Stockport grandmother inspired by Irish roots to write book
Added: (Mon Aug 01 2022)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
A former university student support tutor from Stockport has just celebrated her 80th birthday by releasing her debut novel.
Manchester born Margaret Bradshaw, who writes under the name of Martha Ashwell, hit the headlines in 2015 when her deeply personal memoir, Celia’s Secret: A Journey towards Reconciliation, shot up the charts and attracted a string of glowing reviews.
The grandmother of seven has continued publishing poetry and short stories ever since.
And, as she enters her ninth decade, Martha has just released her first full-length work of fiction, The Happening at Bessbrook.
The historical novel has already been described by critics as ‘an enthralling story’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘inspirational’.
Martha explains that her debut novel is inspired by her family’s Irish roots as well as her fascination with near-death experiences.
“I visited Bessbrook in County Armagh a few years ago with my brother to find out more about my father’s family and early childhood and was inspired by the people and places and the historical background of the linen industry.”
“I’m also very interested in the phenomenon of near-death experiences.”
The Happening at Bessbrook, which is set in 1904, follows the fortunes of mill worker Evie O’Dowd after a sudden illness leads to her collapse.
After recovering unexpectedly, she tells of wonderous, spiritual visions, prompting the clergy to believe she has returned from heaven with a message.
Martha’s gripping and thought-provoking book portrays a deeply religious community divided by Evie’s remarkable accounts and experiences.
And it is also an uplifting story of a young woman’s faith and courage in the face of adversity and doubt.
Prior to witing The Happening at Bessbrook, Martha spent many months extensively researching attitudes towards near-death during a time of great change in Ireland.
She added: “My research has led me to many accounts of near-death experiences, Victorian hospitals, asylums, the history of the linen industry, Easter 1916 and the Irish Rebellion, the Great Hunger and miracles.
“I’ve also drawn on my own visits to Ireland and my love of the Irish people.
“I owe much to the writings of C S Lewis, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Victor Frankl for their reflections on life and death and the meaning of life.”
Martha, who is a member of the Manchester Irish Writers and the South Manchester Writers’ Workshop, is currently writing a series of children’s stories along with her daughter, Clare, and daughter-in-law, Nicola.
For more details, visit Amazon and search for Martha Ashwell, where the paperback and Kindle formats of The Happening at Bessbrook are both available. Martha’s website can be found at: marthaashwell.co.uk
Notes to the editor
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