Category Archives: Scotland

Authors, Awards, Book Launch, crime writer, Dundee, Famous Five Plus, Scotland, Writing

Book Review: Missing Believed Dead by Chris Longmuir

July 11, 2013 Melanie 2 Comments

Book Review

To celebrate Chris Longmuir’s paperback launch of MISSING BELIEVED DEAD at Waterstones, Dundee, I’m posting my book review of this latest book in her Dundee Crime Series here today.

MISSING BELIEVED DEAD

Missing-Believed-Dead-WEB

Missing children! Internet predators! Dead bodies!

She crossed his arms over his chest, and placed the jade beads in his eyes. ‘To remind you of me,’ she said.

Jade was 13 when she disappeared, five years ago, and DS Bill Murphy suspects someone from her family is responsible for recent Dundee murders. But is it her mother, Diane, who now suffers from OCD? Or Emma, her twin sister, who was catatonic for a year after Jade’s disappearance. Or Jade’s brother, Ryan, who enjoys dressing in women’s clothes and is going through a sexuality crisis, unsure whether or not he is gay.

What happened to Jade? Is she alive or dead? Or has she returned to wreak a terrible revenge on all male predators?

My Review

Thrilling read that kept me turning the pages!

Chris Longmuir has done it again. In this chapter of her Dundee Crime Series, we travel into the seedy world of Internet predators. DS Bill Murphy has to solve the case of missing girls who have disappeared after being on Internet chat rooms. Will he find them in time? Or are they already dead? In true Longmuir fashion, you never really know who the suspect is and just when you think you’ve figured it out, she twists the plot yet again leaving you with that ‘I was so sure I had it’ feeling.

Missing Believed Dead is a must read for anyone who likes dark, gritty crime.

Author Bio

Chris Longmuir was born in Wiltshire and now lives in Angus. Her family moved to Scotland when she was two. After leaving school at fifteen, Chris worked in shops, offices, mills and factories, and was a bus conductor for a spell, before working as a social worker for Angus Council (latterly serving as Assistant Principal Officer for Adoption and Fostering).

Chris is an award winning novelist and has published three novels in her Dundee Crime Series. Night Watcher, the first book in the series, won the Scottish Association of Writers’ Pitlochry Award, and the sequel, Dead Wood, won the Dundee International Book Prize, as well as the Pitlochry Award. Missing Believed Dead is the third book in the series.

Her crime novels are set in Dundee, Scotland, and have been described as scary, atmospheric, page turners. Chris also writes historical sagas, short stories and historical articles which have been published in America and Britain. Writing is like an addiction to me, Chris says, I go into withdrawals without it. She is currently working on a further 2 crime novels.

Chris is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers Association and the Scottish Association of Writers. She designed her own website and confesses to being a techno-geek who builds computers in her spare time.

Links

Website: http://www.chrislongmuir.co.uk/

Blog: Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer

Amazon Author Page: Amazon author page UK

Amazon Author Page: Amazon author page US

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Authors, Book Launch, celebrations, characters, ebooks, Kindle, kobo, LAHE Lifestyle, nook, Novels, Online shopping, Publicity, Publishing, Scotland, Writing, YA fiction

Countdown to e-launch of A Shadow in the Past is on!

July 3, 2013 Melanie 14 Comments

Launch Countdown

Countdown to E-launch day for A SHADOW IN THE PAST

The party takes place on August 4th!

You’re probably tired of my wittering on about A Shadow in the Past being available as an e-book now and I apologize for that, but… a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to get the name out there.

Isn’t that a beautiful cover gracing this e-reader?

Blurb:

When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…

Nineteen-year-old Sarah Shand finds herself thrust back into the past. There she struggles to keep her real identity from a society that finds her comments and ideas strange and her speech and actions forward, unlike Victorian women. When Sarah verbally confronts confining social practices, including arranged marriages; powerful enemies commit her to a lunatic asylum. After falling in love with the handsome Laird of Weetshill, Robert Robertson, she must decide whether to find her way back to her own time or to remain in the past with him.

I know you’re all just dying to download your very own copy of A Shadow in the Past, but I would really appreciate it if you waited until the launch party on August 4th. There is a method to my madness. I haven’t gone completely off my nut (although there are probably some who would disagree). The idea behind my asking you to wait is this… If everyone buys on the same day, A Shadow in the Past will skyrocket up the charts and will get better rankings from amazon, Barnes and Noble, kobobooks, etc.

I’ve got a fun-filled party planned for August 4th so I hope you’ll drop by for some virtual food and drink and listen to some Scottish music.

Where to buy links:

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Appearances, Authors, Books, ebooks, Local Authors, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, readers, Reading, Scotland, YA fiction

Yesterday’s Craft Sale in Mallorytown

June 23, 2013 Melanie 4 Comments

Mallorytown Legion Craft Sale

Yesterday’s Craft Sale at the Mallorytown Legion was well attended but not as busy as the one I took part in last November. Still, it was a good turnout to say there were quite a few other things going on in the village competing for attention.

Mallorytown_June 22

I sold and signed three copies of A Shadow in the Past within the first hour and a half. Afterwards things died down but even though I didn’t sell anymore copies directly, the prospect of a sale from the bookstore in Kingston, A Novel Idea, where I have copies for sale, exists.

The idea that my book was now available as an e-book appealed to a number of people. One woman, who knew her daughter would love my book said she would let her know. Her daughter lives in Australia…

a shadow in the past cover 500x773 Blurb:

When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…

If you would prefer to buy A Shadow in the Past in e-book format, you can order it from amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobobooks and the iBookstore.

Do you prefer e-books or physical books?

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Appearances, Authors, Books, ebooks, Local Authors, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, readers, Reading, Scotland, YA fiction

Craft Sale in Mallorytown on June 22, 2013

June 22, 2013 Melanie Leave a comment

Mallorytown Legion Craft Sale

Today at the Mallorytown Legion from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, there will be a craft sale. Loads of vendors and goodies to choose from. So, if you’re close by to the village, drop by. The legion is on the east side of Quabbin Road opposite Peryl Road.

I’ll be there selling and signing copies of my debut novel, A Shadow in the Past.

a shadow in the past cover 500x773 Blurb:

When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…

If you would prefer an e-book to a paperback, you can order A Shadow in the Past in that format from amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobobooks and the iBookstore.

Do you prefer e-books or physical books?

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Authors, Books, ebooks, Kindle, Novel covers, Novels, Publishing, readers, Scotland, Writing, YA fiction

KINDLE Version of A Shadow in the Past now available

June 11, 2013 Melanie 3 Comments

A Shadow in the Past comes to KINDLE

The wait is over. The Kindle version of A Shadow in the Past has arrived.

a shadow in the past cover 500x773 When a contemporary teen is transported back in time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…

Nineteen year old Sarah Shand finds herself in Victorian Era Aberdeenshire, Scotland and has no idea how she got there. Her last memory is of being at the stone circle on the family farm in the year 2010.

Despite having difficulty coming to terms with her situation, Sarah quickly learns she must keep her true identity a secret. Still, she feels stifled by the Victorians’ confining social practices, including arranged marriages between wealthy and influential families; and confronts them head on then suffers the consequences.

When Sarah realizes she has fallen in love with the handsome Laird of Weetshill, she faces an agonizing decision. Does she try to find her way back to 2010 or remain in the past with the man she loves?

You can get your copy of A Shadow in the Past at

If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the app from amazon for your PC, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android devices, and more. Check their website to see if they have the app you need.

Aberdeenshire, Authors, Books, Novels, Publishing, readers, Scotland, work-in-progress, Writing

The Next Big Thing…

May 16, 2013 Melanie 10 Comments

I’ve been tagged to take part in The Next Big Thing by fellow ORWA member, Karen Smock who writes as Karen Avivi. I answer ten questions about my next book (still very much a WIP) then pass the baton on to two more authors. It’s loads of fun and you never know what you might find out about an author’s book.

So here we go!

What is the working title of your next book?

Shadows from her Past

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It started out as part two in my debut novel – A Shadow in the Past. Back then, it was in the early drafts and it was just before I was offered a contract, I decided that part one could stand on its own and it gave me a great framework for the second book in the series.

In what genre does your book fall?

YA/YA Crossover

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

The lead characters would be the same as for the first book in the series – Shirley Henderson as Sarah and Robert Carlyle as Robert.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Finding information that could change the course of history, will Sarah use it to find her way back to Victorian Scotland and save the man she loves?

Who is publishing your book?

4RV Publishing (I hope). Since it’s the sequel to A Shadow in the Past, I really hope, they accept this one.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

Still working on it. I’m a little over half way through but the end is written and providing my characters don’t do something to change that, I’ll be good to go.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’m not sure I would compare it but Leslie Wallack of The Book Nook in Perth, Ontario said it was the Outlander series for Young Adults.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Because it’s the sequel to my first novel, it seemed a natural progression to come up with more adventures for my characters. The first book was inspired by my love of Scotland (especially the area of Aberdeenshire where my father was born).

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

It’s a time-travel with lots of twists and turns along the way.

Now, to select two or more people to take part who will post their next big thing on May 23rd.

Mandy Baggot

Susan Meyer

and Janet K. Brown

Authors, Book Launch, LAHE Lifestyle, Love a Happy Ending Lifestyle magazine, Publicity, Publishing, Scotland, Writing

BOOK REVIEW – How To PARTY Online by Janice Horton

May 9, 2013 Melanie 7 Comments

How To PARTY Online

I loved this book! But before I give you my full book review, I’ll share some ‘party’ background first.

How to Party Cover Lge “Janice has made it her business to get stuck into the whole self-publishing malarkey. Savvy enough to realise it’s not enough to simply write, she’s studied social media marketing until it could be her specialist subject on Mastermind. She can plan a book launch, maximise publicity, keep the momentum going after the first initial flush, and perhaps most of all, she knows how to make the whole thing fun, which is no mean feat”. DG Life Magazine.

How To PARTY Online:

• Online parties are a fun way to launch your book or introduce your product and engage with your target audience.
• Social media applications are perfect forums for parties – the venue capacity is infinite, the guest list is global, and the fun and games can lead to bestselling success!
• This aim of this book is to show you how you can produce measurable results from your very first online party and while you are still working towards building up your social network.
• The purpose of this book is to walk and talk you through each step of the planning and implementation of four very different online promotional parties.
• Together we will look at how much work and effort is involved in implementing each step and we will experience the party format, explore the outcomes, and quantify all the successes.
• I’ll show you how to make it lots of fun!

Comments about Janice Horton’s online parties from the party peeps themselves:

“I loved the parties because of the amazing fun and laughs we had – even if some of us ended up in twitter jail!”
“I liked the ways in which you involved others during these parties. They were great fun.”
“Absolutely LOVE your blog parties!”
“The idea of having us post photos was brilliant in that it set up a series of interactions between lots of the different people who came – some of whom I’d never ‘met’ before.”
“Love how you come up with such innovative ideas for each one.”
“Great fun!”
“The party was a blast! I loved it.”
“It was great being a part of something that involved so many different blogs. It was very unique and totally engaging!”
“I took part in the online party. What I enjoyed about it was reading all the other blogs that took part – everyone had something different.”
“You have held some really fun and fab parties Janice. All have been great to join in!
“I’ve been to all of them and it would be difficult to pick out a favourite.”
“What I think worked was that they were all different and each had an element of surprise.”
“Asking ‘guests’ to do something specific ensured personal involvement – key to the success of any ‘virtual’ event.”
“I enjoyed all your parties, Janice.”
“The (party) was a lesson in how it should be done.”
“A book of hints and tips is a great idea. Good luck with it!”

My thoughts on HOW TO PARTY ONLINE

This book is a MUST for anyone planning an online launch, especially those who are heading down the online launch trail for the first time. Janice details the lead time required for each type of launch – Facebook, Twitter or blog but keeps everything light so that when the “big” day comes, it’s FUN and hopefully, stress-free.

I’ve attended Janice’s online parties and know the amount of work that went in to each one, but when you arrive at the venue, everything seems seamless and effortless. Trust me, it isn’t.

So my rating? ☆☆☆☆☆

About the Author

Janice Launch Portrait Janice Horton escaped a city-chic lifestyle and a career in corporate brand placement to live in a remote cottage on the side of a hillside in Scotland. Previously traditionally published and now writing as an Indie, Janice writes fiction with humour, heart, and a hint of tartan. When not writing novels, Janice writes lifestyle articles and has had work published in national and international magazines. She has also been involved in BBC Scotland’s ‘Write Here Write Now’ incentive. Janice is a regular blogger and you’ll often find her partying on Facebook and Twitter. She is a contributing editor with her Scottish Country Lifestyle feature and the editor of the twice monthly Bookshelf Reviews at Loveahappyending Lifestyle magazine.

You can buy How to PARTY Online at

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

Family, roots, Scotland

My Scottish Roots…

April 29, 2013 Melanie 1 Comment

Since the subtitle of my blog is My Scottish Roots and Writing I decided it was about time I included something about my heritage. And today is a good day to do it.

dad — Robert A Robertson July 30, 1913 – April 29, 1969

My father came to Canada in 1930 – one of the 7,000 children sent out by The Orphan Homes of Scotland founded by Scottish philanthropist William Quarrier, who grew up in extreme poverty and later in life when he had the means to help the less fortunate, he did.

I’ve written an article on Quarrier which was published by The Scottish Banner in December 2001. Funny enough, I didn’t even know the article had been accepted until I opened my paper and there it was. But I digress… back to the business at hand – my Scottish roots.

My father was one of ten children born to John Robertson and Margaret MacDonald in Aberdeenshire, Scotland between 1903 and 1915 (five of which were sent to The Orphan Homes of Scotland).

Grandpa Robertson had been married before and had fathered ten children with his first wife, too. The youngest from this previous marriage was six when he married my grandmother (wife #2)

One thing that I didn’t realize immediately but my grandparents shared the same birthday, not that they could have afforded to buy each other gifts.

grandma_robertson — My Grandmother – Margaret (MacDonald) Robertson
Aug 12, 1882-Dec 2, 1915

Although this isn’t the greatest quality photograph, I think I look more like my grandmother than grandfather. What do you think?

4RV Publishing, Aberdeenshire, Artist, Authors, Books, characters, Famous Five Plus, Love a Happy Ending Lifestyle magazine, Novel covers, Novels, Publishing, readers, Reading, Scotland, Writing

It’s “Tell A Story Day”

April 27, 2013 Melanie Leave a comment

Tell A Story Day!

Never heard of it before? Well, believe it or not, there is a quirky holiday for every day of the year. Hallmark had an ultimate holiday site which has now closed but they’ve kindly listed some other links where you can discover what the holiday of the day is.

To celebrate Tell A Story Day, I’ll be a guest at fellow loveahappyending lifestyle contributor and author, Anneli Purchase at her blog Anneli’s Place.

Okay, so here’s my story… in keeping with the day.

a shadow in the past cover 500x773

Blurb:

Now isn’t that a great story? I think so, but then I’m biased.

Find me on my Facebook Author Page

and @RobertsoKing on Twitter.

A Shadow in the Past is available for purchase from 4RV Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and bricks ‘n mortar locations.

You can find out more about Loveahappyending Lifestyle here. And “like” our facebook page at this link.

Aberdeenshire, Authors, Books, characters, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Scotland, work-in-progress, Writing

CONTEMPORARY NOVELISTS’ BOOK FAIR – Second Chances

April 18, 2013 Melanie 15 Comments

Blair_Martin Niamh_MacIsaac This is from one of my works-in-progress…

Since, I don’t have a cover I’ll share images of my main characters, Blair Martin and Niamh MacIsaac instead.

Second Chances

Blurb:

Working on an oil-rig in the North Sea can be dangerous but sometimes the commute can be deadly.

Niamh MacIsaac dreads saying goodbye to her partner, Blair Martin, every time he leaves for his job on an off-shore oil platform. Her worst fears become reality when the helicopter he’s a passenger on ditches into the North Sea. While waiting and hoping for news of survivors, a severe storm blows up and the search is stood down. Will they be reunited and have a second chance at happiness, or will the North Sea claim yet another victim?

Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

Niamh opened her eyes, looked at the sleeping baby in the small bassinet beside her bed in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and smiled. She turned her head away to look around the rest of the room. When she’d been brought up after the emergency C-section, it was the middle of the night and the hospital room completely dark. At least, that’s how she remembered it. Exhaustion and drugs for the post-op pain clouded her memory.

“Blair? Is that you?” she groggily asked the figure sleeping in the chair on the other side of the bed.

“Huh?” Blair woke with a start.

“How long have you been there?” she asked, stretching her arm out to touch him.

“Since they brought you up from surgery.”

“Oh,” she replied flatly. “And Mum?”

“Don’t know. She left to make a few calls and that’s the last I saw her. Figure she went home. I know she wasn’t best pleased to see me turn up.”

“I’m glad you did. With the way things ended after that awful row we had, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“I stormed around for a few days then did something I didn’t think I’d ever do. I drove down to Barnsley,” Blair answered.

“You what?”

“You heard me. I drove to Barnsley. Never would have done it if it wasn’t for you.”

“And?” Niamh shifted position, her interest piqued by his revelation.

“The pit’s gone. Shopping complex there now. The old house is still there. Looks as rundown now as it did then.”

“That’s not quite what I meant. What about your father? Did you see him?”

“No. He’s dead. It was the drink.”

Niamh didn’t know what to say. She knew Blair hated the man for the hell he’d put both him and his mother through. She remained quiet for a few minutes then asked, “Did you go to the cemetery to see your mother?”

“Yes. Took flowers. The bastard’s buried there with her. He should rot in hell for all eternity for what he put us through,” he said as he lowered his head.

“How do you know he’s buried with her?”

“Because it’s on the fucking headstone! I don’t know who arranged it but I’d like to…”

“Beat the stuffing out of them, like your father did to you and your mother.”

Blair sat in silence for a moment. He stood and stretched before quickly changing the subject. “That chair is bloody uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t have to stay all night. You could have gone home.”

“I know but I wanted to.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? You look shattered.”

“In a bit. I’m going on a quest for coffee right now. You want anything?”

“Not sure if can. I’ll be fine. You go.”

He leaned down to kiss her forehead again but this time Niamh moved her head so he kissed her squarely on the lips. “Won’t be long,” he said before leaving.

Niamh watched his muscular figure walk away from her. His tight jeans and white T-shirt made him look absolutely delicious. And that was what got her in trouble from the beginning. From the first day she kissed him while his girlfriend, Sarah, who was also her best friend was away at University, she wanted him. Didn’t love him but wanted him. She had been physically attracted to Blair for as long as she could remember but kept those feelings to herself since he was her best friend’s bloke – until that first kiss and from that point on, couldn’t help herself. Even now, she didn’t know her feelings for him. The sex had been fantastic but was that because Blair was the forbidden fruit? Once everything came out in the open and they had been caught by Sarah, things had changed. The intensity was no longer there. Blair seemed distant, especially after Niamh dropped her pregnancy bomb on him.