was to check on the family, and once I’d confirmed that everyone was sleeping peacefully. I climbed back into bed, only to dream about a heavy-breathing soldier standing at the door of my bedroom…

It’s easy to pass such things off as nightmares, imagination or whatever. But worse was to come. One night, I was awoken by the sensation of someone sitting on my side of the bed. The mattress tilted, and I opened my eyes and sat up, fully expecting to see that my husband, perhaps unable to sleep, sitting on my side of the bed.

But he was fast asleep beside me and there was nobody there…

Ghostly activity or over-active imagination?! I still cannot decide, although it’s strange that all the phenomena ended as soon as the excavations were done. Did someone or something object to their rest being disturbed? My home is just metres from a coastline once a magnet for Danish raiders. There have been battles on this soil, and shipwrecks out at sea. Past inhabitants of this cottage lived on the edge for generations, and not all their stories were happy ones.

It certainly makes you wonder. I will not be building an extension anytime soon!

On a lighter note, here are my recommendations for some dark-ish Halloween reading/listening/viewing.

  • The Uncanny Podcast, The best! Danny Robins is a master of spooky storytelling and his army of listeners make his job easy. The tales of ordinary folk are always the most scary. Danny has a Halloween ‘advent calendar’ of spooky soundbites plus some full length episodes to come. Available on BBC Sounds.
  • ‘The Gloaming’. This is an Australian folk horror/crime drama set in Tasmania. Lots of creepy settings, rituals and people driving around in the dark. Love it! Available on STV Player.
  • Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix. I love his writing, and I’ve just finished How to Sell a Haunted House which was good, but for me, Horrorstor is the best, You’ll never look at Ikea in the same way again. Proof that any setting can be haunted in the right hands!

And of course, you could always buy my latest book…!

How to live in a haunted house. Part I

Leave a comment

In my last post, I wrote about the setting for my new novel The House on Devil’s Lane, and how I was inspired to cross the border for the location.

The House on Devil’s Lane is available to pre-order HERE. Ebook and paperback will be released on 24/09/24

The main ‘character’ in the novel is, of course, Kat’s strange new home, and people often ask me if I have ever lived in a haunted house. Well, it all depends on what you believe ! I can confirm that I have experienced occurrences that I find hard to explain.

When I lived in Ireland, for example, we renovated a 300-year-old farmhouse in rural Limerick called Victory Hall. If any property was going to have an uncanny presence, it was going to be this one, right?! It certainly had a fascinating tale to tell. According to local legend, it had once been a parochial house, but the incumbent priest had committed a sin so grievous (I never found out what it was) that he was visited in the night by a furious mob, armed with blazing torches and pikes (hayforks). They evicted him from the house and marched him down to the river, presumably with the intent of drowning him. He survived, but lost his parish and was condemned to live out his days in a hut down by the very water that could have ended his life.

The ghost of a black-garbed man was said to pace the grounds of Victory Hall, pleading to be let back in to the house, but I never saw anything. We had to completely gut the place, and many ‘ghost’ artefacts came to light. The leather cover of a Bible, a part of a saddle, and so on, all helping to fire the imagination. On dark nights the blackness was absolute, with only a sole farmyard light flickering across the valley. Standing outside, you could hear all manner of rustlings and scratchings in the hedgerow, and even inside, the old timber would creak as it came to rest in the cool of the night. On the whole, the place had a rather peaceful air about it.

The great open fire in the kitchen was the perfect place around which to spin a yarn on a winter night, and I often wonder how many tales it had witnessed.

However, two strange things did stand out for me during our time there. Scratched into the lintel of the kitchen door were the letters WW, which I later discovered were not the priest’s initials, as I had assumed, but interlocking Vs, referring to the Virgin of Virgins. They were witchmarks, ancient graffiti calling upon the Virgin Mary for protection against evil. Were they there to keep the priest out?

Check out my fourth novel Sight Unseen to see where that idea led me! Honestly, no detail is ever wasted when a writer is around! You can find it HERE

The second thing? My youngest son, then around 3, called me over to the window one day, claiming to have seen ‘a man in a long black cloak’ crossing the yard. The house was accessible only by a driveway- one way in and one way out. No one had knocked on the door and I wasn’t expecting visitors. My scalp prickled. With two under- fours in the house, I was always on high alert. I ran outside, but there wasn’t a soul to be seen…

What had he seen? You tell me!

More tales from my current home next time! If you would like to subscribe to my mailing list please click HERE. It is quite occasional, but you can catch up on all my workshops and book news, and I also do a writing prompt in each edition. The perfect excuse to sit down with a cuppa and a notebook!

Introducing- The House on Devil’s Lane!

1 Comment

At LAST I have some exciting book news!

My fifth psychological thriller The House on Devil’s Lane (S. L. Ireland) will be released on September 24th as a Kindle ebook and as a paperback. I do believe the ebook is now available to preorder on Amazon and will appear silently and mysteriously on your kindle on publication day if you buy HERE.

Okay, that’s the hard sell out of the way! I just wanted to write a little bit about the process and ideas behind the book. It has been said (and not by me, it was The Sunday Post, actually!) that I write about difficult things with sensitivity and realism, and while novels are essentially a means of entertainment, and an enjoyable diversion, I do like to include some timely and troubling topics. With The Unmaking of Ellie Rook, for example (novel no.3) the underlying theme was one of coercive control and the emotional damage it does.

So, true to form, The House on Devil’s Lane has some very compelling characters with pressing problems and harrowing secrets. How they act when the chips are down…well, that’s where the fiction comes in! Hopefully, you will be with main character Kat every step of the way as she negotiates her new life in a new home while juggling the demands of new motherhood. It’s hard feeling alone and isolated in a new place, but is Kat ever really alone? I’ll let you decide, dear Reader…

Where did the idea come from? I will tell all in a series of blog posts, but first, the setting. As much as a love Scotland, I wanted to step over the border for a wee change, and the idea for this book came to me while I was visiting my brother in County Durham. He lives in a village which consists essentially of a single road with, as fate would have it, an empty house at the end, and behind it, the most amazingly eerie wood….

More next week!

Who said writing was easy?

2 Comments

This blog post is very overdue, but I’m sure I am not alone in feeling quite overwhelmed by the passage of time! Sometimes it feels like life is happening while I’m studying my to-do list. Writing -and I know many of you will be nodding your heads- often has to take a backseat, and that’s not always to do with time. It’s to do with headspace. If you are juggling work and diaries and life, it becomes very difficult to visit your imagination. We’re constantly advised (and I’m guilty of saying this!) to ‘live inside your character’s head’ or ‘see the world through your character’s eyes’ and if we’re not able to give them our full attention- where does that leave us as writers?

Feeling guilty, frustrated and fraudulent, that’s what. Surely writers have an organised routine and devote entire days to their art? Perhaps if you are Jeffrey Archer, with a villa abroad and a publishing contract lined up, but as we know, life isn’t like that!

So, I have to tell you about a wonderful little writing retreat I went on last month. It wasn’t planned as such- it came about as the result of a chance conversation. It wasn’t in Spain, it was just down the road. I didn’t have any plans, no ambitious ‘get that first draft nailed’ goals, but I can thoroughly recommend house-sitting as way to refresh your batteries and give your creative juices a boost.

There are some photos below- I won’t name names or locations for privacy – but it was so refreshing to wake up somewhere else for two weeks and to pretend that real life wasn’t awaiting my return! New walks, new sights and sounds- it’s amazing what effect a change of scene can have on the writing process! While there, I entered a publisher’s competition for a five- book deal (I can dream!) and managed to write a synopsis and first three chapters of a Gothic novel set in Whitby. This is what the cover might look like one day!

It was great fun, a new challenge and took my mind off my climate fiction Waterbound which is still out on submission (come ON, publishers- what’s not to love?!).

So, I would recommend a complete change of scene if you are struggling to write- even if it is only on your doorstep. Sometimes the most creative of places can be just a few steps away!

Greetings from the Borderlands!

Leave a comment

It’s halfway through February already and I find myself in the beautiful Scottish Borders. I could not believe my luck, last year, when I received an email from Executive Director Lucy Brown, inviting me to spend a whole month at Marchmont Studios to work on my latest project. I am very grateful to all at the Hugo Burge Foundation (learn more about the Foundation’s transformative work HERE) for inviting me to soak up the atmosphere here and become part of the landscape for this precious time!

The beautiful and historic Marchmont House lies a short walk away from the studios

Nothing like writing in a tower!

The novel I’m working on at the moment is a work of folk horror entitled THE BACK OF BEYOND. The title is no reflection on these environs (!) but the place is certainly brimming with qualities and stories that will certainly feed into the narrative. Thanks so much to my fellow resident, artist Anna King, who has loaned me a couple of wonderful old books about the history and stories of the area. Thanks too to Emma, who shared the story of Lady Polwarth, who hid her husband, Sir Patrick, in the crypt of Polwarth Kirk for a month as he was being hunted down by government soldiers after an alleged plot. The couple’s eldest daughter, Grisell, would creep out of Redbraes Castle at night (the ruins can still be seen) armed only with a lantern, and cross the fields with food for her father.

One of many stirring tales connected with the historic Marchmont House and estate.

The remains of Redbraes Castle. Did some Border Reiver take an axe to that door?!

I visited the Kirk on a dreich day and it was easy to imagine how creepy it might have been back then, and what danger might have awaited Lady Grisell, if she had been caught.

I was also fascinated by the story of the Polwarth Thorn, which lies just a mile or two away from the Kirk, in the village of Polwarth. The ‘Thorn’ is actually a pair of very twisted and gnarly trees, said to have sprung from the original, which must have been ancient, as the original Kirk dates from before 1300 (some accounts say there was a church there in the 10th century). It was the custom for newly weds to dance around the thorn tree for good luck and fertility.

I describe my folk horror book as The Wicker Man With Water, and no spoilers to say there might be a Roman goddess in it and one or two sacrifices… I’m now on the look-out for a holy well and some Roman remains…!

The Polwarth Thorn. Another brilliant local tale tells of two sisters, heiresses, who had their sights set on the handsome Wedderburn brothers. Politics and intrigue meant the girls were stolen away by a third party and confined to barracks. The steadfast brothers turned up at their door with horses and men and won the day! A double wedding was performed at the Kirk, and the couples, as tradition decreed, danced around the thorn tree.

Beyond Christmas!

Leave a comment

It’s been a busy few months here at Ireland Towers, with lots of courses and workshops on the go. I count my blessings daily, being able to do the work I love, while meeting such talented and engaging writers along the way.

Book Week Scotland was a busy one for me, with events at the Central Library Dundee and Arbroath Library’s Learning Club. I also ran a workshop as part of the University of Dundee’s Archive Service ‘Change Minds’ project, which encourages participants to research the history of mental health care through the old case books and documents of local ‘asylums’. Quite a difficult and emotional task for some, I’d imagine, and certainly the workshop I led threw up some keen insights and questions about healthcare then and now. I’m a huge advocate for participatory arts for those living with long-term conditions – writing really does give people a voice and a means to express challenging things.

Next year (trying not to think about Christmas!) I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to take a whole month off to focus on me and my writing- yay! Sometimes it’s a struggle to stay on track, given the myriad other things we have to do, so I’m really grateful for this invitation from the good people of the Marchmont Makers Foundation to spend a month-long residency at Marchmont House in the Borders. You can find out more about the Foundation here

Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Time’ keeping watch over the Cheviot Hills from the roof of Marchmont House.

I have the distinct feeling I’ll spend a lot of time watching over the landscape and forget that I’m there to write a book. Daydreaming is just creative planning, right?! My artistic mission while there is to research and write (at least partly!) a folk horror novel entitled The Back of Beyond, which is set in the Borders.

THE BACK OF BEYOND

One day, in the dead of winter, a cross-country train makes an emergency stop between stations in a remote rural location. The driver leaps out in panic to scramble up the embankment. As the puzzled passengers disembark to discuss calling the police, one traveller goes in pursuit. Jared Harper, an Australian backpacker, has plans of his own. He is due to take up temporary work on a nearby farm, but never one to shy away from a difficult situation, Jared sets off in pursuit of the train driver.

He witnesses the man throw himself into a deep, icy pool. Jared, a cold water swimmer, dives in after him, but despite his best efforts, no trace of the man can be found.

Deeply shocked, Jared takes up residence on the farm of his new employer, the enigmatic Molly Musgrave. It is a community like no other. An old man knits intricate patterns that only he understands, the villagers are obsessed with an ancient well-decorating ceremony and why is the war memorial dedicated to young men who perished long after two world wars?

When Jared starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together, he becomes desperate to leave. But will he be allowed to?

THE BACK OF BEYOND is a work of folk horror with a contemporary rural setting, a place where the ancient past is very much alive.

Expect Roman history, Celtic water goddesses, sacred wells, cursed artefacts  and human sacrifice!

Wish me luck!

Before then, I’ll be taking a couple of weeks in Sri Lanka, where we’ll be having a family reunion with son no. 2. Haven’t seen him for four years because he lives in New Zealand, so it will be an emotional one!!

See you on the other side (unless you fancy my Yuletide Writing Just For You. Details here)

Warm winter wishes,

Sandra x

It’s Spring!

Leave a comment

Time for a springtime blog update! The start of the year has been pretty busy so far. I’m just back from the annual Scottish Association Conference, which was such a lot of fun. It was so good to be able to socialise with my Angus Writers’ Circle pals and to meet up with old friends. I’d been invited to adjudicate the Margaret McConnell Women’s short story competition- the entries were amazing and the winners spellbinding (although I just wanted to give them all a prize!).

I also led a workshop on writing about climate change, coincidentally…because as we speak my new climate fiction book WATERBOUND is out on submission and being read by the very person who might well publish it- an exciting and scary thought!

It’s taken me a year to get to this stage, and there were times when I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Speculative fiction is ambitious, as you will know if that’s your thing. Could my ideas match my ambition? It was so hard to know how far to go. What will phones be like a century from now? How will we be travelling? Will we be super-sophisticated and technologically advanced or will we be fighting over resources? The Council for Refugees has already predicted that we could be looking at some 25 million souls displaced by climate-related disaster by the end of the century- something that we’ll have to face in a humane and compassionate way.

In the end, I decided that this is a story about family and emotion and the things that matter to us. Human nature remains fundamentally the same, so I decided that as long as that felt authentic, readers would accept my vision of the rest. I hope so anyway!


In February, I was asked by Sustainability First, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the human impact of climate change, to take over their Instagram account for a week. A tall order- I’m not that good with my own social media. However, I did it, and I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely comments from followers. Here is a haiku, which was my first post:

Spring/Summer Writing Opportunities!


LIFELONG LEARNING DUNDEE:
FINDING INSPIRATION THROUGH FOLKLORE APRIL 18th  for five weeks; 6.30pm-8.30pm £40/35
Humans have been finding ways to re-imagine folk tales since the earliest times. This course is a must for everyone with an interest in the creative arts. We’ll look at the various themes and ideas associated with our storytelling heritage and discover, through guided prompts, what they can bring to our own practice. Ideal for writers, artists, poets, musicians and anyone who would like to make new work from old tales
Book HERE.

 
WRITING JUST FOR YOU #8  April 5th for four weeks; 6.30pm-7.30pm £45
Does what it says on the tin! This is the perfect way to enjoy writing for its own sake, without pressure or expectation. Even if you are new to writing, you’ll soon get into the rhythm of it.
Each week, we will have a chat about the theme of the week, and perhaps look at a poem, take part in a mini-meditation (just five minutes of mindful relaxation) and then settle down for 20 minutes of undisturbed writing time
For more information and to book, email sandrairelandauthor@yahoo.co.uk
 
FINALLY…I will be running two 10-week upskilling modules at the University of Dundee (online). Scroll down to STARTING CREATIVE WRITING & THE LURE OF THE DARK (Folklore plus creative writing) for full details and how to apply. There are free places available for anyone working for a Scottish employer and wanting to upskill, facing redundancy or seeking employment .I’m still waiting for confirmation on start dates (usually May for Creative Writing and July for Folklore), but please contact me or Claire Nicoll at c.z.nicoll@dundee.ac.uk for more information.