ruth

68, Female

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Highlands Scotland
About Me:
I'm a crofter - well, I have L plates on.
I spent 25 years in print/design - yes, some book publishing, though mainly educational. I quit the rat race and now raise sheep. I beta read for 2 published authors - science fiction and (oddly) romance. I am part way through a BSc in Science - thought it would make a change from design/art. I find I am becoming a keen collector of old tractors and am learning to become proficient with a JCB digger.

Hm - all this makes me seem rather - odd...
I Am A:
Reader
Website:
http://www.coldframe.com
Books And Authors I Like:
Probably too many to list :
KV Forest
Manda Scott
J. McClellan
Kiera Delacroix
etc
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
I don't have time for many films - nearest cinema is a good 50 miles away. I rarely watch tv and anyway, who wants to know what is on UK tv?

Comment Wall:

  • Lawrence Light

    Hi Ruth. Welcome to the club.

    Oct 22, 2007

  • Janet McClellan

    There you are!
    Hey!
    I have sent a message and put your Cold Frame site in my favorite list... love the name...cold frame, its great! ..;)

    Oct 24, 2007

  • Sandra Scoppettone

    Thanks for the kind words. But after 5 books nobody wanted to publish any more. It seems things have gone backwards in the climate we live in now. I've gone on to publish 2 more novels set in 1943 featuring a P.I. named Faye Quick. Although I got great reviews for these I didn't sell enough so that is that. At the moment I'm not writing anything.

    Oct 24, 2007

  • Sandra Scoppettone

    It's not a matter of going back to writing. I'm a writer. That's what I do. But at the moment I'm paralyzed. The publishing world is not the one I once knew and it's almost impossible to get published now if your last book didn't do well. But, as I said, I'm a writer and I'll write again. Thanks for caring.

    Oct 25, 2007

  • Sandra Scoppettone

    No, I'm not physically paralyzed. I'm paralyzed as a writer. BTW, Virago wouldn't publish the 5th book in the Laurano series. I have a good agent and should I come up with a viable book I have no doubt she'd do her best with it. I simply don't have any ideas and don't feel like writing right now. The picture I'm using is the cover of an anthology called A Hell of A Woman. I have a story in it. It comes out at the end of Nov.

    Oct 25, 2007

  • L. A. Starks

    Thanks for telling me about the Highland library. Your life raising sheep and reading sounds exotic, and fun. LAS

    Oct 25, 2007

  • Patty G. Henderson

    Ruth, I'm happy you enjoy Brenda Strange. I'm still loving writing her stories and am working on the 4th book. I concur with Sandra that publishing has becoming like a treacherous maze fraught with frustrations. That's why I'm taking future journeys in publishing without restraints and striking out on my own. I think I'm having more fun doing it that way. I will still be on the lookout for short story anthology markets, but I'm in charge of Brenda Strange's future. It looks bright. My desire is simply to put her stories in the hands of readers who will enjoy them.

    Oct 26, 2007

  • Patty G. Henderson

    Ruth,

    Since my main objective at this point in my writing career is to get my work into reader's hands to be read and enjoyed, self-publishing seems to be my best choice. No waiting years to hear about a submission and then more for publication. Having a full time job, I don't depend on my writing for a living and having earned a pittance from it (failed publishing houses and crooked publishers), fantasies of fame and riches have vaporated. Self-publishing isn't for everyone, especially writers who have yet to develop an audience, but it can work depending on your realistic expectations. I'm sure fans of the Brenda Strange series don't care who publishes the books.

    Oct 27, 2007

  • Peg Herring

    Ruth,
    I know of three Peg Herrings: me of course, a college professor, I think she's on the West Coast somewhere, and Peggy J. Herring, a romance novelist. Since J. is also my middle initial, we went with Peg Herring for my book. I'd like to meet the others, just for giggles, but probably never will.

    Nov 8, 2007

  • Jana Oliver

    Ruth,
    RE: Single malt being cheaper in your part of the world.

    I'm hoping that next year, besides the requisite visit to London, to journey north to Edinburgh. I have a friend who has offered to take me on his "Ian Rankin" tour. I'd also love to visit a few of the distilleries. Since I'll be on my own, I'll take a organized tour. I'm an adventuresome sort, but that does not include driving around Scotland without a navigator.

    The single malt in Wolverhampton was cheap by US standards. £2.25. I usually pay $8.00- $12.00 per ounce depending on the bar (£3.80 to £5.71). Of course, I promptly ordered a double.

    I note you raise sheep. In our pre-Atlanta days, so did we. We had 75 ewes. Nothing quite like getting up every two hours during lambing season to check on the woolies.

    Nov 8, 2007

  • Jana Oliver

    Dram? I'll give it try. I asked for a shot the last time and it seemed to work. Is it considered a mortal sin in Scotland to request a drop of water (or an ice cube) in the scotch? I bought some Jura on the way out of the country just to give it a try. I usually drink Laphroaig, Glenfiddich, Balvenie or Glenlivet. I'm always up to try something new, however.

    We raised Suffolks and Dorsets. One year we managed to flush the ewes so well we ended up with six sets of triplets. Lots of sorting feet and pulling lambs in the wee hours. (Definitely not for the faint of heart.) The extras became bottle lambs. Unreal. Though we live in the city now, there are moments I miss the quiet of the country. We had foxes, but had more trouble with the coyotes and the dogs. Nasty critters when they get into sheep.

    Nov 8, 2007

  • Jana Oliver

    I thought you were up late! Suffolks are stupid by sheep standards. (And don't get me started on turkeys!) From what I can tell, sheep have no fear of the hereafter. If they get stuck in some ditch, they're resigned to die without a struggle. Darned annoying for the shepherd.

    We raised and trained Border Collies. Love 'em. Amazingly bright dogs. It'd be a waste to have one in the suburbs, but someday we'll get back to the country and I'll get a puppy. Don't intend to do sheep again. She'll have to content herself herding cats, I guess.

    Nov 8, 2007

  • Ziggy Car Rust

    Howdy Ruth! There's a Portsmouth in Virginia. I'd like to be all exotic and say I've seen the place, but that'd be a fib, and I never do that ;-)
    Dallas in the Highlands? It must be awful quiet with only five houses, especially with all those gun fights going on
    Anyway, nice to meet you. Hope I'll see you around here some more.

    Nov 9, 2007

  • Jana Oliver

    Thanks for the invite! So what's the weather like in Scotland in early November?

    Nov 12, 2007

  • Jane

    Hi Ruth! Actually I am a HUGE soccer fan, watch as much of the games from overseas as I can see. By the way, I envy you and the sheep!

    Nov 18, 2007

  • Jackie Tritt

    Hi Ruth

    Being a crofter in the Highlands sounds wonderful to me (though not in the winter) and not at all odd. I'm the opposite to you, as I started off with science and only turned to writing after I retired from teaching. In this household, it's my husband who collects and drives the tractors (three Kubotas at last count, not exactly antiques).

    Jackie

    Nov 19, 2007

  • Todd Robinson

    Hi Ruth,

    Yeah, the transition of New England to New York is a little weird, considering that the sports rivalry causes me a lot of grief.

    BTW, just watched a movie about killer sheep last night, so for God's sake, be careful!!!

    Dec 1, 2007

  • Todd Robinson

    I assumed as much, considering the pond, and all.

    The film is called Black Sheep. It's out of New Zealand, so there are a LOT of killer sheep...and some Were-sheep.

    Dec 1, 2007

  • Jennie Bentley/Bente Gallagher

    Ruth, the first book in the DIY home renovation series is about a young woman from New York who inherits her aunt's house in a tiny town in Maine, and who decides to spend the summer renovating it, in hopes of making enough money to start her own design studio. Of course, as anyone who has tried it knows, renovating takes a lot longer and costs a lot more than expected, and my protag also has to deal with death threats, missing heirlooms, and not so accidental accidents, as well as one seriously hot handyman. They're light-hearted, romantic mysteries - heavier on character than on plot - but a fun read. Typical beach book. Not for everyone, but if you have a chance to read it (in a year or so) I hope you'll like it.

    Dec 30, 2007

  • Morgan Mandel

    I put up the RSS feed from my group blog at acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com in a number of spots on ning. I'm glad someone's actually reading it. It's fun since we have a diverse group of bloggers and you never know what to expect.
    Morgan Mandel

    Dec 31, 2007

  • Brian L Porter

    Hello Ruth, I used to live in a beautiful village called Banchory in Kincardineshire, my son was born in the quaintly named Kincadrine O'Neil War Memorial Hospital at Torphins, just on the fringes of the Highlands. I loved it up there!

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Ruth, yes, yo are well to the North aren't you? it's so beautiful up there. wild and rugged yes, but a lovely part of the world.

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    I adored my time in Mexico Ruth, and met some wonderful people. The 'real Mexicans' if you know what I mean. I fell in love with the people and the country and hope to return there one day.

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    You might also like 'Avenue of the Dead' a much longer tale set in Mexico which is centred around the old ruined city of Teotihuacan, and 'starring' the same lead character as 'The Devil youKno' one of the stories in the Murder, Mayhem and Mexico trilogy.

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    hi Ruth, My previous works are only in e-book formats I'm afraid, but 'A Study in Red - the Secret Juornal of Jack the Ripper' , currently released in ebook, will be available in paperback from the end of the month, and 'Glastonbury' will be exclusively in paperback from Rain Books in March. Purchase links for the ebooks are on my website at www.freewebs.com/brianlp

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    Ruth, I spent most of my time in Mexico on the Pacific coast of the state of Jalisco, moving inland to visit the 'real' Mexico. I managed to travel further afield as well and saw some of the most amazing sights it's been my privelege to view.

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Darren Laws

    Hi Ruth, thanks for the comment and accepting my invitation. I am thoroughly enjoying my experience at Crimespace and getting to meet loads of really nice people. Congrats on quitting the rat race and settling in one of the most striking and beautiful places in the UK. Had a look at your website and that seems to be developing quite nicely too. Best wishes for 2008.

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    I understand that Ruth, many people have an aversion to e-books, but they do have an appeal for just as many others. There's no real knack to it, you just read as much or as little as you want in one go, just as you would with a 'real' book, and many people read them from blackberrys and palm readers etc. which allow them to hold a library of thousands of books in one small device. I do hope you enjoy the paperbacks though when they come out. (I prefer the real thing too).

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Darren Laws

    The photography of your croft looks superb and your web site has a clean, well-design and uncluttered look. I am ashamed to say that I always use wysiwyg programs for websites....so lazy.

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    haha, I know what you mean Ruth. I'm not very technical myself, and my computer is about as hi-tech as I can manage as well. Still, there's a market out there and I try to do mybest to service it while there's a call for it. Actually a lot of disabled people can acces e-books a lot easier than they can 'hard copy' books these days.

    Brian

    Jan 11, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Ruth,

    I finally heard from my publisher today with news on the paperback version of 'A Study in Red' which will be availble from teh end of the month and will have the ISBN 1-55404-527-4 It will then be able to be ordered through Amazon, W.H. Smith Online and any reputable online bookstore.

    Hope the weather up there isn't too severe today. It's been bad down here in Yorkshire.

    Brian

    Jan 12, 2008

  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Ruth, I know, I always told people, who would never believe me that we had some very mild winters up in Scotland when I lived there. As for the books I'm pleased that I'll have both e-book and paperback books availabel from this year, so fulfilling everyone's reading needs, I hope.

    Brian

    Jan 12, 2008