Rhys Bowen's Blog, page 28

Love is Murder

I'm sitting at snowy O'Hare, hoping that my flight will be on time, on my way home from three days in very, very, very cold Chicago.
But you know, these midwesterners are tough. I arrived a few hours after O'Hare opened on Thursday and was whisked off to speak at a library that evening. The roads were scary for someone like me who never sees snow. On the interstates one or two lanes were cleared but there were great banks of snow beside the road and one had to spot the exit by the gap in the snowbank. Luckily my driver was a confident local.
We arrived at the library to find snowbanks all around it. The temperature was 6 degrees and dropping. Seriously I thought nobody would come. But we had a sell-out crowd. They turned people away. I was so impressed. I know I wouldn't have ventured out on a night like that. So if you're reading this and you came--thank you, thank you.
Once again it made me realize how much Chicagoites love their libraries.

The conference was at a hotel with spectacular modern artwork. It was a fun small mystery/thriller/romantic suspense con--very friendly, very well run. I had interesting interviews and attended some really good panels. Highlights were the lunch time interview wth Libby Fisher Hellman, who asked some really new,fresh questions, and then winning the Lovey Award for best mystery series at the banquet. What a surprise that was.

After dinner an event I wasn't so sure about--Joe Konrath put on a Stump the Stars panel in which he read out snippets form our books and we were supposed to know which book in came from. If we got it wrong he roasted us. If we got it right he roasted us too. Fun but a little scary.

So now I come to the journey home. I love winning awards. I am honored. BUT do they have to make the awards to look and feel like weapons when I have to go through airport security. This one was about eight inches tall and made of marble. Of course it looked suspicious and I had to take it out of my bag and show the woman that it was an award and it had my name on it!
I didn't add that it could still kill somebody quite nicely, name or no name!!
At least it wasn't as heavy as the tombstones I once won at Bouchercon.

More when I get home, but a big thank you to all at Love is Murder. I had a great time.

Choosing Kate's Dress--royal wedding update

In England the latest wedding buzz is about the dress.  Word is that Kate has chosen her designer but won't let out the secret until the wedding. Kate's mother and sister were seen visiting Bruce Oldfield, a favorite designer of Princess Diana. But somehow I can't see Kate wanting to look like a "bloody great marshmallow" as Diana's dress was described to me once.
For one thing she's older and more sophisticated. She has a good sense of self and who she is, and she opts for elegance. So expect simpler lines and less frou-frou. Also I believe the royal couple is conscious that this is a period of austerity and that costs should be kept to a minimum while making sure that the wedding is the kind of spectacle everyone is hoping for. Not an easy balance, is it?

Most of us have to juggle wedding costs, but usually it's band versus DJ or whether we can afford three or four hors d'oeuvres. I don't suppose you've had to decide whether you want three carriages or four, the household cavalry to accompany you down the Mall, and the trumpeters as well as a symphony orchestra at Westminster Abbey. And then there is the grand ball afterward. Another dress needed plus all that food and drink, but necessary if the heads of state from around the world are coming to attend.
The closest I ever got to this was my goddaughter's wedding in Cornwall. It was a three day event, starting with church service, then reception with sit down dinner for 250, Cornish country music. Later another 150 people joined us for pasties and beer, and a jazz quartet, ending with a disco in the wee hours.The next day was a cricket match, family versus the village, then a pig roast in one of the barns. Day three a cruise up the river Fal to a pub lunch and in the evening a grand ball. Lots of fun and very little sleep.
So what do you think Kate's dress will look like? Do you think she'll opt for simplicity and elegance over extravagence?

Some good things to share

I apologise for being silent for so long. It is my week to blog every day at Jungle Red Writers (http://www.jungleredwriters.com/) and two blogs a day is just too much with a hand and wrist that still don't want to work properly.
Anyway, I hope you'll pop over to Jungle Red Writers--today I have a really funny piece on quaint sports of the British countryside. Did you know there was a sport called Hedge Jumping? How about Tar Barrel Racing?

And I have a couple of good things to share. One is a blog about Her Royal Spyness, describing it as a "1930s mystery-solving Bridget Jones.'  Isn't that fun?
And the other is a lovely, lovely email I received, one of those messages that remind writers why we write in the first place.

One day last summer I took my three year old daughter to our local county library because she loves books. I have never really liked reading much and I want to make sure she does not follow in her mother's footsteps (so far so good). During our visit to the library, I thought I'd browse the fiction section and see if anything interested me. As you may know, when you have a three year old with you your time to look around is very limited. I glanced on the shelf and saw Her Royal Spyness and quickly read the back of the book. Sounded interesting and then had to find my daughter who wandered down another isle. Before we left the library I went back and grabbed that book and checked it out. I took it home and reluctantly started to read it hoping to not be disappointed. I was drawn in immediately and didn't want to put the book down. I finished it by the following weekend and went back to the library hoping to find another book of yours and I found A Royal Pain. Once I found out that this was a series I was even more excited. Needless to say I have read all the Spyness books. I was actually anxiously waiting for the release of Royal Blood. I have never been so excited about a book coming to print. Your writing has sparked a joy of reading inside of me and I am very appreciative!! I started the Evans series, but could only find the first one in print so far at local stores and I found the first three Molly books at used book stores. I'm almost finished with Molly's 3rd book (three chapters to go) and will be on the hunt to find more of the Evans and Molly books. Thank you for being such a great writer that can get a non-reader like me into reading! Hopefully by next year I'll be caught up on all of your books and anxiously waiting your new releases.

A Very Satisfied Reader,

The King's Speech

I saw the King's Speech a few days ago. I thought it was wonderful.Of course I never need an excuse to see Colin Firth.. although I liked him better with his shirt all wet as Darcy... in fact he was obviously the inspiration for the male lead in my Lady Georgie series.
The movie, of course, was filled with characters with whom I'm very familiar.I found myself watching and thinking, " no, he didn't really say that." As if the character were a friend or relative-- someone I really knew rather than somebody I spend a lot of my time writing about. It's interesting how real our characters become to us.

In my books Mrs Simpson takes great delight in making fun of the then Duke of York for his horrible stammer, and criticises his wife at her lack of style.She calls her the dowdy duchess. Of course the Duchess made it quite clear that she disapproved of Mrs Simpson and that Mrs Simpson would never be one of them.
When the Prince of Wales abdicated, putting her husband on the throne instead,the new Queen Elizabeth never forgave Mrs Simpson--to the extent that she had never allowed Mrs Simpson back in the country not even for her husband's funeral.

But as I watched the movie I couldn't help thinking irrereverently, that it was a good thing the King George didn't have to use my speech programme. You see, the program types every single thing that I say. So if I stumble or repeat myself those words show up on the screen. And I didn't realise until now that I mutter to myself as well. So things like, "no that's not the right word--what do I want to say ? No don't type that. Oh bugger ,"show up with monotonous frequency in the middle of things I'm writing.
Hopefully I'll be back to typing a week or so.

Wither Molly?

Still typing slowly as left wrist doesn't want to turn to face keyboard yet. I'm trying to tell it who is boss, but it's not listening.
This is annoying as I'm ready to start the next Molly book. I'm planning to send Molly (and Daniel) to the cottages at Newport, RI. I'm sure most of you know that those cottages were really extravagent mansions of the very wealthy where they went to spend their summers. It's now fall and the place is deserted--or is it?

As I look back over the Molly series I can see that some books were smaller in scope, involving the story of a family, or a particular group of people, others were broader. Some were more thrilleresque and others were more cozy. So I'd love to know from my readers which ones you liked best, and why. Do you like Molly in a more intimate setting, as in In Like Flynn or In a Gilded Cage, or involved in a broader story of her time like In Dublin's Fair City? I'm plotting out future ideas....

I'm also gearing up for the release of Bless the Bride on March 1. This story takes Molly into New York's Chinatown and I've learned some fascinating things during my research. Can't wait to share them with you.

Free at Last!

Not a real post because my left hand still won't obey me, but hangs floppily like something that doesn't belong to me, but THE CAST CAME OFF yesterday! Yeah.
Now I am supposed to exercise the wrist and hand so I'm making myself type. Surprisingly hard, but I need to get that hand back in shape quickly as I'm due to start a new Molly book NOW.
Anyway, thank you for all your kind wishes. I'm sure they helped me heal quickly.

Happy New Year

I know I'm a day late but I'd like to wish all my friends and readers a happy healthy New Year.  I've just returned from a flying visit to Houston Texas where old friends were celebrating their golden wedding. They got married at 17 right out of high school, which wasn't too strange in those days. Now it is almost beyond comprehension that anyone would want to settle down at the age of 17.  I remember having my first baby at the age of 24 and the girl in the next bed was 17 ,and I remember thinking I have left it so late!  Now I know plenty of mothers who have their first baby at 40.
Anyway the first thing that I'm looking forward to in the New Year is getting my cast off.  I see the orthopaedist tomorrow and I hope it can come off then. I need to get working again. It's been as it's been strange having a whole month during which I can't write. I'm sure it's been good for me but now there are lots of ideas buzzing around in my brain and they need to be put down on paper. I start a new Molly book this week,and this time I'm going to set it in the cottages in Newport Rhode Island. I haven't come up with a title yet. I may be asking for help so stay tuned.    

Royal Snippet

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday.  I know I did. It's always fun when there are kids opening presents.  And since I still have the cast on my wrist I really didn't have to do too much work. I always have to make mince pies and sausage rolls the Christmas-- it is a family tradition from my grandparents and beyond, but this year it was my granddaughters who made them under my direction and made them very well.  My daughters Anne and Jane were very good in the kitchen and John has dismembered the Turkey remains and made them into a curry. I'm waiting impatiently for next Monday when I hope my cast can come off. It really has been very frustrating. I gave my granddaughters are real sewing machine Christmas and yesterday I gave them their first sewing lesson.  Lizzie managed to complete almost a whole dress yesterday but I couldn't help as much as I wanted to.  I couldn't thread the machine or the bobbin with one hand , or show her how to sew on the snaps.Having promised a week please snippet of royal gossip I do have a couple:
it turned out that William and Kate met each other at the age of 11. They were prep schools nearby and his hockey team came over to play at her school. Everybody wanted to talk to the young prince and have him sit at their table for tea,so I don't suppose he particularly noticed Kate although she was a pretty little girl. The other piece of gossip has to do with Kate Middleton's family- we've all been told that her father has made millions from the family business but that doesn't seem to be so-since a similar company who is his biggest competitor actually only made £130,000 last year. So we suspect that the bulk of the money comes from those mysterious family trusts which enabled Kate to go to Marlborough College. At least she's used to money and won't be overawed by the good things in the Palace,but I don't suppose they have that many antiques at home.  They don't have corgis either! More next week.    

Merry Christmas from Rhys

Since I properly won't get to check my e-mail for the next couple of days I wanted to wish all my friendsa very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

If you are fans of the Jungle Red Writers you will already have seen this poem. If you haven't seen it yet enjoy.

A modern Christmas Carol
dashing through the web
googling sites like mad
cyber Monday's here againbargains to be had

click click here, click click there,
by it all online
Overstock and Amazon Christmas will be fine

click click here, click click there,bought it all online
Christmas done and wrapped and shippedhave a glass of wine.
Mayyour Christmases be stressfree
Rhys

King William?

New royal definition: abdicate-- to step down from the throne in favour of William and Catherine.

Just in time for Royal gossip Monday, a rumour has surfaced that the Queen is considering abdicating so that William will have a chance to be king before he's too old -- that if his father doesn't live to 100.  Of course many people would like Charles to step aside and let William become the next king, but I can't see that happening.  After all, the poor man has spent his whole life in waiting for a certain job, and it would be cruel to deny it to him when his mother dies or abdicates.

Personally, I'm not sure that the Queen would consider abdicating.  Duty has always been a primary motivating factor and I think she will consider it her duty to remain on the throne until her death.  But she is now approaching 90 and the poor woman does deserve some free time from a very hectic schedule.  I never appreciated how hectic their schedule was until I did my first book tour.  Events all day new city each day, it's exhausting.  I did it for two weeks but she does it every day of her life.  Anyone who doesn't think the Royals earned their money ought to try this -- always on always cheerful, always having to eat someone else's food and appear interested in the most boring things. It's not an easy life.
Oh and the other piece of news is that the Royal China has been unveiled-- you can have a teacup.  Or rather what they call a tankard for $55. But it does have cute little doves on it.

Rhys, still typing with voice recognition software and a broken wrist, and now battling a cold as well.