Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Rhys on What We're Writing: Georgie and the dangers of Africa

RHYS BOWEN: My next Royal Spyness book comes out in August and it's called LOVE AND DEATH AMONG THE CHEETAHS.  As you read it you will appreciate the play on words in this title. The book takes place in the part of Kenya known as the Happy Valley where British aristocrats lived a life of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll. Georgie and Darcy go there on their honeymoon and you can imagine how shocked Georgie would be at this sort of behavior.  Her great grandmother Queen Victoria certainly would not have been amused!

Georgie is entranced at such a wonderful honeymoon until she realizes that Darcy must have an ulterior motive for taking her there. Something is going on, beyond the debauchery. However it seems that all around there are dangers big and small, both human and animal. This scene is part of Georgie's introduction to the area:

I glanced around and realized I had come further than I intended. I could only just catch a glimpse of the house through the trees.
            “I should go back,” I told myself.
            I nearly jumped out of my skin when a deep voice right behind me said, “Don’t move. Don’t take another step.”
            I wanted to turn and see who was speaking, but I did as I was told and remained frozen.
            “Now slowly step backward,” said the voice, “And slightly to your left.”
            I took one step backward, then another until a pair of hands landed on my shoulders, making me jump again. This time I turned around and saw a large middle aged man with a weathered face and a strong jaw line looking down at me. In his youth he would have been extremely handsome. He was quite good looking still, a powerful man with deeply tanned skin and bright blue eyes. His sun-streaked  hair he wore rather long so that it curled over his collar. In spite of the cold he was wearing an open necked shirt.
            “You should look where you are walking and not take the forest lightly,” he said. “All sort of things live here that would love to kill you.”
“Was I in danger?” I asked. I scanned the trees, trying to spot a lurking lion or elephant but could see nothing.
“You really were,” he said. “One of the most deadly encounters you could have is right at your feet.”
He pointed to the forest floor. A foot or so ahead of me was a wide black ribbon and it was alive and moving.
“Siafu,” he said.
I peered at them. “Ants?”
“Driver ants. They can kill anything that is weak or can’t move. If you tripped and fell down they’d swarm all over you in seconds and even if you managed to run away their bite is extremely painful. In fact the soldier ants at the outside of the column bite and won’t let go. The Masai use them for sutures when they are gashed in the bush.”
I was still staring in fascination at the black moving ribbon of ants. Then I remembered my manners and turned to my rescuer. “Thank you so much. You obviously saved me from a nasty fate.”
“Glad to be of service,” he said. “Even though I should shoot you as a trespasser on my land.”
“Your land? Golly , I thought I was in Diddy’s back garden,” I said.
“Up here at the edge of the forest our estates merge,” he said. “We don’t put up fences. No point. The elephants would just knock them down.  You’re also lucky you didn’t meet an elephant, by the way.” He held out a large hand. “I’m Lord Cheriton. They call me Bwana around here. And you are?”
“Lady Georgiana Rannoch—I mean O’Mara,” I said. “I’m sorry, this has quite unnerved me. I’ve just got married. I keep forgetting.”
He laughed then. “Lady Georgiana. Of course. How delightful to meet you. My daughter mentioned you were on the same flight as they were. Come and have some breakfast.”
“I should get back,” I said. “. My husband will be worrying where I’ve got to.”
“Then let me escort you back,” he said. “You never know what other dangers might be
lurking Here, take my arm.”
I could hardly refuse although to be honest I wasn’t quite happy with the way he was looking at me. Rather like the big bad wolf when Little Red Riding hood stepped into the cottage. I half expected him to lick his lips.  Before I could take his arm he had slipped a hand around my waist. “What a delectable little creature you are,” he said. “I shall enjoy getting to know you better."

Will Georgie escape the amorous Lord Cheriton? Will there be worse encounters ahead? And as she puts to Darcy one night, "Exactly why are we here?"
Love and Death Among the Cheetahs is published August 6 and my crazy tour schedule is on my website. Maybe I'll be coming to a town near you. I hope so!. 
AND By the Way: Berkley are going to be having a big celebration for the tenth anniversary of the paperback release of HER ROYAL SPYNESS. Watch out for giveaways!

38 comments:

  1. My goodness, what in the world has Georgie gotten herself into? Those are some scary ants! [And what is Lord Cheriton up to, anyway?]
    I’m really looking forward to reading this, Rhys, and finding out just what Georgie and Darcy are doing in Kenya . . . .

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  2. Oh, I loved this excerpt. It sounds like Georgie is going to be fending off some frisky moves from Lord Cheriton. And the other dangers of the jungle seem to be quite treacherous too. I had no idea about those kind of ants. Yikes! It appears marriage hasn't changed Darcy from his secretive ways, and I wonder just what surprising reason he has for Kenya as their honeymoon destination. Can't wait to read this!

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    1. Africa is STILL a honeymoon and "big vacation" destination for Britons, Kathy. It seems super exotic from the American point of view, but I think all those generations of colonial ties make it more familiar to the British. Ross and I went on safari in 1998 with his father, and almost everyone we met at the various camps was English.

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    2. What a great trip that must have been for you and Ross and his father, Julia. My husband and I would love to do an African safari, but with so many other places on my bucket list, I doubt I'll get to that. And speaking of Kenya, the book I gave my granddaughter for high school graduation was Out of Africa.

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  3. So, okay, can't help wondering whether Lord Cheriton should have a few of those ants attached to his backside! Great excerpt, Rhys, can't wait to read the rest!

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  4. I can’t wait to hear the rest, and I’m expecting to learn a lot about Kenya, too!

    DebRo

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  5. I can hardly wait to read about Georgie's adventures in Kenya and find out why Darcy chose it! Maybe we'll finally learn exactly what he does for the government. What a great title, Rhys.

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  6. Tenth anniversary?!
    Wow. Congratulations.

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  7. Ten years of Lady Georgiana? Wow, time flies. Congrats on the new book.

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    1. I was amazed when I read that, Kristopher. Rhys' stories seem so fresh, I really had to look twice at the idea Lady Georgie has been around for ten years!

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  8. Looks like a great read. Congratulations!

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  9. A great teaser Rhys, I shall look forward to reading it. Kenya is very different nowadays.

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    1. Celia, I forget - your family was in Africa at some point, wasn't it?

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  10. I'm looking forward to August 6th, and love the title of this new book. Congratulations on ten years of the wonderful Lady Georgie!

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  11. Well Rhys, you've finally done it. In spite of my self-delusion that I don't care for historical mysteries, the combination of this wonderful excerpt plus how much I've enjoyed your two recent stand-alones has finally convinced me. I'm going to start the Royal Spyness series forthwith. Thank you for writing such quality material that it makes me challenge my assumptions!

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    1. Susan, you will love the series, and may find yourself rolling on the floor in laughter!

      DebRo

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    2. Susan, they are very clever and funny--as well as being historically interesting. You will love them!

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  12. Rhys, what a delicious read! How much research went into this book? Or is it that you just happen to have random facts about African insect life stored away for future reference? Can't wait. I'm going to check your website for your tour schedule. I'll be in Novato in mid-August so fingers crossed!

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  13. oooh...so wonderful! And full of undercurrent and foreshadowing. Love that! And what a different time that was--must have been fascinating to write! And you have so captured your Georgie. What a triumph. I am in awe of you, dear Rhys!

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  14. Rhys, congratulations on ten years of Lady Georgie! I look forward to reading the new book in August. Meanwhile, I will be re-reading all of the Lady Georgie books to help me wait patiently...

    Methinks Bwana is going to be a murder victim, right?

    Have you visited Kenya in real life?

    Diana

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  15. >>>breaking news-- And the WINNER of THE MURDER LIST is Margie Bunting! Email me at hryan at whdh dot com
    AND! "Finta" and Michele Cammarata (Leelee Weim)--email me, too! For another idea.

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  16. Looking forward to reading this.

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  17. Happy Valley was chock full of cheatahs, wasn't it. I'm relieved that was a line of ants and not a freakin' snake. I can't wait to read about newlyweds in Kenya, and why they're there.

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  18. Always happy to reconnect with Georgie and her adventures

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  19. Rhys is sending her regrets for being absent today. She is in England and Blogger is determined to shut her out. Thanks for all the wonderful comments!

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  20. Rhys, such an interesting period in Africa, and a great setting!! I am curious, too, as to whether you visited Kenya?

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  21. Does anyone remember a mini-series called The Heat of the Sun, starring Trevor Eve as a policeman in Kenya's Happy Valley in the 1930s? I just saw it's available on Amazon, going to watch it again!

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  22. This sounds like such fun, Rhys! And congratulations on ten years' worth of Georgie's exploits!

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  23. My brother visited Africa 5 times, all except the Ghana trip included safaris. His last trip was to Kenya where a lady from our church is visiting family now. Looking forward to the new book.

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  24. This is positively delightful, Rhys! I have your ARC on my nightstand and can't wait to dive in!!!

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    1. May I please borrow that ARC? I shouldn’t have read the excerpt...I’ll never make it to August ....I feel like a kid waiting for December 24th....the date will never get here! Georgie is one of my all-time favorite characters....and I’m so grateful that Rhys continues to write such wonderful adventures for her. Congratulations on 10 years of Georgie, Rhys, and fingers crossed for 10 more years!

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  25. useful information on topics that plenty are interested on for this wonderful post.Admiring the time and effort you put into your b!.. write a thesis

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