Deborah’s Comments (group member since Jan 27, 2014)

Deborah’s comments from the Ask Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie, and Charles Todd! group.

Martha wrote: "Deborah Crombie - Every time you publish a new book in The Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Novels I go back to A Share in Death and read all the ones that come before the new one. In this way, it all fe..."

DEBS: Martha, dear, you probably know the books better than I do at this point! I'm so glad you loved The Sound of Broken Glass--and Andy. I wasn't thinking of Frost's poem when I wrote the end, although perhaps it was buried somewhere in my subconscious. I always knew the book would end with a snowstorm--that was one of the things that shaped the story for me. Somewhere along the way I realized there would be fire, too.

Writing about Andy and his music was a such a pleasure and a wonderful education. He was inspired by guitarists ranging from Jimmy Page to Andy Summers of the Police to Billy Joe Armstrong of Greenday--and so many more. A great treat for anyone interested in how guitarist relate to their music and their instruments is a DVD called It Might Get Loud, featuring Jimmy Page, the Edge (of U2), and Jack White. It's one of the most fascinating music documentaries I've ever seen. http://www.amazon.com/Might-Get-Loud-...

MJ wrote: "For Deborah crombie
Thanks for the wonderful time I have reading your books

As you know london pretty well could you recomend any book about its history?


Is there an audible from your last book?"

DEBS: Thanks, MJ! I think Peter Ackroyd is probably the best choice for the history of London--or anything English. Here's just one example: http://www.amazon.com/London-Biograph...

And yes, there is an Audible version of The Sound of Broken Glass, read by the wonderful Gerard Doyle (who's read previous books as Michael Deehy.)

Laura wrote: "One of my goals this year is to re-read my entire series in order--something I never have time to do! We'll see if I manage it!

A question for all of the authors - as your series goes on, how do y..."

DEBS: I do go back regularly and read pertinent bits of older books. If I'd realized in the beginning how complicated this series would become, I'd have started what's called a "bible" to keep track of characters and events.

On characters: I can't think of any series characters that I'd like to kill off. I seem to have the opposite problem. I keep introducing characters that I like and want to include, but I can't get them all in each book!

Diana wrote: "Question for Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie and Charles Todd:

I enjoyed your novels. I was introduced to mystery novels by my 6th grade teacher. I wondered when you started reading mystery novels. ..."

DEBS: I suspect it all started with the Bobbsey Twins:-) And then, of course, Nancy Drew. And then I discovered the English Golden Age mysteries, and from there moved on to more contemporary British crime authors. As to who introduced me to those first books, I suppose my parents must have bought them.

May wrote: "Deborah, please take your time writing. The research, the characters, the local flavor are well worth the time!"

DEBS: Thanks, May!

Ann wrote: "This is for Deborah: My dear one, do you choose a locale, research it and develop the story line from there, or do you have a story in mind and then decide upon the setting. I have every one of y..."

DEBS: Hi, Ann! Someday when we have oodles of time we'll have to talk about individual books, because every book has been different. Sometimes the setting comes first, sometimes the story, and sometimes they are so intertwined by the end that I can't pick the threads apart.

One of my goals this year is to re-read my entire series in order--something I never have time to do! We'll see if I manage it!

Amy wrote: "Ellen, Deborah, what about Iain Glenn?"

DEBS: I like Iain Glen very much, but am afraid he's too old to play Duncan... He's in his mid-fifties, and Duncan is, in the progress of the series, late thirties to early forties.

Elizabeth wrote: "For Deborah Crombie: I very much enjoy your books, but am curious to know: Is your decision to set a modern mystery series in England due to a preference for the locations there, or is it a marke..."

DEBS: Hi Elizabeth. My decision was based entirely on my love of England and my desire to inhabit the settings, both in my imagination and in research visit. I thought when I wrote the first book that it was, in fact, a bad marketing move. Fortunately, that didn't turn out to be the case. But I always advise aspiring writers NOT to write for the market, but to write what sparks their imagination.

Barbm1020 wrote: "Ms. Crombie, the first book of yours I happened across (in the public library where I work) was Water Like a Stone. The title caught my attention because I recognized it as a very strong image fro..."

DEBS: The hymm is an adaptation of Christina Rossetti's poem, In the Bleak Midwinter--which would have been my first choice of a title if my friend Julia Spencer-Fleming hadn't used it for her first Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne book! So I chose the first line of the poem's second stanza, which in the end, I liked even better.

As for the setting, I loved that part of Cheshire, and I knew I wanted to write a story that involved Duncan's family. Visiting Nantwich for the first time in years, I became fascinated by the Shropshire Union Canal and the culture of the narrow boats. I started researching, and the story grew from there.

Diana wrote: "Question for Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie and Charles Todd:

I noticed that your novels are set in England (two in the past and one in modern times). I apologize if this sounds like a lightweight q..."

DEBS: Some of my novels have historical segments, and yes, I use baby-name books to find names that were popular in the period. It's very interesting to see the ways names cycle in popularity. And you have to be careful--you don't want to name a character from the twenties or thirties "Tiffany" or "Britney." :-)

Thomas wrote: "For Deborah Crombie: I am a big fan of your Duncan and Gemma novels. "Where Memories Lie" is one of my favorite books in the series. I am curious, how much time does your publisher give you to writ..."

DEBS: Hi Thomas. I have a year. But I have to admit it usually takes me a little longer. I don't write very fast, and there is a lot of research involved in each book. The great quest of my life is trying to figure out how to write faster!

Rhys wrote: "Flora wrote: "My question is for all the authors--all of whom I read and enjoy immensely. After that first book--Duncan and Gemma, Ian Rutledge, Molly Murphy, did you already have a plot for the ne..."

DEBS: I knew I wanted to write a series, and I had very definite ideas about what I wanted in a series, especially characters who grew and changed. By the time I finished the first book I had a rough plot for the second, but I had no idea where my characters would be fifteen books later!

Rhys wrote: "Jessica wrote: "For Rhys Bowen: I am a huge fan of your Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy series, I can't wait for the next books in the series to come out. I love your main characters as well as su..."

DEBS: Rhys, I love your casting!!!

Rhys wrote: "Harleigh wrote: "For all: Do you find it difficult to start writing a novel or chapter? How are you able to decide the right wording? Was there ever a particular book or chapter that gave you a har..."

DEBS: I call it the "blank page" syndrome. There is nothing scarier than the first page of a new novel. But once I get a flash of a scene and put it down, it gives me an opening into the story and I can go on from there.

Charles wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "This is for Charles Todd. I really enjoy your Bess Crawford series. I am a nurse so I can relate to and appreciate the medical aspects of her stories. My questions are how do you ..."

Elorise wrote: "For Deborah Crombie: You've no doubt heard this query many times, but I'm curious ... which one of your many titles is your favorite? (I'll tell you my mine, shall I? At the very top of the list st..."

Debs: Not sure if you mean the books themselves or the actual title! Picking a favorite book is a bit like choosing a favorite child:-) And the titles are difficult, too. I think they got more interesting from Dreaming of the Bones on. I particularly like the more metaphorical titles; Water Like a Stone, The Sound of Broken Glass...

Laura wrote: "I am new to each of your books and cannot wait to get my hands on every one of them! I would love to know if any of you had a favorite book on writing that helped you when you were creating your fi..."

Debs: Hi Laura! I remember I found Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones very helpful in learning to get the flow of writing started. As for books on the craft, I like Stephen King's On Writing and Elizabeth George's Write Away, but I'm sure there are many great books out there. The Art of Character by David Corbett is wonderful, too.

Charles wrote: "Pamela wrote: "For Charles Todd: I have enjoyed the Ian Rutledge series from the very start, mostly because the character is so different from most mystery books. How did you determine that you wou..."

Debs: I think Rutledge is very sexy! :-)

Kathy B. wrote: "These four writers are four of the nicest people you will every meet. I met Deborah, Rhys, Caroline, and Charles at Bouchercon 2013 in Albany, and they are so gracious and generous with their time..."

Debs: Hi Kathy! It was lovely to meet you at Bouchercon! I know you are going to love both Charles Todd series, and I highly recommend Rhys's Georgie (Her Royal Spyness) books. They are clever and funny and well-plotted, and Georgie has a great "voice."

As for the Todds, the Rutledge and the Bess books have a very different feel. I love both series, and would be interested to see which one the Todds would recommend you start with.

Priscilla wrote: "Deborah: I am an unabashed Anglophile and consumer of British mysteries/detective literature. A great pleasure in reading your books is that each is told in the context of an interesting and unique..."

Debs: Hi Priscilla! I wish I could say I had a system for planning the settings and topics, but I don't. I usually have half a dozen things floating around in my head that I think I might like to write about, and sometimes it takes a combination of circumstances to put it all together. In The Sound of Broken Glass, for instance, I knew I wanted to tell Andy and Nadine's story, but I didn't have a setting. Then a friend who was then living in Crystal Palace had me come to visit and toured me around the area, and I knew I'd found the perfect place.

In No Mark Upon Her, I decided I wanted to write a book set around competitive rowing (about which I knew nothing!). I soon learned that Leander Club in Henley is the ultimate center of the English rowing world, and another friend got me an invitation to stay there... I learned more about rowing than I ever imagined, and am still fascinated and amazed by it.

Every book has been like that, full of surprises and explorations.

Mainer207 wrote: "Dear Debs, Rhys, and the Todds! No questions but I just want to say I love your books and the interaction you have with your readers. Thank you. (Jungle Reds rock!)"

Debs: Thank you so much! We have so much fun on Jungle Red, but the best thing for me has been the support and friendship of the group. And we consider the Todds Honorary Reds!