What could have happened to Dickon? READ THIS.

[Misfit]

Thanks Joanne. Kindle purchases are tied into your country of origin in your kindle settings. I'd have to do some monkeying with those and then switch back and I'm hesistant to do so. US users can't see the prices of UK kindle items, nor can they purchase them, and I believe the reverse is true - UK users can't see US kindle pricing and purchase. Nor can I lend a lendable kindle book to someone with a kindle registered in the UK (we've tried). I have some Australian friends with kindles registered to the US. They can buy most of the freebies, but I think they haven't been able to get all of the Kindle daily deals. We haven't experimented with loaning yet to see if that flies.

[[deleted user]]

Another ray of hope to keep in mind....E2 is of a generation that, *ahem*, how shall we say? She lags a little bit in technological understanding whilst comforting herself with a blanket of tradition. (Was that horribly impolite of me?) That said, she's going to kick the proverbial bucket someday soon and it appears to me that her two possible successors are considerably more modern and more likely to agree to some testing, if appropriate. ;) We waited 500 years for R to show up....which is amazing, considering that if he had been properly buried all of this time in some cathedral, some dingbats during Cromwell's interregnum would have likely have dumped out his remains and kicked them around in the dust for a while like they did so many others. The boys, too, will show up eventually. If not physically, then incontrovertible proof as to what happened will appear.

[Joanne]

Misfit wrote: "Thanks Joanne. Kindle purchases are tied into your country of origin in your kindle settings. I'd have to do some monkeying with those and then switch back and I'm hesistant to do so. US users can'..."

That's odd. I can see and buy from both stores and I'm in Asia. Maybe it's because I use a Kindle app on my iPad and not an actual Kindle device, although it does use Whispernet to deliver the book to my iPad. Anyhow, I hope you work it out.

Terence Morgan, I don't suppose you know why the US Kindle store doesn't have the pricing information and option to download the Kindle edition, do you?

[Joanne]

Joan wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Now that they have Richard III's DNA, they can test the DNA of the two child skeletons found in the tower and see whether they are related, no??? "

No. Edward IV's children have Eli..."

Oh wow, Joan. I didn't realise you were a Ricardian author as well! Do excuse my ignorance.

I've got both your books downloaded and on my to-read list. And now with that nugget of information from Sharon, I can't wait to see what your third book has in store!

[Joanne]

Michele wrote: "Another ray of hope to keep in mind....E2 is of a generation that, *ahem*, how shall we say? She lags a little bit in technological understanding whilst comforting herself with a blanket of tradit..."

Not impolite. Realistic. :)

[Joan]

Sharon wrote: "Thanks, Joan! It is lovely to have our very own DNA expert on hand. And you really do seem to have second-sight, too, for you deal with Richard's DNA in your third book in your Ricardian series, no? Before the discovery of the King in the Car Park!"

Actually, I deal with the DNA in the second book, but I knew about John Ashdown-Hill's research when I was writing the second book about Richard III in the 21st-century. I'm now working on the third book, where I had predicted that Richard's bones would be found. This was well before I knew about Philippa Langley's work, but did know that it was thought Richard's remains were still in the choir of the Greyfriar's, but it was still to be determined where the Greyfriar's could be found. Now that the bones had actually been found, I have some problems to solve for my fiction. At this point, I think I'll handle most of them with author's notes, but I've got a lot of pondering to do.

[Sharon]

That has to be quite a challenge, Joan, and certainly not one you'd expected. As you know, I really enjoyed This Time and I am looking forward to reading your second book once I get Ransom squared away.

Michelle, that was such a funny line about Cromwell!

I personally think the restrictions on e-books are ridiculous. I asked my British publisher if we can do a new e-book edition of Sunne to incorporate the changes that i am now making in the galley proofs for the new hardback edition, and was delighted when they were receptive to the idea. But I won't be able to download it myself, even though I'm the author; how crazy is that? Joanne, I am pobably wrong, but you may be able to download books because you do live in Asia and it is not covered by the "pact" that the Yanks and Brits made to divide up the world between them. One of my readers lives in Bangkok and he is able to download whatever he wants.

[Joan]

That's one advantage to being self published--I publish to all markets when I publish. I use KDP for Amazon, and Smashwords for everyone else, including libraries.

[Joan]

BTW, Sharon, John Ashdown-Hill's book (Last Days 2nd ed.) goes into extensive detail on the DNA. One wonders how Richard would react if he knew that he descended from a Syrian matriarch. I think I'll use that little factoid in the third book. An author needs to have some fun!

[Sharon]

And you don't have to worry about deadlines, Joan! Other than self-imposed ones. It is wonderful that writers now have options like this; for much of history, they'd been in indentured servitude to the publishing powers that be. Of course you're much more computer-savvy than many of us, Joan. That has to help.

[Sharon]

A great idea, Joan. You can show us how Richard would have reacted through your Richard's eyes. A crusading ancestor, I suppose?

[Joanne]

Sharon wrote: "That has to be quite a challenge, Joan, and certainly not one you'd expected. As you know, I really enjoyed This Time and I am looking forward to reading your second book once I get Ransom squared..."

Haha, yes Sharon. They probably think we're all foreign-speaking and illiterate here in Asia. Let's let the Gods of the Book World continue in that belief. Shhhhh...! ;)

[Joanne]

Joan wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Thanks, Joan! It is lovely to have our very own DNA expert on hand. And you really do seem to have second-sight, too, for you deal with Richard's DNA in your third book in your Ricar..."

Joan, just wondering, did you watch the Channel 4 documentary "The King In The Carpark"? How did you feel when Philippa noticed the R (marked for reserved) on the dig spot? And the thunderstorm when his bones were found?

As someone channelling Richard, it must have sent chills up your spine I would imagine!

[Joan]

I did see the documentary, twice. Will be watching again. I loved Philippa's reactions--you could see her passion. She really put everything of herself into the project and I'm so glad that she is getting deserved recognition. However, I thought the "R" marking the spot was an amusing coincidence and I didn't understand why Philippa thought the sudden downpour had any significance, from what I understand, that is typical of English weather (New England too, where I live).

What absolutely sent chills up my spine was seeing the mtDNA comparison, the bone dating, and the implied diet. I was also very impressed with John Ashdown-Hill. Here's another example of unexpected positive benefits that can be derived from research. Another thing that really got me was the potential for what could have gone wrong, such as coming within a decade or four of not having a living descendent, let alone two that was needed for an mtDNA exemplar, the Victorian building only destroying Richard III's feet and not the entire grave.

[Joanne]

Joan wrote: "I did see the documentary, twice. Will be watching again. I loved Philippa's reactions--you could see her passion. She really put everything of herself into the project and I'm so glad that she is ..."

Actually, having lived in the UK for three years, sudden downpours are not common at all. You usually get a neverending drizzle. It made me miss the tropical storms we get out here on the equator in Singapore. So that part made me shiver a little.

But yes, the DNA testing and reconstruction of his face were so amazing. The implied diet too. I'm sure it'll all be captured in your current book although I appreciate his finding and the manner in which he was found must throw a spanner or five into the works for your story!

[Ishita]

Joan, how were you able to watch the documentary? I had to watch it on YouTube and the quality was pretty poor, the first time around. Watched it again a few days ago and someone posted a far better one! Now we have to wait for the sequel to be aired on March 2nd! I hope Dr. Jo Appleby would apologize for her " hunchback" comment"!! And explain how she smashed the poor man's face open...... I really admire the UL team but can't seem to forgive her that......

[Joan]

I watched it YouTube on my computer--I thought the quality was quite good. My TV has WiFi and I've been meaning to watch it there, but haven't gotten around to it.

[Joanne]

Sharon wrote: "That has to be quite a challenge, Joan, and certainly not one you'd expected. As you know, I really enjoyed This Time and I am looking forward to reading your second book once I get Ransom squared..."

OMG. I'm so so sorry but I didn't realise I was exchanging comments with THE Sharon Kay Penman! I've got all your books - hard copies ordered from Amazon, btw, because I collect good books for my own library - all the Eleanor of Aquitane and Plantagenet ones. The Sunne in Splendour and When Christ and His Saints Slept have to be two of my favourite books of all-time!

Gosh, I'm so glad I started participating in this Group!

[Joanne]

To all the authors in this Group and who participated in this thread:

Terence Morgan, Joan Szechtman and Sharon Kay Penman - in order of participation. (Have I inadvertently left anyone else out?)

It crossed my mind last night when I settled down in bed to read my latest R3 book - Treason - that we readers are terribly selfish. We take, take, take from you authors, and never give a thought to or have a chance to give back. As in all relationships, and GR has miraculously brought me in touch with authors who I once thought were unreachable people, there must be give and take.

So, in my terribly emo way, I want to thank you authors for giving so much of your lives to bringing us books that are not just books, but ways to escape our mundane existences and live amazing lives vicariously through literature. I'm sorry we readers just take, take, take from you, but hopefully we give back - not just by buying the books - but somehow communicating in some way that you've changed our lives by bringing us hours of escape and pleasure.

Sincerely,
Emo-Jojo

[Joan]

Susan Higginbotham, who started this group, has written The Traitor's Wife, The Stolen Crown, Hugh and Bess, The Queen of Last Hopes, and Her Highness, the Traito (sorry if I missed any, Susan). Brian Wainwright, author of The Adventures of Alianore Audley and Within the Fetterlock is part of this group, too. I know there are other authors who participate here, but I'll let them introduce themselves as I can't think of their names atm.

[Joanne]

Joan wrote: "Susan Higginbotham, who started this group, has written The Traitor's Wife, The Stolen Crown, Hugh and Bess, The Queen of Last Hopes, and Her Highness, the Traito (sorry if I missed any, Susan). Br..."

Yup. I've read most of Susan's books and loved them. Her Highness, the Traitor and Hugh and Bess: A Love Story are both in my queue.

I was mentioning the authors in this particular thread whom I didn't realise were who they are! So glad I posted this thread - and decided not to stay silent after the rocky start!

[Sharon]

Joanne wrote: "Sharon wrote: "That has to be quite a challenge, Joan, and certainly not one you'd expected. As you know, I really enjoyed This Time and I am looking forward to reading your second book once I get..."

Joanne, thank you so much--you made my night. I'm going crazy working on the galley proofs for the new hardcover edition of Sunne at the same time I am forging ahead with Ransom, so I was in need of cheering up!

[Susan]

Thanks, Joan and Joanne! (Though credit for starting the group has to go to Misfit.) I'm working on another Tudor novel, and am waiting to hear from an editor about whether he liked my nonfiction book about the Woodville family, so I appreciate the kind words!

[Joanne]

Don't thank me!

I'm just glad I got a chance to say thank you to authors who gave me some of the best hours of my reading life. (And who give me a great excuse to spend half my life cuddled up in bed!)

You authors just really need to know the pleasure you give to others, through your work, that you might not fully grasp :)

[Joan]

I too thank you, Joanne--and we do have to thank our readers. Feedback is so important.

Sorry, Misfit. I guess I thought you started this group, Susan, because you invited me to it. This is one of my favorite groups. The conversations are intelligent!

[Terence]

Hi Misfit,
I know absolutely nothing about Kindle or how sales work, I'm afraid.(I am a bear of very little brain -- for such things, anyway) At the risk of being shot down in flames again, I'll just reiterate that the only outlet I know of that has any of my books in the States is Dunaway Books in St. Louis (www. dunawaybooks.com). The owners, Peter and Debs, are friends I made when I was over there 2 years ago, and they arranged for some readings and a couple of talks I gave last summer, and they imported copies of both 'Master' and 'Prince' to sell at those. I imagine they probably have a few left. Otherwise I'm as wise as you are!
Cheers,
Terry

[Misfit]

Susan wrote: "Thanks, Joan and Joanne! (Though credit for starting the group has to go to Misfit.) I'm working on another Tudor novel, and am waiting to hear from an editor about whether he liked my nonfiction b..."

Hah. Let's give credit to our dearly departed Ikon. It was that friendship with her and a few others and the need to natter away about R3 that inspired me to start the group.

Kudos to authors like Sharon, Susan, Joan and all the others who come to GR (and FB and other forums) and participate with readers as readers. You set an example that I wish a few others would follow.

OMG, Misfit. I'm a total serial killer fan - I mean the genre, not the personages themselves - and I absolutely understand your point about the Green River Killer and how exciting that paint match was!

@Joanne. Missed that earlier. I used to read a lot of true crime, Anne Rule being a particular favorite. She lives in the greater Seattle area and appears often on the local shows. She tells a particularly creepy story about Ridgway. After he'd been arrested her sister recognized him as a man they'd seen hanging around at one of her book signings (Rule had been keeping notes and articles on the Green River Killer for years planning a book). Ridgway's stomping grounds are fairly close to the city where Rule lives. I'd have been squicked out.

[Joanne]

Terence wrote: "Hi Misfit,
I know absolutely nothing about Kindle or how sales work, I'm afraid.(I am a bear of very little brain -- for such things, anyway) At the risk of being shot down in flames again, I'll ju..."

HAHA. You're Pooh!

[Joanne]

Misfit wrote: "Susan wrote: "Thanks, Joan and Joanne! (Though credit for starting the group has to go to Misfit.) I'm working on another Tudor novel, and am waiting to hear from an editor about whether he liked m..."

Anne Rule's book is precisely the one that I read about the GRK. And the fact that he was stalking her is SO creepy! I'm in a GR group moderated by an author who is an ex-cop who worked on serial killer cases. It's really interesting!

[Misfit]

Terence wrote: "Hi Misfit,
I know absolutely nothing about Kindle or how sales work, I'm afraid.(I am a bear of very little brain -- for such things, anyway) At the risk of being shot down in flames again, I'll ju..."

Thanks Terence, the book is listed by several sellers on Amazon so I'm good when I'm ready to read. I just keep on getting distracted by new finds at the library sales and/or used book store. Double trouble this weekend, there's a library sale that is set up at the storefront of a most excellent used book store. I'm hoping for willpower.

@ Joanne, it's creepy how many of his *dump sites* I drive by regularly, since I live nearby his old stomping grounds.

If you haven't read Rule's book on Ted Bundy I'd recommend putting that on your list.

[Joanne]

Misfit wrote: "Terence wrote: "Hi Misfit,
I know absolutely nothing about Kindle or how sales work, I'm afraid.(I am a bear of very little brain -- for such things, anyway) At the risk of being shot down in flame..."

That's The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story, right? Yup, read it. It gave me goosebumps how they worked together.

And yes, it's very creepy that you live in GRK's area! If any crime of that magnitude happened in relatively crime-free Singapore, there'd be stories of hauntings galore - the Chinese being a terribly superstitious lot!

[Misfit]

Joanne, that would be the book. I'm old enough to remember when the girls were disappearing, but fortunately was too young to have been one of them.

I guess I'd better moderate myself and get us back on topic :p

[Ernestina]

Joanne wrote: "...OMG. I'm so so sorry but I didn't realise I was exchanging comments with THE Sharon Kay Penman! ..."

Glad to know I'm not the only one.
I've been a GR member since January and this is the first group I joined. I was here the day they announced the DNA results on Richard III, and a member wrote that she had been asked to write an article for Waterstone's and shared the link. I followed it and got to an article by Sharon Kay Penman. I thought: "That woman put the wrong link but - lucky me - I like the author and will read the article".
Some days after I was rereading the comments and my two working neurons realized that the name of the woman who posted the comment about the article was Sharon. I little bit more work and I finally put 2 and 2 together!

I didn't know the other authors before joining the group, since none of their books has an Italian translation, I've been reading English books in the original version for 2-3 years and I started with the classics, which in this case are the biography by Kendall and The Sunne in Splendour.
But I'm making up for lost time: I read some books by GR authors, some others are on the shelf waiting for me, others are on the to-buy list, ...

[Ernestina]

Misfit wrote: "...Double trouble this weekend, there's a library sale that is set up at the storefront of a most excellent used book store. I'm hoping for willpower...."

My willpower was always very weak (regarding books) and it seems it has reached its minimum since I joined this group. I'm ordering lots of books every week, new and second-hand, I'm almost drowning among books, I don't even know where I will find the time to read them.
Does anybody have a cure? Leaving the group? Winning a lottery so that I could leave my job and dedicate my time to reading? ... actually I don't know if I really want a cure...

[Joanne]

Ernestina wrote: "Joanne wrote: "...OMG. I'm so so sorry but I didn't realise I was exchanging comments with THE Sharon Kay Penman! ..."

Glad to know I'm not the only one.
I've been a GR member since January and th..."

LOL Ernestina, you're definitely not the only one. My jaw dropped when I found out who Sharon and Susan were. :O

[Joanne]

Ernestina wrote: "Misfit wrote: "...Double trouble this weekend, there's a library sale that is set up at the storefront of a most excellent used book store. I'm hoping for willpower...."

My willpower was always ve..."

Goodness, since getting vocal on this group, I must have downloaded at least 15 books on my Kindle iPad! And I'm actually happy when my after-work commitments get cancelled so I can go home and cuddle up with my iPad by 10pm!

[happy]

...That's The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story, right? Yup, read it. It gave me goosebumps how they worked together.

"

That was a scary time. The first victim in Utah was taken about 2 blocks form my Grandmother's home. Another possible victim (body never recovered) was taken about 1 block from my parents home

[Joanne]

happy wrote: "...That's The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story, right? Yup, read it. It gave me goosebumps how they worked together.

"

That was a scary time. The first victim in Utah was ..."

Oh goodness. Glad you and your loved ones were safe!

PS. Misfit: Sorry, back to R3 and what could have happened to Dickon...

[Sharon]

Ernestina and Joanne, I am sure that Joan and Susan and Terence and all of the other Goodreads authors feel as I do--that social media sites like Goodreads and Facebook (I haven't been brave enough to get on Twitter yet) are a blessing for writers, giving us such a rare opportunity to intereact with readers. One of the wonderful side benefits of writing is the letters I have received from readers over the years, but social media sites take that to a whole new level. They are wonderful sites, too, for getting book recommendations. I'm sure that most of you have TBR piles that resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa--I sure do!

[Joanne]

Sharon wrote: "Ernestina and Joanne, I am sure that Joan and Susan and Terence and all of the other Goodreads authors feel as I do--that social media sites like Goodreads and Facebook (I haven't been brave enough..."

My TBR pile is like >50 books that I've downloaded and is taking up loads of space on my iPad!

I've even got Downtown Abbey Season 3 and Game of Thrones Season 2 downloaded on my iPad, but just no time to watch them although I've been hankering for the full series to be out before I watch them at a go. Why? Because since the discovery of R3's remains, my R3 obsession is back full force and catching up on all the books I've discovered through this thread that I haven't yet read takes precedence over watching anything!

[Misfit]

@ Joanne, most of the kindle books I download I send to the PC app, and then shoot them to the Kindle when I'm ready to read them. Clears up a lot of space on the device, and if you're using Kindle software they applications coordinate and remember where you left off. Now what to do about all my dead tree books from the library sales...

Speaking of library sales I have such a decision to make for tomorrow. There's a small sale in tiny Black Diamond that probably won't have much pickings, but then again it's held on the doorstep of Finally Found Books, where I'll easily drop $25 and then hop on over for breakfast or lunch at the Black Diamond Bakery.

*ponders*

[Joanne]

Misfit wrote: "@ Joanne, most of the kindle books I download I send to the PC app, and then shoot them to the Kindle when I'm ready to read them. Clears up a lot of space on the device, and if you're using Kindle..."

I don't think there's much of a decision to be made ;)

[Ernestina]

Misfit wrote: "...My TBR pile is like >50 books that I've downloaded and is taking up loads of space on my iPad!
..."

Unfortunately I'm one of those people who still likes to handle books, smell them, spend an awful lot of time dusting them because I keep browsing; I use my kindle for copy of books I own or for book I care less to own (!).
That's why my TBR piles (books I care for) is taking up loads of space in my home!

[Ernestina]

Misfit wrote: "...Speaking of library sales I have such a decision to make for tomorrow...."

I agree with Joanne, I don't see much room for alternatives. A few books from the small sale and then you'll be too tired to go home: there seems to be a nice armchair in Finally Found Books...

[Joanne]

Ernestina wrote: "Misfit wrote: "...My TBR pile is like >50 books that I've downloaded and is taking up loads of space on my iPad!
..."

Unfortunately I'm one of those people who still likes to handle books, smell t..."

Oh trust me, the only reason I rely so much on Kindle is because Borders and another big local bookstore closed down in my city state. I can't spend hours browsing in bookstores anymore :( So, if I deem a book really good and a collectible, I'll order it from Amazon, pay more in shipping than the book itself, just so I have a hard copy!

Also, I recently had to rent warehouse space to store more than half my book collection because the family house was running out of space for my "library"!

I'm also a collector of old books and my pride and joy in my collection is a 85-year-old two-volume copy of Les Miserables that I bought in a flea market in the UK when I was a student there for just 8.50 pounds!

Oh wait, more relevant to this Group, I have a 112-year-old two-volume history of The Tower of London by a Lord Ronald Sutherland Gower as told through the various dynasties. Volume One from the Normans, Plantagenets to the Tudors; Volume Two from the Stuart to Hanoverian times. I found it at the Tower of London souvenir shop in 2007 - a visit to the Tower is mandatory every time I visit London and that is pretty often! Alas, that was not flea market prices and cost me 200 pounds. Very worth it though. It's got full-colour original illustrations and everything!

[Joanne]

I just manually uploaded them on GR. This is what they look like:

[Misfit]

Ernestina wrote: "Misfit wrote: "...Speaking of library sales I have such a decision to make for tomorrow...."

I agree with Joanne, I don't see much room for alternatives. A few books from the small sale and then y..."

Lol. You guys are funny. I do like Finally Found Books, they actually know the difference between historical fiction and historical romance and they're separated out.

I had to donate off some clothes to make room on the closet shelves for my books. Most of the newer books I can get library, so these forages to UBS and library sales are for those long lost treasures I'm always on the hunt for. And there are lots of used book stores close by home, as well as lots of library locations with sales. I do have a limit of how far I'll drive for a sale.

[Darkpool]

Misfit wrote: I had to donate off some clothes to make room on the closet shelves for my books..."

Ah, this made me smile. books first, clothes second.

[Misfit]

Darkpool wrote: "Misfit wrote: I had to donate off some clothes to make room on the closet shelves for my books..."

Ah, this made me smile. books first, clothes second."

Well I do have my priorities. Especially if they're clothes I most likely will never fit into again :p

[Misfit]

Joanne wrote: "Hi all, in light of the recent finding of Richard III, I'd like to recommend The Shadow Prince by Terence Morgan - in large part because he was my literature teacher when I was 15/16!

It conjectur..."

Whoot! The library has this on order (I put in a purchase request). And for Terence - that means four books have been purchased instead of one copy I was going to buy.