Lexie Conyngham's Blog: writing, history and gardening.

Monday 31 December 2018

Ballater Bugle and general update


The Boxing Day walk, gentle but rather lovely.

Culter House, currently empty - so we all started to make plans for what we would do with it. At least the roof looks sound ...

The new Ballater Bugle and a short story, Jo, went out today - if you were expecting these and didn't receive them, or if you'd like to receive them and haven't signed up yet, send us an email at contact@kellascatpress.co.uk - before my computer packs up completely!

My blogging pattern went for six towards the end of the year - if you were enjoying the indie authors or the crime about Scotland series I do apologise. I had pretty much reached the end of my tether and was busy tying a knot to hang on to. I hope to do better in 2019!

The plans at present are for a new Murray book, the eleventh, by about Easter (though it requires a good deal of research so it might take a little longer), a new Orkneyinga murder in around the summer, and (though it seems so far away I have no idea if I'll manage it) a new Hippolyta by Christmas again. But who knows? At the moment I'm feeling pretty shattered, so I'm only starting tentatively on that schedule. I'll do my best.

I'm hoping to do a bit better on Instagram this coming year (posting twice over three months, which I've done so far, is not perhaps high profile, but as I don't have a smartphone I have to find a co-operative smartphone owner before I can post). If you haven't already, do take a look at my Pinterest boards. They're not updated frequently, but for each book you'll find some illustrations I've used for research or inspiration, and I have to say I enjoy putting them together. You can also follow me on Facebook. There is a plan for a new website soon (hm, maybe!) but I intend to sustain this blog here and just have a link to here from the website.

Well, there you are ... it almost looks like a scheme for a year! Then there's the garden, the allotment, the knitting (I'm trying to make a 'Viking' pattern jacket for a reading in February), the household, the paid work, the animals, the netball - in no particular order. Who knows, maybe for some of the year I'll even be half-organised?

Happy New Year!

Monday 24 December 2018

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

To all blog readers, Facebook followers, newsletter subscribers, and indeed book readers - I hope you have a pleasantly uncontentious festival season!


Monday 17 December 2018

A Murderous Game - reduced!

Thinking of buying Hippolyta 4 (The Thankless Child) but plagued by a niggling feeling that you haven't read Hippolyta 3 yet? Now's your chance: A Murderous Game is reduced to $1.25 this week, only on amazon.com, though (for technical reasons, namely that .co.uk customers had your chance earlier in the year!). Offer ends Saturday, and The Thankless Child, now on preorder, goes lives on Friday! It almost looks planned.

Saturday 15 December 2018

And following ...

... as a gale force wind follows the leaves (that is, a bit chaotically and leaving madness in its wake) ...

... and squeaking in just before Christmas, as (sort of) promised ...

... it's out! Well, for pre-order, anyway.

The Thankless Child




The sun is shining, Ballater is full of wealthy visitors, and Mrs. Kynoch’s school for young ladies is flourishing  - until one pupil, the daughter of a slave-owner, vanishes. Has she eloped with a rich man, or is something more sinister afoot? Hippolyta Napier needs to know, before a vulnerable local man is accused of something he could not have done.

Not long to wait! It'll go live on Thursday. Hippolyta 4 - just when you thought the cats would get her!

Monday 10 December 2018

The Thankless Child - cover reveal!

A bright, cold Monday morning in December, and I invite you to go with me to Ballater in high summer ...


The sun is shining, Ballater is full of wealthy visitors, and Mrs. Kynoch’s school for young ladies is flourishing  - until one pupil, the daughter of a slave-owner, vanishes. Has she eloped with a rich man, or is something more sinister afoot? Hippolyta Napier needs to know, before a vulnerable local man is accused of something he could not have done.

Still hoping to have this out before Christmas! At least as an e-book - print will take a little longer.

I'm taking a sort of writing break till the New Year, though there are always things going on in my head (you'd never know it to look at me). Christmas and all that's involved takes priority for now!