UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

A few weeks ago someone started a thread on the official amazon forum on behalf of a friend. A friend who had been writing for several years (he didn't say what but obviously it was non-fiction) and had just been persuaded to publish two novels.

Those books were Death in a Scarlet Gown and Knowledge of Sins Past. As the books were less than £1 I downloaded them on a whim but wasn't expecting much. When I started to read I was amazed at the quality of the writing. These could losely be called historical mysteries but there is more to them than that - the author spends a lot of time setting the scene and presenting the characters, the mystery is just one element of the tales. The first book left me stunned after I had read it because of the tragedy of the story. The second book of the series is lighter in tone but just as well written.

A few people have read these books now and left good reviews, so the author's friend has informed us that she has been encouraged to prepare the next couple of books in the Murray of Letho series for publication. As the author had to be "persuaded" to publish her books and hasn't been on the forums herself, I get the impression that she must be shy?

I can really recommend these to fans of history and mystery. The quality of the writing in these books explodes the oft repeated myth that the cheap books will be rubbish. Yes, some of them are, but there are also some real gems to be found and the Murray of Letho series is one of those gems.

I highly recommend these books.

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Glad you've enjoyed them Kew. I downloaded them too, after reading the description but as yet, I haven't read them. On your recommendation they are the next two on the hit list!

Ingnite wrote: "Glad you've enjoyed them Kew. I downloaded them too, after reading the description but as yet, I haven't read them. On your recommendation they are the next two on the hit list!"

I hope that you enjoy them. :0)

Will take a look as I like historical fiction

Hi, I'm Lexie and I wrote these - just wanted to say a big thank you to Kew who has given me two lovely reviews on Amazon! I've just joined here and it's all a bit new to me, as is blogging, though I now have one at www.murrayofletho.blogspot.com.
Yes, I've been writing non-fiction, too, but the main reason I tried to stop writing was the compelling apathy of the publishing industry - I finally tried to convince myself they must be right! but I couldn't stop writing, even if no one read it.
This is a great website - lots of lovely books to consider and read about and read!

Lexie wrote: "Hi, I'm Lexie and I wrote these - just wanted to say a big thank you to Kew who has given me two lovely reviews on Amazon! I've just joined here and it's all a bit new to me, as is blogging, though..."

Great to see you here Lexie! I don't have a very good opinion about the intelligence of publishers - there are some excellent authors on kindle that they have turned down, so you are in good company!

I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series - any news on when they will be ready?

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They were written a while ago and need a good deal of retyping / editing / refreshing, but I'm hoping (other work permitting) to get the next one, Service of the Heir, out by Christmas this year. If it's likely to be earlier I'll let you know!

I'm more than half way through "Sins" now and finding it as compulsive as "Death" - and beauftifuly written too. I love your use of language and the occasional 'Scottish-isms'. I'm glad there are more to come and when I've read both I shall bang a review on Amazon too.

Lazy Amazon links :
Death in Scarlet
Knowledge of Sins past

Thank you Simon. How did you guess I'm a lazy Amazon?

It must be your photo that gave it away:)

D'Oh! That's me next to the purple podded peas from which I am breeding Purple Mangetout - creepy eh?

Purple mangetout sound cool, Ingnite - how far north are you? (or is this in danger of becoming a gardening forum?!) I could call it a research question - I did do quite some work on old seed varieties for the later Murray books ...

East Yorkshire Lexie. The original peas are hardy - they are quite a starchy, podding variety obtained from the Heritage Seed Library but I crossed them with Oregon Sugar Pod. The second year (F2) threw up a huge variety, mostly not very special(!) but I got 2 genuine mangetout plants from 36. I've now selected half a dozen this year after removing all that showed green leaf axils and white flowers. Next year I shall only grow on seeds from those plants that have no green/white in the whole batch and I hope the selection process will then be finished.

Thanks you for not glazing over during that !

Wow, well done! I grow Oregon Sugar Pod myself up here in North East Scotland, but haven't tried anything clever like that. Good luck with next year's crop - hope no white ones have slipped through!

Another Lexi(e)! Is yours short for Alexandra, too?

Lexi

Oh, yes, Alexandra Victoria Anastasia - no non-royalist tendencies here!

Lexie wrote: "Oh, yes, Alexandra Victoria Anastasia - no non-royalist tendencies here!"

Goodness me - were your parents planning a royal match for you? Harry's still available...

I think they were hoping for generous will-writing on the part of various great aunts - no luck there, though! Are you lucky enough to be an Alexandra Jane, or Alexandra Mary, then?

I had no great-aunts, and am boring old Alexandra Ann (with apologies to any Anns on the forum).

I don't ever use Ann, just have to write it on tax forms. My sister's second name is Jane.

Ingnite wrote: "East Yorkshire Lexie. The original peas are hardy - they are quite a starchy, podding variety obtained from the Heritage Seed Library but I crossed them with Oregon Sugar Pod. The second year (F2..."

Reminds me of uni and Gregor Mendel and his delightful square....

Lexie wrote: "Wow, well done! I grow Oregon Sugar Pod myself up here in North East Scotland, but haven't tried anything clever like that. Good luck with next year's crop - hope no white ones have slipped through!"

I'm in North East Scotland too! Aberdeen to be precise. Hello to you :o)

It makes me happy that i have found someone on here who is possibly reasonably close to me

My proportions of green and purple are Mendelian - the man was a good observer!

Lexi wrote: "I had no great-aunts, and am boring old Alexandra Ann (with apologies to any Anns on the forum).

I don't ever use Ann, just have to write it on tax forms. My sister's second name is Jane."

Of course there's always the danger that as I'm a 'shy' writer with no photo on my profile that mine might just be a pen name! But one of my great aunts was Ann Alexandra, funnily enough!

Jud (judder) wrote: "Lexie wrote: "Wow, well done! I grow Oregon Sugar Pod myself up here in North East Scotland, but haven't tried anything clever like that. Good luck with next year's crop - hope no white ones have s..."

In that case I hope you're not flooded out this morning!

Yea i usually cycle to work but today i swam!!

Have downloaded both books Lexie, they sound very interesting.

Whew! Service of the Heir, the third of the Murray of Letho series, is currently undergoing whatever mysteries Amazon Kindle applies to it to make it published - so it should be out in the next couple of days!

Thanks so much for your support so far - hope you enjoy the new one!

Oh I'm so up for Book 3!

Thank you I just clicked for book 3. It is nice when you know the area a book is written about.

I forgot I had bought these! I shall have to read them asap.

I have Book 3 but my husband has nicked it - I get my books on his account so I can hardly complain - he's paid for it!

We are the same Ignite,I buy from Phil's account,no worries though he has never read a fictional book in his life!

Thanks all so much for your support - Book Four, 'An Abandoned Woman', has just been uploaded to Kindle! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you spot any glaring errors! (Ignite, thanks again for the ferret comment!)

That's going to puzzle people Lexie! They won't be able to decide if I am a ferret juggler or I carry them down my trousers!

I shall go off and buy it!

Couldn't find it - I'm a bit previous it seems. I sahll try again later Lexie.

Ignite wrote: "Couldn't find it - I'm a bit previous it seems. I sahll try again later Lexie."

It usually needs a few hours - you're very quick off the mark! Hope the allotment is doing well in this extraordinary weather.

Oh yes. The weeds are extraordinarily tall! Fortunately the veg are growing well too. Survival of the fittest on my plot!

I wish docks were nice to eat ...

Even the rabbits don't bother!

It's there this morning Lexie - and it's now on my kindle!

Ignite wrote: "It's there this morning Lexie - and it's now on my kindle!"

Thank you! It appeared on .com last night before it showed up on .co.uk, for some reason - the mysteries of Amazon!

I had the great satisfaction yesterday of clearing docks off an unused plot - at least a foot taller than me, but they fell to the trusty shears! I have blisters today, but those docks are not going to seed this year! Ha!

A pleasurable triumph I'm sure!

Ooh - I missed the posts on here somehow. Reminds me that I still haven't read book three! Must rectify that soon - and now I also have to download book four!

:0))

Amazon link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abandoned-Wom...

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You alterted me to these Karen. I blame you!

*smirks*

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I can't possibly comment!

I might know about ferrets but I can't spell alerted!

Ah, but which is a more valuable life skill?