pudding — dessert
smart — handsome or well-dressed
starters — appetizers
supply teacher — substitute teacher
telly — television
thick — stupid
till — cash register
trolley — shopping cart
uni — university
Other Notes
I’m often asked about how to pronounce the various Manx words that appear in my books. Reproducing such a guide here would infringe on the copyright of the dictionaries that are available. I highly recommend a visit to learnmanx.com, where you can find a pronunciation guide and also hear the language being spoken. The site covers everything from the very basics through complex conversations. (They even have an app if you want to have a go at learning to speak Manx yourself.)
People also ask about the various biscuits that my characters enjoy. Digestives are simple and plain biscuits. The closest US equivalent would probably be a graham cracker. They also come covered in chocolate or even with chocolate and caramel. (Which only improves them slightly). Custard creams are rectangular vanilla biscuits with a custard-flavoured layer in the middle. Perhaps the closest US equivalent would be a golden sandwich cookie, but custard creams are really in a class by themselves. (Many US grocery stores now carry a range of British foods and that usually means digestives, but not custard creams – you can buy custard creams from Amazon, though.)
A-levels are exams taken after advanced study in a particular subject. Students go from A-levels to university.
Hospitals in the UK have Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, rather than Emergency rooms.
A charity shop is a shop that sells various donated goods. All profits go to a given charity. They are a great place to buy secondhand books, but also carry a huge range of products from plates and dishes to clothing and outerwear.
CID is the Criminal Investigation Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary (Police Force).
When talking about time, the English say, for example, “half seven” to mean “seven-thirty.”
When island residents talk about someone being from “across,” they mean that the person is from somewhere in the United Kingdom (across the water).
People are weighed in stone and pounds in the UK. One stone is fourteen pounds, so someone who weighs ten stone weighs 140 pounds.
Acknowledgments
My wonderful editor has been working overtime this year to help me produce more books than I usually do. I truly appreciate all of her extra effort and promise more red panda socks when we’re finished!
Writing more books also means more work for my beta readers and I am hugely thankful for Betty, Rose, Janice and Charlene as they continue to work with me on my books.
I’m hugely grateful to Kevin, who takes such wonderful photos for my covers. I hope they help bring the island to life.
And I couldn’t do this without amazing support from my readers. Subscribe to my newsletter or come and join in the conversation on my Facebook page. (We have a lot of fun there.) You’re also more than welcome to get in touch via email or snail mail. All of my contact details are available on the “About the Author” page. Thank you all for being a part of this!
Bessie’s adventures continue in…
Aunt Bessie Observes
An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery
Aunt Bessie observes nearly everything.
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, doesn’t miss much as she makes her way around the island that has been her home for all of her adult life.
Aunt Bessie observes less than her friend Janet Markham.
Bessie’s friends Janet and Joan Markham are happy to be back on the island for a visit. When Janet peeks in a window and spots a dead body, the sisters’ holiday becomes a lot more complicated.
Aunt Bessie observes another body.
Two dead men, a charity fundraiser that’s in desperate need of help, and dozens of unanswered questions leave Bessie and her friends struggling to find a murderer before he or she can strike again.
Also by Diana Xarissa
The Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie’s Holiday
Aunt Bessie Joins
Aunt Bessie Knows
Aunt Bessie Likes
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Series
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana grew up in Pennsylvania, moved to Washington, DC, and then found herself being swept off her feet by a handsome British man who was visiting DC on vacation. That was over twenty years ago.
After their wedding, Diana moved to Derbyshire, where her new husband had his home. A short time later, the couple moved to the Isle of Man. After more than ten years on the island, now a family of four, they relocated to the outskirts of Buffalo, NY, where Diana keeps busy writing about the island she loves and driving her children everywhere.
She also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future under the pen name “Diana X. Dunn” and fantasy/adventure books for middle grade readers under the pen name “D.X. Dunn.”
She would be delighted to know what you think of her work and can be contacted on Facebook or Twitter or through snail mail at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
Find Diana at:
www.dianaxarissa.com
diana@dianaxarissa.com