RHYS BOWEN: I’m currently working frantically with my daughter Clare to finish our next Molly Murphy book before I have to start my next Spyness. (Yes, I know. Two and a half books is crazy unless your name is Jenn. Then it’s slacking).
It’s not bad. We know where we are going. We know whodunit and why and how. It’s just a question of letting the reader unravel the clues without getting bored. For us the interesting thing about this story was that it’s so based on real life. It’s set in the world of the first motion pictures when the two competing studios (Biograph and Edison) were both in New York. Our characters are thinly disguised real people, except for DW Griffith who plays himself. And based on a real mystery: Louis Le Prince was the real inventor of the movie camera, over in England. Other companies fought him to try to claim his patents. And one day he got on a train and never got off. Completely disappeared. Never seen again. Then, two years later his son was out duck hunting and… was shot. Enough to make a mystery writer salivate, don’t you think?
So we (especially Clare) have been doing lots of research into those early days. They’ve just started making real movies with a story line rather than special effects to show what the camera can do. One of the innovators was a woman called Alice Guy (we’ve slightly fictionalized her too). She’s always listed as secretary but she was the brains behind so many things. Who knew that fade in and fade out were created using a cigar box over the lense?
We’ve images of the old buildings: Biograph on 14th Street and Edison’s brand new building in the Bronx. They shot several movies at once, shouting out commands to the actors, because the movies were silent, of course! And the actors: no credits with their names appeared on the final product. Why? Because they might develop a following and the studio would have to pay them more.
Also they did so many real and terrible stunts, like using real train tracks (without notifying the railway company) and car chases, sometimes resulting in the death of the actor. All good stuff if you want to kill somebody in a story! It’s working title is SILENT AS THE GRAVE. Will that stick? Who knows. But it comes out March 2025. I love books where you actually learn something—a snippet of history or facts about some industry, lifestyle—don’t you?
And next year’s book comes out March 2024. It’s called IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW and it takes place in the Catskills where a lot was going on in 1907….
This is fascinating, Rhys . . . who knew the early days of the movies were so wild? I'm looking forward to reading both of these stories . . . .
ReplyDeleteRhys and Clare, silent films is amongst my favorites. Love the title "Silent as the Grave". And I look forward to reading the Molly mystery set in the Catskills. Excited about reading both Molly books. And Rhys is writing the next Royal Spyness mystery.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, they would show silent films at an old fashioned pizza parlour. There also is a Silent Film Festival in San Francisco and I used to go before the pandemic with friends.
Here is some trivia:
Didn't Edison have some hearing loss? I think I read that somewhere...
Did you know that some of the movie directors communicated with the actors in Sign Language? Silent movies gave Deaf actors equal opportunities to act in movies because they did not need to speak with their voices.
Charlie Chaplin hired a Deaf artist, Granville Redmond, to act in his silent films. I think there was a silent film about Dogs and he is in that movie. Granville was a landscape artist.
Cesar Romero, the actor well known for his role as the Joker in Batman, came from an acting family. His Uncle and his wife were Deaf actors from Cuba. They were actors in Silent films.
When I was writing a research paper on Silent Films, I had the opportunity to visit the Library of Congress to watch Silent Films. I watched many Silent Films and I saw many actors communicate in Sign Language or gestures. There were a lot of facial expressions. For all we know, some of these actors could have been Deaf. There are no names of the actors. It was rare to see the names of the actors in Silent movies.
Here is the link to a book about Deaf actors and Deaf actresses in Hollywood, including Silent movies:
https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Speaks-Deafness-Entertainment-Industry/dp/0252068505
Diana
This is all so fascinating, Diana. Thank you for educating us!
DeleteBoth of these books sound wonderful. I like the title Silent as the Grave, too. And to answer Rhys's question, yes, I love learning things in books. It's a main reason I'm drawn to read historical fiction. I love the Molly Murphy series.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI like to think I learn something new from every book I read. Whether it's a new recipe, or about a location the book is based in, and I love historical mysteries for the times and the fashions.
ReplyDeleteRHYS: Setting your new book during the early days of movies is fascinating. I do enjoy learning about the past while reading historical fiction. The image of these movie makers doing real stunts on train tracks or car crashes is vivid. Beyond watching some silent films by Charlie Chaplin a long time ago, I can't remember (re)watching many early movies on TV.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, writing 2.5 books/year is a crazy pace. I don't know how you, Jenn & Edith/Maddie write several books/year. I am a fast reader, but it is hard to keep up with you all!
Thank you, Grace. Jenn leaves me in the dust, though...
DeleteMe too, Grace. I can't keep up with all of these incredible series. I may have to give up reading and then rereading by listening to the same books...nope, some recorded books are just too good.
DeleteJUDY: I don't have any free time to re-read since I am busy enough reading ARCS, and new books in series by favourite authors, including those mentioned above.
DeleteLooking forward to both new Molly books! Some interesting tidbits of real history uncovered. I wonder where Le Prince disappeared to? And the stunts, gah.
ReplyDeleteOf course I love learning history through fiction, at least when I know the author has done her research - like you and Clare. I also love learning it through writing my own fiction. Bring it on!
It’s interesting that we become accidental experts, isn’t it, Edith?
DeleteYes, I am interested in both and thrilled that "Silent as the Grave" will be that one in seventeen mysteries I read that my partner Donald will consume. He is an expert in the Broadway theatre in just that era and knows a lot about the conflict between stage and screen then.
ReplyDeleteThat would also be fascinating! They paid movie actors peanuts!
DeleteWhen I was a small child, we spent a lot of time in NYC at my grandmother's apartment. We watched TV for hours because we couldn't go out to play on our own. Even in the 1950's, NY had about a dozen stations so there were movies and cartoons galore. My memory of watching old movies and silent films must be true otherwise how could I remember seeing so many. Okay. Rhys, you sent me down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover (so recognizable and stunning) for your "Molly in the Catskills" and am very excited about the book you and Clare are writing now. I am so glad that Clare joined you in continuing the Molly Murphy series! If I am allowed to have favorites however, Lady Georgie and her humorous escapades are the stories I anticipate like a kid before a pile of wrapped presents!
Both books sound wonderful, Rhys. It's fascinating to learn the history of things. No names in the credits because they might develop a following. Well, that happened, didn't it?
ReplyDeleteFascinating discoveries you and Clare are making. I often think that the things I learn while researching ought to make me really good at trivia games. The trick for me is retaining and retrieving what I learn in the heat of the moment!
ReplyDeleteIsn’t that true!
DeleteI remember a very old book I once read - maybe given to me by my grandmother - it was a novel that featured very early movie-making. That's about all I remember, other than it might have included a sort of Nancy Drew-type character but maybe that was just because she drove a roadster. Actually now I am sorry I brought it up since I don't remember enough to make it worthwhile. It might have been part of a series and the girl had other adventures, too. As I recall it was printed in the 1920s or earlier. No idea of title or author.
ReplyDeleteWould it have been Trixie Belden? (Elizabeth)
DeleteNow I am curious......hmm will try to Google it for an answer.
DeleteTrixie Belden books were not published that early. Published in the fifties and sixties.
DeleteNot Trixie - I think I read all of those books and it was nothing like that. But thank you for trying!
DeleteYou absolutely never cease to amaze me! Absolutely incredibly perfectly wonderful. And what a perfect milieu. Fabulous. And the clothes will be great too :-) and now, because of the title, I am singing Danny Boy.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of your research, Rhys. You and the wonderful Clare seem to do it so incredibly quickly.
Clare is my fabulous researcher these days! She finds out so much good stuff!
DeleteLove the cover on the new Molly! And the research for the Molly-in-progress--exciting and disturbing--given that the son was shot, I feel like the father didn't step off that train into a new life! It's great to see how skillful you and Clare are at adding in those historical tidbits, but not overwhelming the story. Looking forward to both books!! And the title, it seemed to me I'd heard it before and there are a bunch of books with that title. It does suit your story, though.
ReplyDeleteWe may not end up with the title. It depends how recently and by whom it was used
DeleteI don’t know how you write multiple books per year and keep them all straight! I cannot keep up with reading everything I am interested in!
ReplyDeleteOnly one at a time and then I’m fully focused on it!
DeleteThe new book sounds so good, Rhys! I haven't really dipped into the Molly Murphy books, but I love the kind of research you and Claire are doing, so this one will definitely go on my list of books to read. So many ways to get yourself killed in those early movies. What fertile ground for a mystery writer! I can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that slacking comment made me laugh - I would say the same of you, Rhys. LOL. I LOVE the cover of IN SUNSHINE - it feels very Nancy Drewesque, which is a compliment! Also, the premise of the new one is fascinating. I didn’t know any of that movie trivia. I can’t wait for both!
ReplyDeleteYes! It feels very Nancy Drewesque to me too. Diana
DeleteRhys, you and Clare are having too much fun!! I love the cover of In Sunshine--have we seen it before, and I just somehow missed it? And I love the movie research for the book-in-progress. I don't know how you keep all the books you're working on straight. I have a hard enough time with one!
ReplyDelete"Keeping busy?" That's an understatement. I love anything about the moviemaking business so can't wait to read it. Reminded me of the priceless clip I recently saw from a Charlie Chaplin Movie - Tramp works on assembly line and gets sucked into the machinery. I can't even imagine how they filmed t without killing an actor or two.
ReplyDeleteAs a movie lover, already can't wait for 2025's Molly book. And I know I will enjoy Sunshine this coming March. Agree with the others, the cover is awesome.
ReplyDeleteA lot of early silent movies were filmed at the Niles Canyon studios in the Bay Area. They filmed from 1905 into the forties. There is still a film museum in Niles. Near Fremont, California. Janet Dawson has written a few books with the early film industry as part of the background of her books.
ReplyDeleteNiles studios existed before any movie industry in southern California.
Anon, that’s fascinating! Rhys, I wonder if you and Claire have visited this film museum since it’s not too far from you (as opposed to NY or LA, anyway)? Both of your books sound very intriguing. Can’t wait! — Pat S
Delete"Yes, I know. Two and a half books is crazy unless your name is Jenn. Then it’s slacking."
ReplyDeleteI literally laughed out loud. Jenn makes us all look like dilettantes! I love the real history behind the early days of movie making - I knew it started with Edison, but I had no idea about the other stuff - no credits for the actors (who were also putting themselves in danger) in case they developed fans! I guess we can see why they need SAG-AFTRA.
I can't wait to read it, Rhys!
Early filmmaking will be a wonderful theme for the next Molly. Years ago PBS showed a series called Flickers starring Bob Hoskins and Frances de la Tour. Anyone watch it? The two formed an unlikely partnership and went into the early film industry in England. It was great!
ReplyDeleteImagine not naming the actors in the credits! Thanks for this preview of coming attractions about early silent movies, Rhys. I knew about the actors doing their own stunts--I'm a big Buster Keaton fan, and the things he does in his movies are terrifying and wildly impressive. I can easily imagine actors dying right and left in wild car chases! Looking forward.
ReplyDeleteWow, Rhys, a fascinating project--or projection? Also, some many endeavors in the twentieth century, like the building of the Hoover Dam, took for granted that workers would die. Looking forward to the finished book!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to get both of the next books. Terrific backgrounds to pull us in.
ReplyDelete