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Showing posts with label The Scottish Connection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Scottish Connection. Show all posts

Friday, August 2, 2019

NOSTALGIC SCOTTISH MEMORIES



“A little way out of Aberfoyle we found the lodge on the Craigenveoch estate where my mother and family had lived. On warm, summer evenings she, Jack and Ray leaned out of their bedroom windows, watching their parents sing along with friends to gramophone music as they rowed across Loch Ard. The loch was described by Sir Walter Scott as a ‘beautiful sheet of water … a spacious mirror’. The main house at Craigenveoch, where my grandfather had worked as gardener, still stood proud and well cared for. My mother told us that the house, land, lodge, and two staff apartments over the garage, sold for a little over £3,000 in 1939.” [Excerpt from The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir]

In this nostalgic, illustrated mini-memoir I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots. “The Scottish Connection” contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable 1978 prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos. Available to download from Amazon as an e-book for only $2.99 and also in paperback:










Saturday, July 13, 2019

BAHAMAS WRITER'S PUBLISHING PORTFOLIO!


My published books! Available on Amazon as e-books and in paperback:-

“SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART - A COLLECTION OF TWELVE ROMANTIC SHORT STORIES” -
SUNBEAMS ON AMAZON

“LOVE AT SUNSET”, a Romantic Suspense novel set in Scotland and The Bahamas, with scenes in London, Devon, Fort Lauderdale and New York -
LOVE AT SUNSET ON AMAZON

“THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION: A JOURNEY BACK - MINI-MEMOIR”-
THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION ON AMAZON

“HOW TO BE THE BEST WRITER EVER!” – An Informal Guide and Source of Inspiration for New and Not So New Writers Worldwide
BEST WRITER ON AMAZON

Coming soon – another book of short stories!

Monday, April 9, 2018

KINDLE COUNT DOWN DEAL!



I am currently offering a rare 0.99 cents (and 0.99p in the U.K.) Kindle Countdown Deal on each of my e-book editions (limited time only)!

Love at Sunset – A Romantic Suspense

Facing imminent danger and fierce opposition to love a second time around, Violet and Gordon seek a new life thousands of miles away, but trouble soon catches up with them. The couple finds themselves in and out of one adventure after another!



Sunset from the Heart – A Collection of Twelve Romantic Short Stories

A Beautiful Keepsake! Love themes in this delightful collection of romantic short stories tell of nostalgia, bright new beginnings, homecoming, second chances - and the unexpected!



The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir

Driving long distances in a short space of time throughout the United Kingdom is the norm nowadays. However, in the seventies it was often an adventure to cover the length or breadth of Britain. In this illustrated mini-memoir I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots.



Enjoy!


Wednesday, October 18, 2017

$0.99 CENTS E-BOOKS SPECIAL!




Each of my three e-books is priced at just .99 cents right now!
              
Love at Sunset – Romantic Suspense Novel set in The Bahamas and Scotland

The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir

Sunbeams from the Heart – A Collection of Twelve Romantic Short Stories




Sunday, July 9, 2017

THE DIARY OF A NOVEL!

I started writing my romantic suspense novel “Love at Sunset” on June 6th, 2014, the 70th anniversary of “D” Day. I finished writing Chapter Fourteen of the novel in a night time blackout on July 4th, 2014, scribbling the final few pages of the chapter in a notebook by flashlight and then typing them up in the morning after the power came back on. I finished the first draft of the novel (30 chapters and around 80,000 words) on August 3rd, 2014.

I spent two months editing and polishing it up. Then I started sending it out to literary agents and publishers in the U.K. and U.S. I had decided if I got to 100 submissions without my novel being accepted, I would consider self-publishing.

By the 70th submission, an author friend, who has had considerable success with her books on Amazon and other online retailers, suggested I put together a collection of my short stories and publish them on Amazon, which I did. The book, released December 13th, 2015, is called “Sunbeams from the Heart– A Collection of Twelve Romantic Short Stories”


Sunbeams was so successful that I decided to publish Love at Sunset on Amazon.

First I decided to do some more heavy editing of the novel and it was finally released on Amazon April 26th, 2016. 


Since then I completed a mini-memoir “The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back”, which was released December 6th, 2016, on Amazon. 


And there are more books in the pipeline!



Friday, June 2, 2017

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS AND WRITING


Some of my books on writing!

The spark for my love of books and writing dates back to my early childhood at Boquhan, Scotland. At the time, my family and I lived with my grandparents in a cottage on the large estate where my grandfather worked.

I remember being allowed into the library in the “big hoose” as we called it. As a tiny girl, I was in awe of the shelves of books, which reached high up to the ceiling. I could hardly even reach the lower shelves, so my grandmother would hand some of the books to me. It was almost impossible for me to understand the small writing and long words, but I thrilled at the touch of the books and the window on the world that they opened up. 

I write about Boquhan Estate in “The Scottish Connection”. And Gordon, one of the protagonists in “Love at Sunset”, has similar experiences with a library in an old house!

Friday, May 19, 2017

THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION CONTINUES!


This article, “Little house with global connections”, by Senior Reporter Kaiya Marjoribanks appeared in “The Stirling Observer”, Scotland, yesterday. It draws attention to my mini-memoir “The Scottish Connection” and also my other works.

A previous illustrated article published in the “Stirling Observer” on January 13th of this year about “The Scottish Connection” had caught the attention of the present owner of “Craigenveoch Cottage” and he contacted me. “Craigenveoch Cottage” (formerly “Craigenveoch Lodge”), Aberfoyle, Scotland, was where my late mother and her siblings spent their formative years before joining the RAF during World War II.

The owner of Craigenveoch Cottage, which is up for sale by McLean & Stewart, Dunblane, at “offers over £270,000”, sent me lots of interesting information and photos of the cottage.


It really is a gorgeous little house; completely modernized. My mother and her siblings would have been so thrilled to see it now! 

Craigenveoch Cottage now (courtesy of the current owner)

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

SCOTTISH MEMORIES

Me with my Scottish granny, the late Marian MacDonald,
when she visited Nassau, Bahamas, in the late sixties.
I am thinking of my dear Scottish granny, the late Marion John Crooks MacDonald (nee McMurtrie) at this time of the year, as she was like a second mother to me. 

Granny was born in West Kilbride, Ayshire. Along with my Papa, Robert Ross MacDonald from Dumbarton, she was an anchor in my life as I grew up in Scotland and later in England, where we moved because of my father’s job.

I still remember happy days as a child living on the Boquhan Estate near Balfron, where Papa worked. Granny sometimes helped in the “big hoose” as we called it!

I write about those impressionable years in my mini-memoir "THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION", along with ancestral facts and genealogy. Also featured in the book are personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos.

And I drew from my Scottish background, as well as from my knowledge of The Bahamas, when I wrote my Romantic Suspense novel "LOVE AT SUNSET".




Tuesday, May 16, 2017

AERIAL DRONE VIEWS OVER SCOTLAND

From "The Scottish Connection" - Starting out
from Devon on our 1978 road journey to Scotland:
My mother and two sons packing up the car.

This video might give you a taste for my mini-memoir “The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back”! Vitali Films have provided these gorgeous aerial drone views of Scotland on the AirVÅ«z website:


AirVÅ«z states: “AirVÅ«z has become the premiere online video site for the emerging Drone Age.”

About “The Scottish Connection”:

Driving long distances in a short space of time throughout the United Kingdom is the norm nowadays. However, in the seventies it was often an adventure to cover the length or breadth of Britain. In this illustrated mini-memoir I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots.

Fascinating Scottish Memorabilia - The Scottish Connection contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable 1978 prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos. 

Click here for “The Scottish Connection”, which is available on Amazon in paperback and as an e-book:








Wednesday, April 26, 2017

ESTUARY MAGAZINE TOPSHAM ENGLAND FEATURES THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION


"ESTUARY" MAGAZINE, TOPSHAM, DEVON,
ENGLAND - APRIL 2017 ISSUE, PAGE 35.

I was delighted to receive word that my pictorial mini memoir “The Scottish Connection” has featured in the April 2017 issue of “Estuary” magazine, Topsham, Devon, England. The Scottish Connection is available on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback.

“Estuary” is a vibrant 64-page monthly community magazine for Topsham, available from Topsham News, The Topsham Bookshop, other local shops, and from St Margaret's Church.

Regular items include a diary of local events and talks; news of local societies, groups, clubs and associations and their contact details, together with those of local services and amenities. Other contributions include Estuary lifestyle articles about artisan food and wine producers; choirs and concerts; poetry, and reports of ventures or adventures.

Editor - Diana Trout. Assistant Editor and Advertising - José Northey

Published by St. Margaret’s Church, Topsham, each issue of Estuary Magazine costs just .70p.



Saturday, April 1, 2017

THANK YOU!

A big thank you to the hundreds of Amazon customers who downloaded “The Scottish Connection” during my recent free offer. And many thanks to those who continue to support my books at regular prices. I hope everyone enjoys reading this mini-memoir of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons as much as I did researching and writing it! “The Scottish Connection”, also available in paperback, contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos.





Tuesday, March 28, 2017

LAST DAY FOR FREE OFFER ON THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION!

LAST DAY for FREE offer on my mini-memoir "The Scottish Connection"! As a tribute to my late mother, who passed away 10 years ago this month, I have been offering the e-book version of “The Scottish Connection” FREE for a limited time only. Here's the link to the FREE download:-


You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser.
For other countries, just do a search on your Amazon site for “Fay Knowles”. Then click on “The Scottish Connection”.

If you don't have a Kindle, no problem. You can download the free app on Amazon at the following links for most major smart phones, tablets and computers:



For links to the Amazon Kindle app in other countries, just substitute your country extension.

Enjoy!


Saturday, March 25, 2017

COUNT DOWN TIME FOR FREE E-BOOK COPY OF THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION!


Count down time! As mentioned in my last post, as a tribute to my late mother, who passed away 10 years ago this month and with Mothering Sunday coming up, I'm offering the e-book version of “The Scottish Connection” FREE until Tuesday, March 28th (Tuesday will be the last day). Here's the link to the FREE download:-



You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser.
For other countries, just do a search on your Amazon site for “Fay Knowles”. Then click on “The Scottish Connection”.

If you don't have a Kindle, no problem. You can download the free app on Amazon for most major smart phones, tablets and computers. 



For links to the Amazon Kindle app in other countries, just substitute your country extension.

Enjoy!


Friday, March 24, 2017

FREE for limited time only! – “The Scottish Connection”


As a tribute to my Scottish mother, the late Josephine McMurtrie Johanson, who passed away ten years ago this month and with Mothering Sunday coming up, I am offering the e-book version of “The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir” FREE for a limited time only.

In this nostalgic illustrated memoir I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots. The Scottish Connection contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable 1978 prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos.

My mother, the late Josephine McMurtrie Johanson
Excerpt from The Scottish Connection: “A little way out of Aberfoyle we found the lodge on the Craigenveoch estate where my mother and family had lived. On warm, summer evenings she, Jack and Ray leaned out of their bedroom windows, watching their parents sing along with friends to gramophone music as they rowed across Loch Ard. The loch was described by Sir Walter Scott as a ‘beautiful sheet of water … a spacious mirror’.”


Saturday, February 11, 2017

LOVE AT SUNSET AND SECRET PASSAGES!

An old photo of me in front of Boquhan Cottage,
Balfron, Scotland, where I lived as a small child
(during one of our visits back to the country of my birth)

I have been asked if Craigenveoch Cottage, which I wrote about in my mini-memoir “The Scottish Connection”, was the setting for the Scottish part of my romantic suspense novel “Love at Sunset”. I actually drew on my experiences as a child at Boquhan Cottage on the Boquhan Old House estate for the novel and I researched old houses like Boquhan and Craigenveoch to ensure that my descriptions were accurate for the era when they were built.

There was no secret passage in either Boquhan and Craigenveoch houses, as far as I know. That was completely from my imagination! However, from my research I found that secret passages were often included in these old homes when they were built, because of the religious unrest at the time. Priests and soldiers sometimes needed a place to lie low and to have a quick escape route!



Saturday, January 28, 2017

STIRLING OBSERVER FEATURES THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION!


Many thanks to The Stirling Observer, Scotland, for giving “The Scottish Connection” such a great spread! I am thrilled with the exposure for my new book. 


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION IN THE PUNCH!



The Punch gave The Scottish Connection a nice mention in their issue Monday, December 19, 2016.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

TRIBUNE'S "WEEKEND" - LINK TO ARTICLE ABOUT THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION

At the risk of boring you with yet another post about “The Scottish Connection”, here’s the actual link to the article “My word – what a lengthy journey” on page 19 of the Tribune's “Weekend” December 16, 2016, about my new book “The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir”! My previous post just had a scanned copy of the article.


I always enjoy the Tribune’s “Weekend” supplement, as it’s full of interesting articles. It often takes me a few days to get through reading it!

Friday, December 16, 2016

THE TALE OF THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION IN THE TRIBUNE TODAY!



“My word – what a lengthy journey”, the story of how my newly released book “The Scottish Connection” came to be, appears in The Tribune’s “Weekend” supplement today!

In “The Scottish Connection”, an illustrated mini-memoir, I share memories of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots. “The Scottish Connection” contains a wealth of information - Scottish ancestry, historical facts, genealogy, comparable 1978 prices, geographical descriptions, personal anecdotes, nostalgia and precious old photos.

“The Scottish Connection: A Journey Back – Mini-memoir” is available on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback. Or special order through your favourite local bookstore.