Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer: November 2014

Sunday, 23 November 2014

10 Curious Facts About WW1

WW1 poster featuring how dachshunds (Weiner dogs) were victimised and regarded as a symbol of Germany. Here we have the British bulldog savaging the German dachshund. Viewed from our own perspective today this seems horrific.

During my research for my next Kirsty Campbell, historical crime fiction book, I’m going back a couple of years to 1917, which is bang in the middle of the First World War, known at the time as The Great War. During the course of this research I’ve come across various curious facts, and here are ten of them.

1. Explosions on the battlefield in France could be heard in London.

2. Dachshunds (Weiner dogs) were considered a symbol of Germany and political cartoonists used images of them to ridicule Germany, resulting in the loss of popularity of these dogs, and their possible victimisation by kicking and stoning. 217 dachshunds registered in Britain in 1913 – no dachshunds were registered in 1919.

3. Chalk was added to bread to provide bulk.

4. British summertime was introduced for the first time, to extend daylight hours.

5. Paper money was introduced. In preparation for the war, the first £1 and 10 shilling notes were issued on 7 May 1914.

6. The speed limit for cars was 20 mph, and no driving test was required.

7. National railways passed into state control on 4 August 1914 – the eve of WW1.

8. “Treating” someone to a drink was outlawed. It was made a criminal offence to buy someone else a drink under DORA regulations (Defence of the Realm Act).

9. Women started to smoke in public.

10. The novels of Jane Austen were prescribed to shell-shocked soldiers because of their soothing effect.

Researching for a novel can be a fascinating business, and I’m always amazed at what turns up. For example, when I was researching the first Kirsty Campbell novel, The Death Game, set in 1919, and I planned for Kirsty to be Dundee’s first policewoman, I was completely caught up by the origins of the Britain’s first women police services because they originated from the suffragette movements. Something an early editor simply refused to believe, but you can’t change history, so I parted company with that editor and the publisher he represented.

But for now, it’s time to turn away from all the interesting facts I’m finding out about WW1, and get back to my work in progress or the book will never be finished.

Chris Longmuir

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

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Thursday, 6 November 2014

Have a Look at my November Sale Bargains

In my last post I told you about Awesome Indies new website http://awesomeindies.net/ and the sale they were running to launch it. Well the bad news is that their sale is now finished. But the good news is that I have decided to keep my two sale books available for the rest of November.

These books have never been discounted before – ever. So, they are genuine bargains. Let me tell you about them.

The two books I decided to reduce are Night Watcher and A Salt Splashed Cradle, and they’ve both been reduced from $4.99/£3.03 down to $2.99/£1.92.

Night Watcher is the first book in my Dundee Crime Series, featuring DS Bill Murphy. The whole series is very popular, and DS Murphy has quite a following. Night Watcher is a story of two stalkers, both with the same target, Nicole, who is rather partial to male company and is not too concerned about whose husband she steals. I’ve already said there were two stalkers – there is the woman with revenge on her mind playing mind games, and then there is the deranged and dangerous Night Watcher. But who kills Nicole? Read it and find out. Link for Night Watcher.

Here are a couple of reviews of Night Watcher:

Night watcher is the sort of novel that keeps the reader glued to its pages, frantically guessing as the plot takes numerous twists and turns. – Alex Gray, Crime Writer

This is a complex and very well crafted tale, beautifully put together -full of a sense of foreboding, and full of menace. – Catherine Czerkawska

A Salt Splashed Cradle is different. It is not my usual crime story. It is a historical saga set in 1830s Scotland in an east coast fishing village which does not welcome newcomers in their midst. This story reflects the living conditions and the morals of the ordinary fishing folk of that time. It starts when Jimmie Watt brings his new bride home to his horrified parents. This is because fishermen are expected to marry within their own community, and Belle is an incomer from the town across the water. Belle, an emotionally damaged and beautiful girl, struggles to find acceptance in the village but she is fighting a losing battle, and when Jimmie leaves the fishing village to sail to the Arctic with a whaling ship, she becomes increasingly isolated. With Jimmie gone, Belle falls for the charms of Lachlan, the Laird’s son and embarks on a tempestuous affair with him. When Jimmie returns she struggles with her feelings for him and for Lachlan. The women in the village now regard Belle as a Jezebel who will tempt their men away. A mood of hysteria engulfs them and they turn against Belle, in an attempt to force her out of the village. What will Belle do? And will she survive? Read it to find out.

Link for A Salt Splashed Cradle

Here are some reviews of A Salt Splashed Cradle:

There is some beautiful poetic writing and the complex life of the heroine, Belle, had me gripped from the beginning. Some of the loveliest writing is in the whaling sequences -one can feel the cold - and among the whalers she creates some outstanding characters – Eileen Ramsay, novelist

Chris Longmuir's books so far have been mysterious, suspenseful stories concerned with some of the darker depths of human nature. So it's surprising to learn that this latest is a romance. But fans won't be disappointed. Yes, it's a romance but the murkier motives and actions are still in evidence – Bill Kirton, crime writer

A Salt-Splashed Cradle drips with historical accuracy, and even the scenes aboard a whaling ship seem to have been recounted directly from an 1800's whaler, almost as if Chris Longmuir boarded those ships and chopped them free from the arctic ice herself – Tim Greaton

Why did I decide to keep these two books on offer? Well, that’s easy, I wanted to reward my faithful followers and readers, as well as trying to tempt some new readers into my gang. Why not try one or other of the books, or both if you feel so inclined. And don’t forget to tell me what you think of them.

Chris Longmuir

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

Saturday, 1 November 2014

Anchors Away – Awesome Indies Website is Live

In my last post I told you all about the brand new website that has been designed for Awesome Indies, but of course the links only took you to the original site because the new one was scheduled for today, Saturday 1st November. Scroll down if you want to read my previous post.Here is the link for the new website http://awesomeindies.net/

Well, today is the day, the website is live, and all those delicious book bargains are on offer. There are 74 books in the sale, I know because I counted them. And there are loads to choose from, in a variety of different genres. Oh, and before I forget, there is a competition for you with the prize being a Kindle Paperwhite ereader. Here is the link to the competition page – Awesome Indies Welcome Page.

However, don’t miss my books. I have two in the sale. And these books have never been discounted before – ever. So, they are genuine bargains. Let me tell you about them.

I decided to put Night Watcher and A Salt Splashed Cradle in the sale to celebrate the launch of the new website. They’ve both been reduced from $4.99/£3.03 down to $2.99/£1.92.

Night Watcher is the first book in my Dundee Crime Series, featuring DS Bill Murphy, and it’s been very popular, as well as the rest of the series. It’s a story of two stalkers, both with the same target, Nicole, who is rather partial to male company and is not too concerned about whose husband she steals. I’ve already said there were two stalkers – there is the woman with revenge on her mind playing mind games, and then there is the deranged and dangerous Night Watcher. But who kills Nicole? Read it and find out. Link for Night Watcher.

Here are a couple of reviews of Night Watcher:

Night watcher is the sort of novel that keeps the reader glued to its pages, frantically guessing as the plot takes numerous twists and turns. – Alex Gray, Crime Writer

This is a complex and very well crafted tale, beautifully put together -full of a sense of foreboding, and full of menace. – Catherine Czerkawska