IRELAND IN THE 1950S – A DIFFERENT WORLD FROM AMERICA

If you’re a fan of historical fiction—or simply love discovering the everyday details that bring the past to life—you’ll enjoy my latest blog. From strict social customs and emigration to daily routines and traditions, it’s a fascinating look at an Ireland that feels both familiar and worlds away.

As an author, I love digging into these historical details because they help create authentic settings and unforgettable characters.

This weekend, I shared some of my research at Sand in Our Shorts blog. You can read a short excerpt below, and follow the link to read the entire article.

Excerpt:

Following World War II, the United States experienced an economic boom. Families moved into newly built suburban homes, with flashy new appliances, and filled driveways with chrome and candy colored automobiles. Jobs were plentiful, and consumer goods became increasingly accessible to the average family.

Ireland’s experience was very different. The country struggled economically throughout much of the decade. Outside of cities such as Dublin and Galway, much of the population lived in small villages and on family farms. Many homes lacked modern conveniences that Americans took for granted, including indoor plumbing, central heating, and reliable electricity.

Read the entire blog here: Sand in Our Shorts – Ireland in the 1950s

THE 1950S KITCHEN: MODERN CONVENIENCE MEETS DOMESTIC IDEAL

An excerpt for SAND IN OUR SHORTS BLOG, a Sister’s In Crime Chapter.

Ariadne Winter is far too busy clawing her way up the journalism ladder to fuss over perfect meringues. Ambitious, driven, and unapologetically career-minded, she has little patience for the domestic ideals so carefully prescribed for women of the 1950s. Fortunately, she isn’t married—yet. In her world, middle-class wives are expected to surrender their professions for aprons and routines, trading ambition for spotless kitchens and well-fed husbands. Should Ariadne ever yield to the life her mother envisions, she might at least find some consolation in the gleaming promise of modern appliances—those marvels of convenience designed to make domesticity seem less like confinement and more like progress.

The 1950s kitchen was more than a place to cook—it was a showroom for modern technology and a very specific vision of womanhood. In the years following World War II, American homes became symbols of prosperity and progress, and nowhere was that more apparent than in the kitchen.

Gone were the dim, utilitarian cooking spaces of earlier decades. The 1950s kitchen was bright and cheerful. Pastel color palettes ruled—mint green, butter yellow, turquoise, and pink—often paired with chrome accents and glossy finishes. Linoleum floors featured checkerboard patterns, cabinets were colorful, and countertops were designed to look clean and futuristic. At the heart of this transformation were the appliances.

Read the full article HERE.

Castles of Ireland – Storey Book Reviews Blog

Castles of Ireland

By Ellen Butler

Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle takes place in 1950s Ireland, and was inspired by a vacation I took in 2023. The tour company called it Castles In the Mist. My husband and I spent two weeks touring and lodging at magnificent castles and manor houses dotting the lush, emerald countryside of Ireland. From majestic medieval strongholds, like my husband’s ancestral seat, Kilkenny Castle, to the ruins of crumbling tower houses perched on windswept hillsides. They are a striking reminder of Ireland’s turbulent feudal past, but for locals, they are also part of the cultural fabric of the land. One question we asked: why are so many crumbling castles still standing, and why were they never torn down?

The answer lies partly in history and partly in sentiment. Unlike other parts of Europe, where old fortifications were dismantled to make way for new building projects, in Ireland many castles were left as they were when they fell out of use. Wars, political shifts, and changing ownership often left castles abandoned rather than repurposed. Over time, the cost of demolishing the thick stone walls far outweighed the benefits. In rural communities, these ruins have become silent landmarks—reminders of a stormy monarchial past. Today, they are protected as heritage sites, that continue to attract scholars, artists, and tourists like us.

Finish reading the blog at Storey Book Reviews Blog.

Book Club Discussion Questions – Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn

How does the Ivy Tree Inn itself contribute to the atmosphere and mystery of the story? In what ways does the inn act as more than just a backdrop? Have you been to Newport, RI and seen any of the mansions?
Many characters in the novel have hidden motives. Which character’s secret or deception surprised you the most, and why?
Which character did you relate to most—or love watching in action—as the mystery unfolded? Did any characters remind you of someone you know?
How do gossip, history, and reputation shape the relationships between the characters?
Were the characters justified in the choices they made? Did any decision in particular make you question your own sense of right and wrong, including Ariadne’s choices?
Did the ending catch you off guard, or did you see it coming? And how did you feel about how everything wrapped up?
If you could spend a weekend at the Ivy Tree Inn (minus the drama!), would you? What’s the first thing you’d do once you arrived?

Interview at Sarandipity Blog

Interview questions for Ellen Butler:

What made you want to become a writer?
Growing up, I was an avid reader. Somewhere along the way, I realized entire
plotlines were unfolding in my dreams, or when I was chauffeuring my children
around town, or as I exercised at the gym. The characters and stories wouldn’t shut up in my head. I figured if I wrote it down, they’d get out of my head. Well,a dozen years later, I’ve still got stories floating around in my noggin, and I keep putting them down on paper to quiet my mind.

What is your favorite part of this book and why?
My favorite part of Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle is the setting—1958, Ireland. My husband and I spent two weeks traveling the Irish countryside and simply adored it. The people were hospitable and friendly. The landscape and scenery glorious, and the castles we visited were magnificent. Ballyford was inspired by an
overnight stay at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. A tour to the top of the archer’s platform inspired the location of the murder at my fictional Ballyford Castle.

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

Finish reading the interview at Sarandipity Blog.

Interview at Christy’s Cozy Corner

Interview with Ellen Butler

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! I am Ellen Butler, and I write the Ariadne Winter mysteries, and the Karina Cardinal mysteries. When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, working on home decorating projects, and attending car shows. I have a passion for classic cars, especially the bright colors of the 1950s vehicles replete with fins and bulbous lights.

How long have you been writing?

Technically, I’ve been writing since elementary school, but I didn’t begin writing novels until about a dozen years ago. My first book was published in 2014, and Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle will be book number 15.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?