Comments for Ruth Downie

Comment on Book V by Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:42:14 +0000

Hi Bob,
I’m sure “A Few Good Men” must be lurking in there somewhere, although it’s many years since I saw the film. The title was a coincidence – I’m afraid in my ignorance I had no idea that it was the Marines’ motto, but I certainly know now!

What consciously influenced the story was the deaths of several recruits some years ago at an infamous training centre called Deepcut Barracks. Subsequent enquiries revealed a culture of bullying that must have been dreadful not only for the recruits but for their families, who were powerless to protect them. As we have friends whose little babies are now putting on uniforms and being flown off to war zones, I found this profoundly disturbing. I suspect there’s a very thin line between necessary ‘toughening up’ and plain meanness, and that’s what I wanted Ruso to explore.

And indeed, several people in the story can’t handle the truth!

Comment on Book V by Bob Hicks

Bob Hicks — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:27:29 +0000

I’m almost finished with the Kindle edition. Did the movie “A Few Good Men” inspire any of this story? And the title is the motto of the US Marines. I’m waiting for someone to say “You can’t handle the truth!”

Comment on Murder in the Library by Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:24:25 +0000

Me too! I’ve had to change the title to what the exhibition was really called, though. I’d mis-remembered (is that a word?), probably because the Crime Writers’ Association have just announced the longlist for the Dagger in the Library award.

Comment on Murder in the Library by Tony Kesten

Tony Kesten — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:34:38 +0000

The ‘Dagger in the Library’ huh! Reminds me of my queries about the conference, Ruth.
Regards
Tony

Comment on Radio Silence by Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:28:03 +0000

Lori, Linda, Rebecca, Leah – kind words, thank you so much!

Comment on SEMPER FIDELIS audio by Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:14:48 +0000

Hi Pam,

Firstly, thanks for buying the earlier books – I hope you enjoyed them.

I’m assuming you’re not in the USA, because the ebook and hardback of SEMPER FIDELIS came out there at the same time. I take your point, though, and I’m very sorry if I’ve lost readers through the problem of not getting all formats published everywhere at the same time. I do understand that it’s very frustrating and it’s certainly nothing to do with a bias against ebooks – I’m a Kindle user myself.

Although we pass on readers’ feedback, very few writers have any control over what their publishers do, or indeed whether they decide to publish at all: these things depend on factors to which authors are not privy. So while I can understand your exasperation, it’s certainly not caused by a policy that any writer would choose to adopt, and it’s a shame for all of us if you and others have decided to boycott people’s work on that basis.

The publication of SEMPER FIDELIS in the UK has been horribly complicated. I gather that the ebook will be out before long, and I’ll take some small comfort from the thought that you might have wanted to buy it had it been published earlier. Meanwhile please excuse me while I go away and bang my head against the wall!

Comment on SEMPER FIDELIS audio by Pam McMahon

Pam McMahon — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:22:48 +0000

It’s a sad shame that we Kindle users are not given the same prompt access as hardback and audio customers, to new publications by (some) authors and publishers. Before I ran out of bookcase-space, I bought all your previous books in hardback. Others I have spoken to who have also been driven towards the ebook format, have said they will not buy those authors who have different publication dates for different formats, even when the books do become available in ebook.
I think you have probably lost a lot of potential readers by following this policy, whereas writers like Lindsey Davies, who publishes in all formats on the same day will only increase her readership.

Comment on Radio Silence by Leah Wise

Leah Wise — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:35:49 +0000

You’re awesome!

Comment on Radio Silence by Rebecca Jenkins

Rebecca Jenkins — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:39:25 +0000

Good luck, Ruth! How brilliant to be so near the finish line.

Comment on Radio Silence by L G Johnsonlinda

L G Johnsonlinda — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:14:29 +0000

ruth–

never any need to apologize! and, by the way, seemed like the british museum pompeii exhibit was absolutely wonderful, so glad you got to take it in. …thanks so much for your hard work.

linda