tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post3059555731465458784..comments2024-03-28T08:07:50.717-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Charles Todd--A Pattern of LiesJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34859898695017171272021-02-07T15:17:35.260-05:002021-02-07T15:17:35.260-05:00Greetings. Don't know if this will find it...Greetings. Don't know if this will find it's way as this post dated 2015 and now 2021 I have recently discovered the "Charles Todd" books. Today read my second Bess Crawford mystery, "A Pattern of Lies" which I enjoyed immensely.. til the end. Could someone tie up the loose ends? I even looked for an epilogue:<br />1. Who set off the explosion and fire and explsion? Collier? But how and why?<br />2. Who killed Britton? Collier? What was it that Rollins was witness to?<br />3. What was Alex Craig's role?<br />4. What did Heatherton-Scott and his valet find that indicated vindication for Ashton? "All would be explained" but wasn't.<br />5. No reunion for the Ashtons. Was he released due to new" evidence? Couldn't determine what that evidence was. <br />I tried to re re- read the last section of the book but couldn't figure it out.<br />If blogger or authors can explain ONLY please email as enclosed directly or I may not find my way back to this page. Thank you! baboulter1@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17232206874588654793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50965852450155310302015-08-01T01:52:52.328-04:002015-08-01T01:52:52.328-04:00Katie Baer, it's deb@deborahcrombie.com. If yo...Katie Baer, it's deb@deborahcrombie.com. If you still have problems, post in the comments and I'll see it. Congratulations! It's a terrific book.<br /><br />And huge thanks to Caroline and Charles for being such super guests! <br /><br />debs<br /><br />(Sorry, forgot I was signed in as JRW:-))Jungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21924054461154244882015-07-31T22:19:46.260-04:002015-07-31T22:19:46.260-04:00Deb--Sorry--my email to you with my address for th...Deb--Sorry--my email to you with my address for the Todds' book won't go through. Can you please clarify your email address?<br /><br />Many thanks<br /><br />Katieexlibrisnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018316742019110682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89585599372475318132015-07-31T22:04:58.850-04:002015-07-31T22:04:58.850-04:00I'm so pleased! Many thanks.
I will look for ...I'm so pleased! Many thanks.<br /><br />I will look for you at Bouchercon. Our Triangle SIC chapter will be there to welcome everyone.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />Katieexlibrisnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018316742019110682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49123014611603061072015-07-31T21:17:39.197-04:002015-07-31T21:17:39.197-04:00WOW--the verdict is in! Katie Baer has won the fr...WOW--the verdict is in! Katie Baer has won the free copy! Congratulations, Katie!<br /><br />Email Deb and she'll see to it that it is sent to you. And next time you see us, ask us to sign it. We'll be happy to. <br /><br />It was a terribly hard choice. There were so many terrific questions and interesting conversations. We were almost ready to throw darts at a board and see who the winner was! <br /><br />You are all the greatest! <br /><br />Caroline and Charles. C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64473040979433327832015-07-31T21:04:09.933-04:002015-07-31T21:04:09.933-04:00Thanks so much, PK! We really enjoyed taking part ...Thanks so much, PK! We really enjoyed taking part in today's blog. It's always so nice to hear from readers and fans, to know what they are thinking about a series. We're so close to each book that we really can't step back and judge it. Writing The End is like saying good bye to some characters and wondering what will become of others, and very emotional after spending so many months with them. So it's very personal, and that makes it all the more rewarding when readers "get" what we are trying to say and enjoy the books as much as we have. It makes it all worthwhile.<br /><br />Cheers, everybody! It's been great fun, and we hope you've had fun too! C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61033068906172635932015-07-31T20:48:00.047-04:002015-07-31T20:48:00.047-04:00looks interesting
bn100candg at hotmail dot comlooks interesting<br /><br />bn100candg at hotmail dot combn100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6874685622834961602015-07-31T20:40:13.646-04:002015-07-31T20:40:13.646-04:00Love and adore both your series; you're one (t...Love and adore both your series; you're one (two) of the best out there. I recommend them highly -- and I read a lot of historical mysteries so I know of what I'm talking. You've done such great work bringing the time period alive. Thank you for taking the time to be here today. PK the Bookeemonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03478996122841311684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15791471158903853802015-07-31T19:19:21.807-04:002015-07-31T19:19:21.807-04:00Hi, Reine, hope the storm wasn't too bad! Than...Hi, Reine, hope the storm wasn't too bad! Thanks for the comments. We've really enjoyed chatting with everyone today. And doesn't Deb do a great job setting up the interview? That's why we love working with her. We like the cover too, and we think it fits the story and even more importantly, the mood of the story, very well. Sometimes they don't always go together, and yet they should. C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38731169831420856442015-07-31T19:15:29.186-04:002015-07-31T19:15:29.186-04:00Hi, Susan. We've actually driven in Ian's ...<br />Hi, Susan. We've actually driven in Ian's car--and it does have to stop for petrol just like any other car! It's just that it can get repetitive when you mention the mundane too many times; readers are turned off when the action has to stop at the wrong time. How to appeal to both men and women? We aren't really sure how we managed to create a male and a female character who appeal across gender lines. There's just something in both Ian and Bess that reaches people without regard to gender. And if we had to guess, it's probably because we care about our characters and let them be real people. Both Bess and Rutledge have their own codes of conduct, their own beliefs and feelings, their own way of looking at the world that makes them what they are. It's true of the minor characters as well. They aren't just there to support the hero/heroine. They have their own part to play. And readers seem to respond to this. Anybody else have a comment on this? C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46641203749310342082015-07-31T19:11:02.005-04:002015-07-31T19:11:02.005-04:00Great interview, Debs & C and C! Thank you for...Great interview, Debs & C and C! Thank you for the synopsis.<br /><br />Perfectly gorgeous cover! I'm fully primed to read your latest.<br /><br />Crimson Fields… can't believe it was canceled.<br /><br />Argh... storm just hit. Can't stay... love your books, C and C!Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21422573651579044972015-07-31T19:00:07.310-04:002015-07-31T19:00:07.310-04:00Thanks so much, Marianne. I was surprised too that...Thanks so much, Marianne. I was surprised too that Crimson Fields wasn't renewed. There aren't that many programs that show how women during 1914-18 stepped up to serve their country, but they did, in droves. If they weren't nurses, they replaced men in other fields, from driving omnibuses to growing food. The women who left behind a very protected life and comfortable home to nurse the wounded in appalling conditions deserve to be recognized. One thing I liked was the opening sequence--which showed laundered bed linens and even bandages being dried in the wind. Another was the doctor who was trying new techniques to save limbs. And the women with their bloodstained aprons who helped bring the horribly wounded off the lorries and into the hospital. Just to mention a few things. Maybe we should write to the BBC and remind them that many soldiers survived because of these nurses, and they deserve to be recognized too and given their place in the commemoration of the Great War.C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20408758905076474042015-07-31T18:43:20.394-04:002015-07-31T18:43:20.394-04:00I greatly admire that your Rutledge books appeal e...I greatly admire that your Rutledge books appeal equally to male and female readers. I think that's pretty rare. Another benefit of your partnership, no doubt. My boyfriend is a huge Ian fan (and he's crazy about Ian's car). Sometimes when we pull into a gas station he will say(out of nowhere) "I wish we had Ian's car. He never has to stop for petrol!" Your books have become a real part of our lives. Any tips for aspiring writers on how to grab both male and female readers?susan bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17574178381324033292015-07-31T17:18:11.216-04:002015-07-31T17:18:11.216-04:00I'm late to the party today. What a thrill to...I'm late to the party today. What a thrill to have the Todds here. I love your Bess books and I have this one on pre-order.<br /><br />I enjoyed Crimson Field and I am so annoyed that BBC cancelled it and is not making another season. (Richard Rankin is adorable.) I'm hoping (fingers crossed)that PBS makes future episodes. It was overly dramatic as far as the personal lives went but I thought of Bess throughout. I've seen the first episode of ANZAC Girls and it seems it's time to look at the rest.<br /><br />Best wishes with the release. I can't wait to read it.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51489193868344394632015-07-31T16:41:56.292-04:002015-07-31T16:41:56.292-04:00Charles just pointed out that somehow we skipped a...Charles just pointed out that somehow we skipped answering Yvonne. But first let me say I think you are right, the British are less likely to bring up unpleasant things or family concerns. When they do talk to us, we appreciate it!<br />As for how do we keep the books seamless? First of all, we didn't want to distract readers by having them picking out what Charles wrote or what Caroline wrote. And we didn't really go for the idea of you write the even pages and I do the odd ones kind of splitting up the book. But these sort of took care of themselves when we discovered that working without an outline meant we had to do each scene together. So what you read on the book's page is what we've hammered out together, starting with what the scene is about, who is it about, and where it's supposed to go. By the time we're at the writing stage for a scene, we have done a lot of the writing already in testing various possibilities. Then it's just a matter of choosing what works best, what holds the scene together and makes the character work. Truly collaborating. Then we move on to the next scene and do the same. By the time a book comes out, I can't really tell myself what which of us wrote. So it's not so much blood ties as what comes out of the discussions, that makes it appear seamless. Does that make any sense?C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34711814458852223402015-07-31T16:28:25.632-04:002015-07-31T16:28:25.632-04:00Debs, I did email you but to make sure, my email i...Debs, I did email you but to make sure, my email is patdupuy@yahoo.com. Can't wait to read The Girl in the Glass. Thank you.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7840599140131747552015-07-31T16:26:45.085-04:002015-07-31T16:26:45.085-04:00Not to get controversial, :-),but last week we wen...Not to get controversial, :-),but last week we went to our local little dairy farm cum ice cream place, and they had something like 27 flavors. Reading through them I found I was going for my favorite again, rather than experimenting with something new. And my favorite is Turtle, which is chocolate with loops of caramel and pieces of pecan. My second favorite is Black Forest, with chocolate and chunks of real dark cherries. Do you stick with the same flavor all the time, or are you like Charles, eager to experiment? Someone else told me that the new salty caramel, vanilla with caramel chunks and bits of sea salt. Yes, I know ice cream is going to end up on our hips before we finish the cone, we're only human. And it's 90 degrees out there...C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20917059014448240782015-07-31T16:00:37.436-04:002015-07-31T16:00:37.436-04:00Yes, yesterday was our disaster day! By afternoon ...Yes, yesterday was our disaster day! By afternoon I was ready to go back to bed and start all over again. <br />A great question, Lucy!<br />We hadn't had any experience in collaborating and sort of made up our rules as we went along. So when it came to disagreements, we always fell back on what is best for the character. Surprisingly--at the time, it makes great sense now--it worked for us, and settled many a disagreement fairly quickly and without any real argument. And it's true, you know--whether it is dialogue or action or character development, a false step can change things pretty quickly. I think it's a rule that any writer can use, not just collaborators. For those of you out there considering writing, it's a form of self-editing that really helps because it keeps your focus. C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65823881898990034222015-07-31T15:51:07.446-04:002015-07-31T15:51:07.446-04:00Kate, I read TESTAMENT years ago, and it was indee...Kate, I read TESTAMENT years ago, and it was indeed a powerful book. I haven't seen the movie, and I'm glad to hear you liked it, that it's really important to see. I had a professor who was very much interested in Lawrence of Arabia, and the Arab war. He loaned me several books I couldn't find elsewhere, including TESTAMENT. I was worried, to tell you the truth, that they might have used the wrong actors to play the parts. That can be awful, when you remember a book so well. Glad to know I have nothing to worry about!<br />C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51594645939395885892015-07-31T15:29:53.432-04:002015-07-31T15:29:53.432-04:00Deb. you've just whetted my appetite! And I kn...Deb. you've just whetted my appetite! And I know Duncan, he'll try to do all this on his own, choosing his friends, but I will bet you he can't keep Gemma in the dark for very long! <br /><br />But I can begin to see why you didn't rush this book out this year--it's complex and there's intrigue and danger too, all of which take careful plotting. There's going to be a major impact on Duncan's world, as well, which has to be handled delicately. We faced much the same problem with A FINE SUMMER'S DAY, which went back to 1914, and Rutledge before the war changed him. There were nuances, shifts in characters in the course of the book, details that had to fit in perfectly with what we'd already written about Rutledge. Very much a challenge as well as being so exciting. You're wise to take you time and get it just right. Your fans will be grateful for that. They are counting on you. C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83313000566544535292015-07-31T15:10:01.766-04:002015-07-31T15:10:01.766-04:00Hi, Julia, good luck asking your son! I had to wai...Hi, Julia, good luck asking your son! I had to wait and wait for Charles to think it over. And I expect boredom with his hectic travel schedule decided him more than the idea of writing together. But I will say this, once he got hooked on the project, he was right there, doing his share. My daughter has her father's brain, more scientific. Although I'm told she's writing children's stories as a way to relax from her work. Can't wait to see them if it's true.C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28695246781309804192015-07-31T15:06:00.781-04:002015-07-31T15:06:00.781-04:00Always a pleasure, Maryanne. And I have to agree t...Always a pleasure, Maryanne. And I have to agree that Crimson Fields was more intent on the personal problems than the war, but I loved watching "Bess's war". I think ANZAC GIRLS is far better, because you get to see a lot more about Gallipoli and the Down Under contribution to the war. For instance, an officer who didn't believe women should be out there as nurses--that orderlies could do just as well--rationed water for the wounded, even for bathing them to prevent infection. This fifty years after Florence Nightingale showed the world that clean patients survived better. But it happened. And these women were dumped in the most awful circumstances, and still they persevered. Delicate blossoms or not, women can step up and do their bit, and it was fascinating to watch. I think you'll like it. It's not just a woman's show, either. My male friends in England enjoyed it just as much.C and Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56279942753434056282015-07-31T15:02:30.678-04:002015-07-31T15:02:30.678-04:00Oops--of course I meant to say SCOTT & Bailey!...Oops--of course I meant to say SCOTT & Bailey!Katie Baerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13927693832402420457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61056855436102969182015-07-31T15:00:55.744-04:002015-07-31T15:00:55.744-04:00Hi Caroline and Charles! so sorry to be late to th...Hi Caroline and Charles! so sorry to be late to the party--it's been that kind of day. Congrats on the new book--I too, am in awe of your schedule and productivity. Do you two ever disagree about what direction the characters should take? And if so, how do you work this out?Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84636990216603050912015-07-31T14:57:07.167-04:002015-07-31T14:57:07.167-04:00Yes, Anonymous, we blamed the men fighting out the...Yes, Anonymous, we blamed the men fighting out there for the government's decision to go to war. And that was wrong. They were asked to serve their country and they did, with honor and courage. We've known a number of Vietnam vets who were out there, and they didn't deserve to have their country turn its back on them. <br /><br />It's nice to hear that you, a nurse, like Bess. A good many nurses have told us this, and we are always pleased to know that we got her right. So many of the qualities that make her a good nurse also make her a good sleuth. In addition to her training, she has to be observant, she has to be objective, she has to follow orders and yet think for herself, and she must be compassionate and committed. There are so many stories of nurses giving comfort to the wounded and the dying. That's their line of duty too. And yet they shouldered it every time, and it couldn't have been easy. C and Cnoreply@blogger.com