University Writer in Residence
Writer in Residence of Ulster University (September 2020 to September 2023).
PhD: Creative Writing
(September 2020 to September 2023)
Composition of a contemporary diary novel, The Secret Diary of Stephanie Agnew (originally Dear William)
Research areas:
Dialect in diary novels,
The Ulster Scots family history of the Agnew/Ó Gnímh family,
Female novelists writing in Scots and Ulster Scots.
Publications / Talks on PhD
Publication of article 'The Agnews of Kilwaughter: hereditary sheriffs, hereditary bards' in Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review, No. 39, 2023.
Publication of the novel The Secret Diary of Stephanie Agnew, Leschenault Press, 1 July 2024.
Keynote presentation, 'Female novelists, Ulster Scots and Ulster English', Ulster Vernacularities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives conference, Ulster University, 6 June 2024.
Presentation, 'Agnew Hereditary Sheriffs and Hereditary Bards' at the Preserving Local History in the Causeway Coast and Glens and Beyond Conference, Ulster University, 8 May 2024.
Presentation, 'Creative Writing for the Earth' at the Writing for the Earth Symposium, Ulster University, 26 May 2022.
Facilitation of workshop 'Scullion Speak: Writing in dialect', Seamus Heaney HomePlace 2022.
Panel on language & workshops on Ulster Scots writing, Frances Browne Festival, 2021.
Research areas:
Dialect in diary novels,
The Ulster Scots family history of the Agnew/Ó Gnímh family,
Female novelists writing in Scots and Ulster Scots.
Publications / Talks on PhD
Publication of article 'The Agnews of Kilwaughter: hereditary sheriffs, hereditary bards' in Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review, No. 39, 2023.
Publication of the novel The Secret Diary of Stephanie Agnew, Leschenault Press, 1 July 2024.
Keynote presentation, 'Female novelists, Ulster Scots and Ulster English', Ulster Vernacularities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives conference, Ulster University, 6 June 2024.
Presentation, 'Agnew Hereditary Sheriffs and Hereditary Bards' at the Preserving Local History in the Causeway Coast and Glens and Beyond Conference, Ulster University, 8 May 2024.
Presentation, 'Creative Writing for the Earth' at the Writing for the Earth Symposium, Ulster University, 26 May 2022.
Facilitation of workshop 'Scullion Speak: Writing in dialect', Seamus Heaney HomePlace 2022.
Panel on language & workshops on Ulster Scots writing, Frances Browne Festival, 2021.
Other Publications
Irish Times
Irish Dancing: The Festival Story -
Irish Dancing: The Festival Story
The Protestant in Irish Fiction -
The Protestant in Irish Fiction
The Protestant in Irish Fiction II -
The Protestant in Irish fiction II
Ulster Scots in Irish Fiction -
Ulster-Scots in Irish Fiction
An author in Wonderland -
An author in Wonderland
Belfast Telegraph:
Irish Dancing -
Irish Dancing
Irish Times
Irish Dancing: The Festival Story -
Irish Dancing: The Festival Story
The Protestant in Irish Fiction -
The Protestant in Irish Fiction
The Protestant in Irish Fiction II -
The Protestant in Irish fiction II
Ulster Scots in Irish Fiction -
Ulster-Scots in Irish Fiction
An author in Wonderland -
An author in Wonderland
Belfast Telegraph:
Irish Dancing -
Irish Dancing
Education
Queen's University (1995-1999): BA Honours, French and History
Ulster University (1999 -2000): MA, Applied Languages & Business
Ulster University (2020-2023): PhD, English
Ulster University (1999 -2000): MA, Applied Languages & Business
Ulster University (2020-2023): PhD, English
Life and work
My university education was firmly rooted in languages, literature and history, and having spent a year teaching in France, my only aim — besides a secret, repressed desire to write a novel — was to return to live in France. I completed a Masters to transfer my language skills to the field of international business and went on to do a postgraduate exporting programme in Belfast and Chicago, but it was maybe a hint of what was to come that I was drawn towards books. I applied for a job in France with McGraw-Hill Publishing Ltd, but I ended up in the Netherlands instead of France and spent three years travelling to bookshops across the Netherlands and Belgium. France had eluded me, but I had the chance to take Dutch classes for three years, which would somehow awaken a recognition of my own home dialect. Having relocated to Northern Ireland in 2004, I worked for educational technology company Texthelp and became immersed in education, dyslexia, special educational needs and English as a Second Language. Initially, I travelled to universities and colleges in England and Australia, but I was soon exploring new markets in Europe, China, India, Dubai and Brazil. I was with Texthelp for ten years in a business development capacity, working my way up to senior management as Head of the Education division, but international travel became more difficult once my children were in school. In January 2015, at the age of 39, I changed direction and circled back towards literature, launching a new career as writer and independent publisher while the children were in school. At the time, I saw this as a one-year career break from business, but it became so much more and I have since been able to harness my business acumen to work on arts and heritage contracts, including Project Manager on a European project at Belfast Met College, researcher at Ulster University and Education Officer at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace. One day, I'd like to live in France!
Media Services
Essays for The Irish Times and Belfast Telegraph.
Interviews on Radio Ulster Your Place and Mine, John Toal Show and Kintra show.
Guest contributor on the topic of Irish dancing on BBC's Antiques Road Trip, 2019.
Interviewee on various NVTV and BBC shows, including Ewen Glass's The Toon in 2022.
Interviews on Radio Ulster Your Place and Mine, John Toal Show and Kintra show.
Guest contributor on the topic of Irish dancing on BBC's Antiques Road Trip, 2019.
Interviewee on various NVTV and BBC shows, including Ewen Glass's The Toon in 2022.
Outreach
Irish dancing museum exhibition with Mid and East Antrim Council, 2017.
Seminars on the history of Irish dancing.
Facilitation of Creative Writing courses.
Talks on Ulster Scots writing.
Presentations with schools, NI libraries, NI regional councils, Irish Writer's Centre, Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Ulster University, Queen's University, National Museums NI, Scottish Libraries, Frances Browne Literary Festival, John O'Connor Festival, Irish Network in D.C, Irish American Heritage Museum.
Seminars on the history of Irish dancing.
Facilitation of Creative Writing courses.
Talks on Ulster Scots writing.
Presentations with schools, NI libraries, NI regional councils, Irish Writer's Centre, Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Ulster University, Queen's University, National Museums NI, Scottish Libraries, Frances Browne Literary Festival, John O'Connor Festival, Irish Network in D.C, Irish American Heritage Museum.
Ulster Scots
I enjoy writing in Ulster Scots and facilitating creative writing dialect workshops, but I do not offer translation services. I mainly write the way that people speak.
*Pen name & maiden name Angeline King. Angeline Kelly for official purposes.