by Orna Ross | Apr 25, 2020 | Poetry |
I wanted to tell you about a fantastic social media initiative that is also a great example of the kinds of things that are being born out of the creative conditions created by the lockdown. Tara Skurtu, wonderful poet and writer had the idea for The International...
by Orna Ross | Apr 3, 2020 | Poetry |
This Month's Exclusive Poem for Patrons: On Reaching 60: Happenings I'm posting this after a long day of strange celebrations of my big birthday. Unable to physically get together with family or friends, I spent the day on my phone and yet again, found myself so very...
by Orna Ross | Mar 1, 2020 | Poetry |
This month's exclusive poem for patrons: Flare. The trees in London are grey and bare at the moment. Just outside my study window there is one that flares to an astonishing shade of yellow in autumn. Looking at how it is now, and wondering over the miracle of being...
by Orna Ross | Feb 28, 2020 | Fiction |
Maud and Iseult Gonne are living in Normandy, taking refuge from the war in Paris, when they hear that John MacBride, Maud's husband, has been executed. This leaves Maud frantic to get back to Ireland. She dispatches Iseult to London, to fetch their friend, the poet...
by Orna Ross | Jan 19, 2020 | Poetry |
Some poems (not many) arrive complete. Most take days, maybe weeks, sometimes even months to get to that state of completeness where no more can be done. They are as pure and as perfect as they're ever going to be. Some just won't let go. They keep asking for...
by Orna Ross | Jan 10, 2020 | Fiction |
The story has shifted to 1916. Maud and Iseult are living in Normandy, as the first world war wages and in Dublin, Irish freedom fighters have organized a botched insurrection. Many of their Irish friends and acquaintances were involved. This extract describes what...
by Orna Ross | Dec 24, 2019 | Poetry |
Happy Holidays Creatives and Creativists! I hope you’ll be enjoying a special and happy time over the sparkly season. Below is a seasonal poem that my patrons won't mind, I think, if I share more widely, though it is not due for general release for another few weeks....
by Orna Ross | Dec 8, 2019 | Poetry |
My Poetry for Christmas collection has been updated to take in a new poem, which you can access now either by supporting my Patreon page or buying the book. If you hurry, you can order a special signed edition which I'll mail to you in time. (Email Sarah:...
by Orna Ross | Dec 1, 2019 | Poetry |
This month's exclusive poem for patrons is a Christmas poem “Soaring”, inspired by the Chrismas lights on Picadilly, London. SOARING In darkening afternoons damp air that tastes of sleet and wind, we dodge between the honk of taxis, buses, cars and other...
by Orna Ross | Nov 22, 2019 | Fiction |
This is a scene reimagining the execution of John MacBride, Maud Gonne's husband, for his part in the 1916 Rising. His death was to change life for Maud and Iseult forever. Last Friday, I wondered whether to open the novel with one of Maud's fiery political speeches....