Welcome To My World

October 12, 2010

John McAllister was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. He went to St MacNissis College, Garron Tower on the Antrim Coast, where he published his first stories and poems in the school magazine. In 1974 he went to Armagh, intending to stay for only two years. He met his future wife in the bank, and still [...]

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Sentences to get your Creative Juices Flowing

October 12, 2010

When ideas are slow in coming use these sentences to stimulate ideas for a story. My best tip is not to go for the easiest one but go for the one that looks the most difficult. It appears that the brain kicks at having to do a bit of work so kick back. You might be [...]

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Policing Dumcree

October 12, 2010

Everyone knows about Drumcree from the Catholic side, from the Protestant side, the politicians, the dogs in the street and every political pundit from Malin Head to Tasmania. The banner men, the protesters, the rioters. We’ve all seen the newscasts and formed our own opinions. But what about the police…   A WALK ON THE [...]

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My Library

October 12, 2010

MY LIBRARY – For Me These Are The Essentials Dorothea Brande – Becoming a Writer: So you think you want to be a writer? By the end of this book you’ll know whether or not you’ve got the staying power. John Braine – How to Write a novel: Reissued after decades of being out of [...]

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Novel – Line Of Flight 2006

October 12, 2010

McAllister’s Line of Flight is more than just another thriller; it explores the aftermath of a peace process that has left fear, doubt and loathing to breed under the shiny new skin of reinvestment, forming a volatile cocktail that needs but the barest spark to ignite. McAllister’s skill skill at capturing the language and nuances [...]

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Editor – Hometown 2003

October 12, 2010

Kathleen Ryan, chief librarian, Armagh City and District Library Board described the book as: ‘A diverse collection of poetry and prose: the product of members of the ABC Writers Network, spread through the Armagh, Banbridge and Portadown Council areas. It’s publication provides that essential link in the chain joining the writer to readers.’ Contributors include: [...]

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Short Stories – The Fly Pool 2003

October 12, 2010

The Fly Pool runs the gauntlet of changing times, and must send ripples of nostalgia through any reader who can remember Ireland of the early sixties and seventies, when policemen rode bicycles, and justice was a clip around the ear. Sergeant Barlow is just such a policeman. He uses the rule book for his own [...]

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