tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post4045874985710228907..comments2024-03-29T09:55:28.798-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: At DEATH'S DOOR: James Benn, WW II, intrigue in Vatican CityJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42532207117429353222012-09-14T09:05:46.913-04:002012-09-14T09:05:46.913-04:00Thanks Lucy & Pat for your comments. Rome is t...Thanks Lucy & Pat for your comments. Rome is truly a magical city. James Bennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90045212656286614152012-09-13T21:47:17.688-04:002012-09-13T21:47:17.688-04:00James,
Fascinating insights into the Vatican's...James,<br />Fascinating insights into the Vatican's role during World War II. And Sterling Hayden -- my gosh, I had no idea! I can hardly wait to read this book.<br /><br />I'm not Catholic but when I was in Rome in 1979 I happened on the Pope's installation of new cardinals. A dazzling show to watch. Outside afterward in the Square I was with the crowd when the Pope came out on his balcony to bless us. All I had to hold up was my coin purse, but when I got home I had my husband drill a hole in an Italian coin and to this day it's on my key ring.<br /><br />Apologies for rambling on here but your post did bring back memories.<br />Good luck with the book.<br /><br />Pat Browning<br />Pat Browninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827344209588183175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65269826450748777772012-09-13T20:47:54.897-04:002012-09-13T20:47:54.897-04:00Congratulations Jim--always a pleasure to have you...Congratulations Jim--always a pleasure to have you visit! I'm just home from the Sisters in Crime publishers summit in New York. I would think your ears would be buzzing as you were spoken of very highly at Library Journal where we visited yesterday:).<br /><br />We love Rome so can't wait to read your new book!Lucy Burdettehttp://www.lucyburdette.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29340762689144200032012-09-13T13:44:10.406-04:002012-09-13T13:44:10.406-04:00We now interrupt with breaking news from the Krist...We now interrupt with breaking news from the Kristen Weber blog!<br /><br />And the winner of the Jungle Red book of their choice is VickiH!<br /><br />VIckiH, email me at H ryan at whdh dot com and tell me your choice!<br /><br />We now return you...Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37287898790846065362012-09-13T12:55:57.711-04:002012-09-13T12:55:57.711-04:00It no longer exists, but the Vatican used to have ...It no longer exists, but the Vatican used to have a militia - the Palatine Guard - made up of Roman citizens, mainly shopkeepers, by tradition. During the war, the barracks within the Vatican City swelled with new recruits - many of them hidden Jews.James Bennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12667668707023609172012-09-13T12:21:40.746-04:002012-09-13T12:21:40.746-04:00I agree -- NOT a cozy - though plenty of smart hum...I agree -- NOT a cozy - though plenty of smart humor and great period detail .. Would appeal to lots ofcozy readersHallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38020410678684029182012-09-13T11:58:53.376-04:002012-09-13T11:58:53.376-04:00I'm intrigued. Like Jan, I had no idea the Vat...I'm intrigued. Like Jan, I had no idea the Vatican was in fact a safe place for some people. Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31732556354042729702012-09-13T11:47:18.570-04:002012-09-13T11:47:18.570-04:00Thanks for the comments, folks. Gratifying after t...Thanks for the comments, folks. Gratifying after the tough research for this one, sipping espressos, wine and eating gelato while waiting for inspiration in Piazza Navona (truly a wonderful spot). <br /><br />As for the cozy question - I can't really see it, but some bloggers have said that. Although in this book, early on in the process of smuggling Billy and Kaz into Rome, there is an encounter with a Fascist officer that is the opposite of cozy. For that, I was inspired by the Hitchcock film (I think) where Paul Newman had to kill a man with his bare hands (spy film, perhaps?) and it was very difficult to do. Not the stuff of Miss Marple.<br />I do agree with 'gritty' since I try to show the truth behind everyday life during the war - the boredom, terror, anguish and joy at escaping death. <br /><br />Jim<br />James Bennhttp://www.jamesrbenn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62523429509485122272012-09-13T11:33:21.374-04:002012-09-13T11:33:21.374-04:00Jim, your books sound fabulous! I love the period,...Jim, your books sound fabulous! I love the period, and the set-up for this one is irresistible. In fact, I'm going to go buy it now...<br /><br />Linda, I love your comment about Sterling Hayden being everything Hemingway wanted to be. Priceless.<br /><br />Oh, and Jim, I love your covers. Such a wonderfully noir graphic look. Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78166313847658836722012-09-13T11:19:28.657-04:002012-09-13T11:19:28.657-04:00Welcome, James! This sounds so fascinating! I had ...Welcome, James! This sounds so fascinating! I had no idea the Vatican had become this refuge during the war with such a pressure-cooker atmosphere. And Sterling Hayden (who was everything Hemingway wanted to be and wasn't)! Be still, my heart!<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to reading the book.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36373355860184726932012-09-13T10:52:09.023-04:002012-09-13T10:52:09.023-04:00Wow, Jim.
My husband and I, both World War II buf...Wow, Jim.<br /><br />My husband and I, both World War II buffs, always joke about finding that "one aspect of WWII that we haven't seen all the documentaries on." <br /><br />THis is it. I, too, thought the Vatican was somehow complicit, (something to do with Pope John Paul's apology, I think), and didn't realize the Vatican was a haven, at least for some to escape the fascists.<br /><br />This book sounds terrific. <br /><br />Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67438378508113981702012-09-13T10:32:48.393-04:002012-09-13T10:32:48.393-04:00What a fascinating setup at The Vatican -- all tho...What a fascinating setup at The Vatican -- all those different people on the run, hiding there. And the Sterling Hayden angle is very marketable, IMHO, maybe get you and the book some air time. I've been attracted by the covers for a while, but I have so little time to read I've never picked one up. This blog and Hallie's recommendation should get me to click the buy button.<br /><br />Two related questions James: Would you call DEATH'S DOOR a cozy, with most of the violence off the page? Why does Hallie call your work "gritty," do you think?Jack Getzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09516237388744739669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42836614331897647742012-09-13T09:00:51.911-04:002012-09-13T09:00:51.911-04:00Both my husband and I have enjoyed following Billy...Both my husband and I have enjoyed following Billy’s adventures and “At Death’s Door” sounds especially intriguing. Including real-life characters such as Sterling Hayden [who served in the military under the pseudonym of John Hamilton] and Monsignor O’Flaherty and their actions should provide a truly gritty realism . . . the description of Pietro Koch gives me shivers --- he’s a perfect villain, and it’s horrifying to know he was a real person who actually carried out unspeakable atrocities. There is indeed a “long reach of history,” and often its secrets are jealously guarded long past the events of the time. Joan Emersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89845276424993577802012-09-13T08:10:41.226-04:002012-09-13T08:10:41.226-04:00Wow--this is fascinating! Welcome, Jim.
ANd MAria...Wow--this is fascinating! Welcome, Jim.<br /><br />ANd MArianne--that's so great! I remember hearing that story, too...when we were there. I think I was having a coconut gelato to at the time.<br /><br />Jim--how do you decide what to keep as authentic and what to fictionalize? And wow, this book sounds terrific.<br /><br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85270186820919775872012-09-13T08:08:12.521-04:002012-09-13T08:08:12.521-04:00Oh boy, another series of books to add to my TBR l...Oh boy, another series of books to add to my TBR list! I think I will love these. Thank you!<br /><br />James, you had me with the Bernini Fountain. The Piazza Navona is one of my favorite spots in Rome. When I was there as a teenager in the late 60s, my uncle was a priest assigned to the Curia. He took me to the Piazza and told me the story of Bernini and Borromini (?), rivals for design of the statue. Bernini was given the role of designing it and Borromini designed the church of St Agnes in front of it. One of Bernini's figures has his hand it front of his eyes, hiding the church from his view. I love that!<br /><br />I'm looking forward to these books. I love this time period.<br /><br />Thanks for the interview.Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.com