Rhys is Juggling

 RHYS BOWEN: To say I've been busy is an understatement. I know Jenn has probably written three more books over the Christmas holiday but normal people take time off. Instead I have been working frantically with Clare to finish the next Molly book, called  SILENT AS THE GRAVE when I was actually in the middle of the next Royal Spyness book called WE THREE QUEENS. And then, right before the holiday, I got the copy edits for THE ROSE ARBOR (my next big historical stand alone) and a note to say they wanted them back by January 2.

January 2? Does nobody at that publishing house take the holidays off? Did they expect me to work on copy edits as I wrapped the presents, made beds for visiting family, and cooked the turkey? I left them until everyone had gone home and peace reigned again and just finished in time. Phew. Deep breath.

So now all I have to do is final polish on Silent as the Grave before it goes to publisher and then finish the Royal Spyness book by March 1 when I start on next big stand-alone.  Time to relax? What is that? Sometimes it feels like juggling three balls in the air all the time.  If I'm in the middle of one story, one environment, it's really hard to switch my mind to copy edits for another.

Sorry. I don't have any covers to share yet. We're working on a final cover for the Rose Arbor. More soon.

So I wasn't sure which of my current endeavors to share with you today, but decided on the new Molly story, because it's so interesting. It takes place in the world of silent movies. Clare has done so much brilliant research so that everything we write about is authentic for the time. We're seeing the birth of real motion pictures with a story and special effects. One thing we learned was the amount of risks they took to get realism--like filming scenes on real train tracks, not having warned real locomotive engineers what they were doing. And yes, quite a few people got killed during these risky scenes.

Here is one from our story:

Ryan and Bridie acted out a scene in front of the backdrop. Bridie ran away and Ryan followed. As he grabbed her arm she fainted, he dragged her across the tracks and tied her down tightly. She woke up and cried out in horror.

                “Make sure you get her face, Billy. Sweetheart, you have to look more scared. O’Hare tighten those ropes” DW kept up a running commentary.

                “If I can’t have you, no one will,” Ryan twirled his mustache as he gazed down at Bridie. “But I will inherit all you own.” He threw back his head with an evil laugh.

                “Train!” I heard the far-off cry. Ryan looked up and laughed again. My heart started to thump loudly. “Train,” I heard the cry nearer this time. The train was coming, and Bridie was tied to the tracks!

 “Bridie!” I screamed. I set Liam down and leapt up ready to run and untie her, but before I could take a step Bridie raised both arms, two crew members leaped from behind the backdrop, each took a hand and pulled her clear. The ropes that looked so tightly bound had been just draped around her body and released her instantly.  I scooped up Liam and sat back down, my heart beating out of my chest. As soon as Bridie had cleared the track one crew member helped her down the embankment while the other was putting the identically dressed mannequin onto it. He ducked back under the canvas backdrop.

                A Pacific engine came around a bend, puffing out steam. This train was not coming slowly like the one before it. It thundered down the track. The engineer must not have been told that a dummy would be on the track because suddenly the train whistle sounded again and again. The shrieking sound of brakes filled the air. What’s more, Billy was now lying on the track itself behind the mannequin with the camera pointing at the oncoming train. Was he mad? I wanted to stand up again and shout for them to stop this right now.

“Flag,” DW called, and the red flag went up. The police wagon now came thundering toward the train at full speed. The train slowed but it seemed impossible that it would not run over the mannequin or Billy. At the last moment Johnny darted up to the track and grabbed the mannequin by the arms. He dove out of the way of the train, pulling the mannequin with him. Billy rolled off the track, holding his camera, as the train missed him by inches. It took about twenty more yards for the train to stop. Passengers in the front car were screaming. The engineer peered out amid the smoke. He flung open the door of the cab and jumped out, white-faced, running back to where he expected to find a body.

“What the hell are you playing at?” he yelled at Billy who was checking his camera for damage.

It seems we were lucky that time, but what if they had to re-shoot that scene? Or one in a water tank? And the studio's main rival, Thomas Edison, was not happy... you'll have wait over a year to read the rest!

In the meantime the next Molly book, IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW, comes out in March. It's set in the Catskills and does have a fabulous cover:

Who has family memories of the Catskills? So many people have shared with us.

And a reminder to join our Facebook group if you haven't already done so: Reds and Readers! Come on over and join now. I'm having a little contest.... See you there.

Oh and many congrats to our own Grace Koshida who has been named fan guest of honor at Left Coast Crime 2025!