International best-selling author to set her 2025 novel in County Derry

International best-selling author Emma Heatherington has revealed that a popular wedding venue in County Derry has inspired her to write her next book, due for release next year.

Ms Heatherington, who comes from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, recently paid a visit to Ballyscullion Park in Bellaghy to take part in a photoshoot.

However, during a walk around the grounds, the author of 15 novels fell in love with the idea of a story on the native ground of her favourite poet Seamus Heaney.

The popular author's last two novels were set in Donegal, but for her next release Emma says she wanted to find a different setting.

“I had the pleasure to visit Ballyscullion Park a few days ago," she told the County Derry Post.

“I was actually there for a photoshoot to launch a new book and while I was there, I had a bit of a walk around the grounds.

“It was a beautiful sunny day for January and I just felt really inspired by the location and started getting ideas to set a book there.”

Ballyscullion Park, on the shores of Lough Beg, is the home of the Mulholland family.

First bought by the family in 1938, the house on the estate was restored and now hosts weddings.

It is a Ramsa site, and Site of Special Scientific Interest owing to the richness and diversity of flora and birdlife. At the southern end of the strand, surrounded by the Lough on one side and wetlands on the other, is the ancient historic monument, Church Island.

The church of St Taide was reputedly founded by Saint Patrick, and a hollowed stone bears the imprint of his knee as he knelt to bless the site. Now a ruin, Church Island is still a place of pilgrimage on the first Sunday in September. A rag tree bears testimony to the faith of many generations in the healing powers this enchanting and enchanted haven.

The late poet Seamus Heaney grew up nearby and his father grazed his cattle on the strand.

“Having spoken to the lady that owns Ballyscullion on the phone a few weeks ago. The day I spoke to her I had been working with my agent, who is in London, to come up with some ideas for my 2025 story," continued Emma.

“The last two novels I wrote were based in Donegal and I thought that I would love to find somewhere full of character that is different from a cottage or the coast.

“While I was speaking with her on the phone about Ballyscullion Park, I just thought ‘Oh gosh how about a big Georgian-style home’, that would make a really beautiful modern-day love story setting with a more historical fiction twist.

“I was getting that kind of vibe even before going there, the ideas were channelling around in my head.”

While in the park, Emma could already imagine her book coming to life.

“I had a bit of a rough outline in my head, and when I did go it just brought me up to another level of imagination because walking around I could just start feeling all the stories come to life and being inside the house and seeing it.

“People are still living inside the house, so it is very much a work environment as a home because they host weddings.”

The people living and working at Ballyscullion were quite happy to let Emma 'pick their brain' on what it is like to live in a house like Ballyscullion in modern times and also what it is like working there.

“The book is at the really early stages but I have two characters in mind. I am just warming up the engine of the story and getting to know the characters in my own head," she said.

“I am looking forward to getting stuck into that but it is very much in the distance at the minute.

“It just seems to be coming together very naturally and easily.”

Nearby Lough Beg also inspired much of Seamus Heaney's work.

“I love the area as well because of Seamus Heaney. I always admire the effort of the community to keep his name in a prominent part today," continued Emma.

“I am just a big fan of his work and all that has happened since his days.

“I went to an all-girl convent school here in Donaghmore, St Joseph's Convent Grammar School, and I have very fond memories of my teacher reading Seamus Heaney back then. It’s a bit of nostalgia.

“In later years I have been able to read his poems for pleasure and not because I had to. I’d come to appreciate them a lot more.”

If Emma had to choose two poems it would be some that bring her strong emotions.

“I love When All of the Others Were Away at Mass no matter how many times I read it, it always chokes me up a bit at the end and I also love his poem Scaffolding. I can read it over and over and over again.

“I love how he has his poem packed in emotional punch and I try to do that with my own book. Emma is heavily inspired by Seamus Heaney’s writing and how he instils feelings in the readers.

“I am a very emotionally driven writer and I believe that a good piece of writing will move the reader.

“I write emotional life-affirming stories. They're very full of heart and soul. People tend to get comfort from the story.

“It can make them angry, or laugh, or cry and sad but there is always that level of emotions in my stories. I have learned a lot from him [Seamus Heaney].

“I also discovered that we share the same birthday. I was totally blown away by that! So I feel I have a connection with Seamus Heaney on so many levels.”

This year Emma has had great success with the launch of her 2023 novel called This Christmas.

She was the top ebook on Amazon and the Irish paperback top 10 for eight weeks.

Emma also helps people who want to write through workshops, both in groups and one-on-one sessions.

She leads a workshop on the first Saturday of every month at the Green House Wellbeing Hub in Dungannon.

Booking is essential via emma@emmaheatheringtonwriter.com