A – Z Challenge X is for Xerxes

XERXES left a lovely review on amazon.com of Bella’s Betrothal, so of course, I thought I’d mention his name here today. The review says “The novel is set in early nineteenth century Edinburgh, which the author describes with vivid realism.”

Reviews are precious and so much appreciated.

Xerxes is Persian in origin and means something like king, ruler, monarch. It was used for several of the Persian kings in and around the 5th century BC so it’s a bit tautological – if that’s a word.

Like the other names beginning with X, Xanthe, Xavier, Xander, the name Xerxes is pronounced with an initial sounding Z. One name that has an initial sounding X is Excaliber because in English pronunciation the E is needed to render a soft x hard.

Excaliber was the name given to the legendary Arthur’s sword – you know, the one he pulled from the stone. Hunting for a meaning for excaliber is interesting if imprecise. There’s general agreement that Caliburn is an option and that the word may mean simply sword. Although like yesterday’s Winston and Churchill, it has been taken over for advertising ends, there doesn’t seem to be more than the one example of its use – as Arthur’s legendary sword.

Today is the final day when you can access MuseItUp’s April sale for Bella’s Betrothal.

BELLA’S BETROTHAL at a special price till April 28th:

Amazon UK http://goo.gl/P3lmzk US http://goo.gl/7mh8FI  AU http://goo.gl/3yj8U1

Ca http://goo.gl/1j33Tk

Kobo http://goo.gl/k0b8SN

MuseItUp http://goo.gl/f0zFKa

/apple itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id713274218

smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/355001

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