What Rhys is Supposed to be writing.

 RHYS BOWEN: I've been doing a lot of juggling lately--not with balls or flaming torches, but we various things I'm supposed to be writing. 

1. Clare and I are forging ahead on the next Molly book, called, tentatively A WHIFF OF SCANDAL. It features Vanderbilts, car races, and the moral police.  Clare is doing most of the work and I'm hovering in the background, making occasional suggestions but open to phone calls every evening.

2. I'm about to begin the next Royal Spyness. I was toying with various ideas that might be fun when it suddenly hit me. Duh! It's the Coronation. It has to be about the Coronation to which Georgie and Darcy are invited. And who else might be attending and whether there might be any drama.  No title as yet. If you have any brilliant suggestions to do with being crowned etc, do share them. Unfortunately I used he word Crowned in a title already. 

3. The edits just arrived for the stand alone novel I just turned in. (Called, at this moment FROM SEA TO SKYE). I am always terrified to open that letter in case the editor has said, "While it's a nice story we don't like the main character as a twenty something woman. Could you make her a Russian man of fifty and rewrite the crime in the second half setting it in Chicago?"  Luckily the editors like it, had some really valuable insights into making my character's arc stronger and clearer. So they will be a breeze to work through and the book will be stronger for them. Pfew and thank you editors. 

4. Which means my editor will want to see story suggestions for a new contract (which I hope is forthcoming). So I've been dabbling with several ideas, all quite different. I can't share them now, except one takes place in the present, in 1820 and in 1450. (why do I give myself these impossible challenges when I could write a nice straightforward murder set on Nantucket?)

So I have been, and should be, busy except.... last week I had a horrible fall while I was walking with John on our favorite trail by the Bay. To get to the trail you have to go up a ramp, along a berm or dyke and then down the other side. At the top there is a tiny step onto the ramp... at least it's tiny for most of it but on one side it's deeper where dogs have continually peed against the railing and worn away the soil. I came around the corner, caught my foot on this step and went sprawling down the concrete ramp. Hit my head on the railing and took the skin off both arms and my knee. I am bandaged to look like an audition for the curse of the mummy.  And not finding it easy to sit and work.

At least I tell myself I didn't break anything or get a concussion. So healing vibes would be appreciated, please! I won't post pictures because I'm sure you don't have that strong a stomach.

So let's think positively and come up with some great titles about a coronation, please?