Saturday, November 18, 2017

Rhys Spreads a Little Christmas Cheer

RHYS BOWEN: This has been the week when the Reds take over the world. Well, not quite. Writers are known to embellish the truth, but this week we are celebrating THREE Reds releases, which is pretty amazing, don't you think.

And Ingrid has kindly given me a day to talk a little about mine. It's called THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST and is a Molly Murphy book--as you can guess from the cover it's another Christmas story. Having already published two books this year, In Farleigh Field in the spring and On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service in August, I really didn't have time to write a third book this year. I mean, only a crazy person (or maybe our darling Jenn) would think of writing three books in a year. But my publisher kept on at me: couldn't I find time for maybe a shorter book, a Christmas book? And in the end it was easier to say yes.

And my editor said, "Do you have an idea for another Christmas book?"
 And off the top of my head I replied, "How about on Christmas Eve a small child walks out into the snow and simply vanishes. The footsteps just stop."
And she said, "Ooh, I love it!"
And as I walked away I remember thinking, "I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to make that work!"

But it did work, and I think you'll find it both suspenseful and heartwarming. As with all my Molly books, her own story is always woven into the plot. And this time she is in a dark place--I won't tell you why. You have to read the book. But finding this young mother's tragic story helps her to heal from her own depression.

So Jenn and I will be part of the Poisoned Pen holiday party in Scottsdale tomorrow at 2 p.m. and we'll be happy to sign copies for you (books make great Christmas presents. Think of Iceland!)

Also this week marks another huge anniversary for me and real cause for celebration: TWENTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK MY FIRST MYSTERY WAS PUBLISHED.  Evans Above. With a print run of 2500. And an advance so small that... well let's just say it took care of a trip to Starbucks.

This should be a heartening tale for those of you at the start of your writing careers. I knew nobody in the mystery community. I had zero encouragement from my publisher. My book was on the very last page of the catalog. And in addition to those, when I should have been trying to publicize the book I was instead in Australia with my mum who was dying of pancreatic cancer.

 But I had a three book contract--there was a glimmer of hope. I joined SinC and MWA. I went to as many bookstores as I could. And my second book was nominated for a Barry Award: on a list with Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, Jeffrey Deaver: I thought someone was playing a cruel joke when they sent me the notification. But it was true. And it gave me tremendous hope. Important people thought my book was worth reading!

My one piece of luck was that in those days there was a mystery bookstore in almost every city. My husband retired and together we criss-crossed the country signing and speaking at any bookstore that would have me. Usually with an audience of 2 or three. Robin Agnew at Aunt Agathas reminded me that the first time it was herself and one Welsh woman at my signing. Last summer they had to hold my event at the library because the store wasn't big enough!

Exactly the same with the Poisoned Pen. Only three or four people but Barbara Peters believed in me and kept inviting me back and now it's quite normal to sell over 100 books there.

 So you beginning writers here is my message: Have faith. Believe in your own talent. Write the best book you can, every time. Be partners with as many bookstores as possible. Speak anywhere you are asked. Make the most of the all the great opportunities MWA and SinC offer you and realize that for most of us it is small steps forward.  Unless the publisher offers you a six figure advance you are not going to get any real help from them. It's all up to you!

So keep working hard. Next February will see the publication of my FORTIETH mystery/suspense novel. Again it's historical and it's called THE TUSCAN CHILD.  And one day you might switch on your computer to see this:

Okay, I realize that the other two are in this position habitually and I only pop in occasionally but it's still very nice!

And I'm happy to give away a signed copy of THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST to one lucky commenter today!  All you'll need is a roaring fire, a cup of tea and a box of chocolates and you're all set for the season!

38 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your newest book, Rhys. I have been anxiously looking forward to reading “The Ghost of Christmas Past” . . . that small child walking out into the snow and vanishing, along with Molly’s continuing story, sounds like a simply irresistible story. Add a roaring fire and a cup of tea . . . perfection!

    Congratulations on your twentieth anniversary for having your mystery stories published. Your heartwarming recollections of that journey through those twenty years gave me shivers. We’re so lucky --- you’ve given us so many wonderful books to read . . . .

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  2. Such lovely, encouraging words for writers at the start of their journey, Rhys.

    I can't wait to read both the new books. Best of luck with them! Did you end up writing the Molly book as a novella, or did it emerge full-length?

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  3. Rhys, you bring tears to my eyes! This is absolute perfection. And so are you!
    Have fun at Poisoned Pen! Xxxxx

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  4. Congratulations on the new book, and happy anniversary, dear Rhys!

    I love how you make your ideas work, too. You inspire, always.

    Coincidentally, in this morning's email was my own little ray of hope. On December 4th there is a planning meeting here in Cincinnati about finally starting our own chapter of Sisters in Crime! I am all verklempt. Yes, I will definitely help with the effort.

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    1. That will be wonderful, Karen. When it's up and running invite one of us in the speakers bureau to come and talk to you!
      And last night we had a planning meeting with The Baldinis about next summers Tuscany trip. I thought fondly of the last one

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    2. Cajsa made a post on Facebook this morning, with reference to your evening.

      And what a good idea about the speakers bureau. Thanks!

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    3. Karen, invite ALL the Jungle Reds! Wouldn't that be fun? Hurray! Cannot wait to come visit.

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  5. Rhys, you inspire us so! Congratulations on the new Christmas book and all your well-deserved success. We are proud of you and so delighted that you're a Red!

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  6. Congrats on your publishing anniversary, Rhys! I finished The Ghost of Christmas Past last night and **loved** it. It was exactly what I was in the mood to read. Heck, I'm always in the mood to read your books. Thanks for another wonderful Christmas cozy.

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  7. Congratulations on your new book and your ongoing success! It’s the ‘having Ideas’ part of writing mysteries that, well, mystifies me: I am in awe of just how many you must have had and then developed into full-length stories over the years. I can’t seem to get a glimmer of one in my own mind! But it doesn’t matter, as the Reds provide me with oodles of reading pleasure. I’ll just keep relying on you and your guest bloggers to introduce me to new stories to enjoy!

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  8. Happy anniversary Rhys! And congratulations on the latest book! You've been providing reading pleasure for so many of us for such a long time now and I thank you.

    DebRo

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  9. Congratulations on the book, Rhys. And thank you for the wonderful words of encouragement.

    Mary/Liz

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  10. Rhys, I love Molly! I'm about halfway finished reading Ghosts of Christmas Past (library copy) and it is every bit as good as all of the others! Of course I read In Farleigh Field but I am a couple books behind with the Royal Spyness books. Goodness - an author who writes almost faster than I read!

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  11. Rhys, I first stumbled upon your books through Molly; it wasn't until I found JRW that I realized you were writing another series--Lady Georgie--and had already written the Evan Evans series--AND THEN, to top it off, you casually (or so it seemed) toss out the news that you've written a standalone AND with that success, another standalone....and you squeeze out a Molly Christmas story in time to give us a special holiday treat.

    The story of your beginnings as a writer shows how hard you have worked to earn your much-deserved success--and your prodigious output shows how hard you continue to work! Congratulations!!!

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  12. Happy days, Rhys. I think I will give Julie, who is a new Rhys Bowen fan, a copy of this on Christmas Eve a la Iceland. A child vanishes on Christmas Eve instead of a child appearing -- a new twist on an old story!

    Aside -- I read the banner every day, "8 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life. It's The View. With bodies", and I think "but there are bodies on the view." Today, finally, all theses years later, I get it. Duh. So much for my brain power.

    Maybe the older I get, the farther those dimes have to drop?

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  13. How kind you are, Rhys. You are celebrating a new book, which sounds wonderful, but you spend most of your blog encouraging others. I know that the generosity I find in this blog from all eight of you keeps me reading every day. I read all of the books written by the Reds and many that you suggest. Thank you and I love Christmas books!

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  14. The Ghost of Christmas Past sounds like a wonderful Christmas mystery, and the cover is truly gorgeous! I love reading Christmas stories and am so glad your editor talked you writing "just one more" book for 2017. Congrats on your Amazon ranking -- very cool!

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  15. Congratulations on a marvelous 20 years! I love Molly and the historical settings. It makes me so glad to live in this time period with all the comfort amenities, where I can comfortably kick back with all the conveniences and have more time for reading. Thanks for all your encouraging words for new writers. I hope to be one somehow, someway. With years of writing scientific papers and translating them into everyday people stories, I hope I can transition into dialogues. Even if I don't, it is fascinating how you all create your stories and series. I am so grateful to writers like you who can keep a series going. I get so attached to the characters and settings. Thanks for a Christmas bonus. I can't wait to read it! Best wishes!!!

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  16. Rhys,

    Congrats on the new Molly Murphy story. I'm a huge fan of the series and am always eagerly awaiting the next book. I do wish that you could make it to Massachusetts for a signing someday.

    (Hank, Hallie...a little help here with the cajoling, please?)

    I discovered the series back in 2006 with the publication of Book 5 "Oh Danny Boy". It was in an AP article, published in my local paper on March 15th of that year, that talked about a bunch of different books that celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Your book was mentioned and I loved the description of it. Of course, I immediately went out and bought all five books (I always start from the beginning) and have been hooked since.

    Should you wonder about the article here's the online link to it: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20060315/LIFE/303159926

    I loved your story about starting out and where your literary path has gone.


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    1. I have been to Mass to sign, Jay. Just not for about 4 years. My publisher never sends me that Far East!

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    2. Darn it all to heck, didn't know you'd been here before. Just my luck!

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  17. You have piqued my interest with this teaser! I have been doing some research to help my daughter who will be presenting her great-great-grandmother's immigration story for her own daughter's fourth grade class on Monday. Molly Casey sailed on the Steamer Saxonia from Ireland (Queenstown) to Boston in 1903. We have her luggage tag!

    Thanks for your contributions to history and fiction!

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    1. She sailed just a couple of years after my Molly, Denise! Was she in steerage or did she have a cabin?

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    2. I don't know the details but I expect steerage. She left a poor farm and many siblings in Mitchelstown, Cork -- at 17 -- became a cook in a Boston suburb.

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  18. Can't wait to read your Christmas book! Good for you, Rhys. You've worked hard and it has paid off. And you have legions of bookloving fans.

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  19. Rhys, I love the premise for the new book. It definitely sounds like a perfect book to enjoy curled up by the fire. Thank you for sharing your publishing story with us. I love hearing about the path different writers take to get where they are. Although the paths may vary, persistence and tenacity always play a role. I'm so glad you were persistent (and prolific!) and that I'm your sister in Red!

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  20. 20 years. And 40 books next spring? Thanks for all the wonderful reading over the years. Not that I've been reading you for quite 20 years since I think the 6th Evan book was out when I finally listened to Linda Bivens and started your books. I instantly fell in love.

    My copy of this book arrived this week, and I'm saving it for December. Looking forward to finding out what Molly is up to.

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  21. Rhys, so excited to have another Molly Christmas book! And the cover is gorgeous! You are such an inspiration. Forty books in twenty years!!!!!! And always trying something new! Thanks for sharing your publishing story. I'm sure it will be heartening to beginning writers everywhere.

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  22. There's so much to congratulate you on today, Rhys! Twenty years ago your first mystery, forty books written with your next book, crowds at your book signing that require large venues, and number one ranking on Amazon. Wow! I so appreciate your hard work and am so happy for your success. With all of that, you remain so gracious and generous to your fans and other authors. I know that I am elated to have three books from you to read this year.

    And, a Molly Christmas book! The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the story sounds so enticing. I have my copy all ready to read. I'm finishing up another book (so many wonderful books just out)and had planned to read The Ghost of Christmas Past next, but I may save it until next weekend when the Thanksgiving craziness is over, and I can sit and relax with a great read.

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  23. "All you'll need is a roaring fire, a cup of tea and a box of chocolates and you're all set for the season!"
    That's sounds perfect! Although I'll have to skip the roaring fire in south Florida.
    Congratulations all around.
    Libby Dodd

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  24. Rhys, congratulations on your anniversary. One of those serendipitous happenings: over the last couple of months, I've been re-reading the Evan Evans series. Besides your wonderful writing, this has gotten me back into a regular library habit (one of those Luddites who needs a "real book" in her hands.) Thank you, thank you.

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  25. LOVE this cover SO MUCH! Can't wait to see you at the Poisoned Pen tomorrow, Rhys!

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  26. What an exciting anniversary -- congratulations!

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  27. Rhys, I love this series so much I'm entering the contest. What an inspirational story. Congratulations! You're a treasure.

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  28. Thanks so much for sharing your writing. I read some of the Molly Murphy series years ago, then lost track of her and you. I was so excited to rediscover you both! Then Her Royal Spyness, which is now one of my favorite series! I wish you another 20 years of writing. I don’t know how you manage to write, sign, travel, blog...we are women, hear us roar!

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  29. Rhys, I am so glad I stopped by this morning. Saturday was a busy day so I didn't use the computer as much as I usually do. I remember meeting you 20 years ago when you were on a panel with Penny Warner at what used to be Black Oak Bookstore in Berkeley (one block from the Cheeseboard). Black Oak Bookstore is now Books Inc. I remember seeing your Evan Evans book and I bought it. I kept that one and I found your autograph in the book. I had visited Wales a few years before I attended your panel. I thought Wales was so beautiful. We visited Wye Valley.

    I have all of the Evan Evans books. And I look forward to reading Ghost of Christmas Past. I am adding this to my tbr list for December. On Instagram, I took up the 12 days of bookstagram challenge. I agree with Ellen Byron that you are a treasure.

    Diana

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