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Ask the Author: Rhys Bowen

“Dear Readers if you’d like to know more about me and my upcoming books please click on my website to join my newsletter and follow me on Facebook
I’ll be happy to answer your questions here too!” Rhys Bowen

Answered Questions (147)

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You wrote for the Sweet Dreams series as Janet Quin-Harkin. Is it true that you were also a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley High series?
Rhys Bowen No. I had several other series of my own but not Sweet Velley
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Will there be any more Royal Spyness books? Thanks!
Rhys Bowen Yes! Next one already finished and will come out in November
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Hello Mrs. Bowen, I just finished All That Is Hidden and it was wonderful! Quick question: I know it was intended to be a false lead, but what were Lucy McCormick and Gertie Grace discussing at the cemetery?
Rhys Bowen I don’t know! Since this story is written from Molly’s point of view and she couldn’t hear, neither can we. I wanted to remind the reader that Gertie was involved in the story!
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Hello Rhys, I would like to know if you ever give talks in San Diego, CA? And if there are any literary agents in my area (San Diego) that you can recommend? And can you also recommend a writers group or how I should go about finding someone to give me advice and support.
Rhys Bowen I do sometimes visit bookshops in San Diego. But if you want support as a writer there are various writers organizations. It depends which genre you write in. California Writers Club must have a branch. Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime both have meetings and of course classes at local community colleges will help you meet fellow writers to form
Critique groups. Also there are lots of online talks and podcasts that are helpful these days. Good luck
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Hi Rhys! I was interested in reading some of your old YA novels. Did you write under any other pen name other than Janet Quin-Harkin?
Rhys Bowen They were all written under that name. ( my married name) but good luck in finding any now! Paperbacks don’t last well
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Hi Rhys! Thank you so much for your books! My mom and I have read all of them and you are my favorite author! While I wait for your next book to release, I struggle to find books by other authors that I enjoy as much as yours. Do you have any recommendations of books, authors, or series in the cozy mystery genre besides your own? Thanks again!
Rhys Bowen Sorry I haven’t answered this before. I don’t check Goodreads often
I enjoy Jacqueline Winspear- more serious cozies
Tasha Alexander historical cozies
MC Beaton, Jenn McKinlay for light cozies
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Hi, I won an advance reader copy of In Sunshine or In Shadow. Two errors in the print that I caught while I was reading, if I may: P. 28 "...putting on a production of Aristophanes The Birds." - I think it should be "...Aristophanes' "The Birds"." P.114 "I knelt by the Mr. Levin..." - I think it should be "I knelt by Mr. Levin.." Thank you for the book. I hope to post my review within a few days. ?
Rhys Bowen Thank you. We may have time to correct these!
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Hi there, i hope you are doing well. Congrats on your amazing success. I wanted to check if you would kindly review a childrens book i've written dedicated to my late father? I would love your honest feedback and a endorsement. This is apart of my late father legacy and id really appreciate it. This is my first time ever writing a book so any support would mean alot to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rhys Bowen I'm sorry but I am given so many books to read and review that i can't undertake anything like this. Also I'm not an expert on what is currently being published in the sphere of children's books.
I wish you every success
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Any chance Evan Evans comes back?
Rhys Bowen There is currently a TV option, so fingers crossed for that. Also the series was republished in UK. But right now I don't have time to write any more books. If it became a TV series then who knows?
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Rhys your writing is amazing. I love Georgiana and all the drama and mystery that comes with her and the characters. And the book covers are life. Is Georgiana based on someone in your circle or is she truly a fictional character?
Rhys Bowen When I was a young woman I mixed with several girls who came from really upper class backgrounds and had grown up in lives like Georgie's. But she's made up (apart from having some of my traits, like being a bit clumsy when nervous!). I'm so glad you enjoy her.
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Wouldn't your Royal Spyness series be a great project for PBS, as are/were Call the Midwife, Sanditon, Endeavor, et al., with Lily James as Lady Georgiana, perhaps Theo James as Darcy O'Mara, maybe Emma Watson as Belinda Warburton-Stokes and Cate Blanchett as Lady Georgiana's mother? Of course, I realize they are all beyond wanting to do this kind of show, I suppose, but one can dream of an ideal cast.
Rhys Bowen I would love to see it as a TV series and I think you’re choices are just perfect! ( too expensive for TV but perfect all the same).
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What is your best piece of advice for a debut author?
Rhys Bowen Write something you are passionate about. If you are emotionally invested in your story, the reader will be too. If you book is going to be published, make sure you join a writing community who can give you encouragement and advice.
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I just read, "Above the Bay of Angels" for the 2nd time. It seems to me like there is room for a sequel in their restaurant perhaps? I was wondering if you have any intention to have a sequel to this book. Thanks.
Rhys Bowen I’m so glad you enjoyed this book. I think Bella’s life would be too content to make a good story, don’t you? I wouldn’t want more things to go wrong for her
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Do you happen to know Angela Davis. I'm dealing with some really intense sick racist stuff in the UK. I happened to speak out about black rights issues and did so whereby I was effective. I now deal with some really sick stuff. I am being terrorised by the POLICE, AMBULANCE, RESIDENTS, LFB and so many others. I've been begging to get solicitors involved and I am at my wits end. Do you happen to know Angel Davis?
Rhys Bowen I am so sorry you are going through racial hatred. I know about Sngrla Davis but have not met her. Angela Davis is a professor at UC Santa Cruz in California and I’m sure you could contact her there but I’m sure there is help closer to home including your church, anti- racist organizations etc. Even your local MP!
I do wish you better times ahead and a better and more just world for all
Of us
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I have read each and every Molly Murphy mystery from the very beginning, and worried that "The Ghost Of Christmas Past" nearly five years ago would be her swan song. I hope it's not creepy that when I got word of the giveaway for "Wild Irish Rose", I nearly broke into singing 'At Last'! However, I was not aware that your daughter Claire was also a writer. Has she any other books in print I should check out?
Rhys Bowen This is Clare’s first adult novel. She and I wrote a children’s book together. She dived right in and is a really good writer. The plot was her idea! I foresee a great future for her
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Rhys Bowen I think he was the unfaithful type, I’m afraid. Many members of the upper class did have loose morals in those days.
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I absolutely love the Royal Spyness series! I've noticed it inching closer and closer to WWII. Do you think you'll continue the series into the war?
Rhys Bowen I’ve thought about this. For now I am continuing the series and in some ways it might be exciting to have Georgie and Darcy involved in real spying. But the stories are fun and light So can one make light of a terrible war? I’d have to weigh that up. But it would be nice to rescue Mummy at some point!
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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?
Rhys Bowen The only real mystery is how and where my 35 year old Welsh great grandfather met a 17 year old French girl and married her!
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Hello, Mrs. Bowen!! Would you recommend your book to middle graders by any chance? Thanks for taking your time to answer!!
Rhys Bowen Some of my books would be suitable for middle graders, depending on how mature they are. The Royal Spyness series are fun and harmless stories about a young woman in the 1930s. My WWII books are quite intense for a middle grader. Too intense, maybe. The Molly Murphy books are historical mysteries and most are suitable, depending on subject matter.
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Hey i was wondering if you could answer a question for me, I’ve been trying to find out what the difference is between a light novel and “serious literature.” Anyway I was thinking like is something like psycho considered a light novel or what about like short stories from Charles Beaumont or is that considered serious literature?
Rhys Bowen I suppose a light novel is one that is read for enjoyment only--many cozy mysteries and romances, for example. Serious literature should transcend time and place, should say something meaningful, should relate to the human condition. This does not mean that mystery novels are never serious literature--there are some mystery writers who can compete with the best "serious" writers. Denis Lehane, Reginald Hill, Jacqueline Winspear, Louise Penny all write books that go into depth of characterization. I think some of my books qualify: The Tuscan Child, for example. Serious literature does not equal dull and boring with no plot!
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