tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6275858938087982316..comments2024-03-28T06:20:48.661-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Deborah Crombie's To Dwell in Darkness: A stunner!Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67413938993355982912014-09-23T21:49:46.490-04:002014-09-23T21:49:46.490-04:00Weighing in late in the day - just want to say how...Weighing in late in the day - just want to say how much I'm a fan of your books, Deb, and I can't wait to read To Dwell in Darkness. Congratulations!!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15354719566758459929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38498802389813125972014-09-23T19:31:18.309-04:002014-09-23T19:31:18.309-04:00Congratulations!
I am loving this book. Totally....Congratulations!<br /><br />I am loving this book. Totally. I am so caught up in it that I was afraid to read your interview. I don't want a hint of what may happen. It's totally brilliant.<br /><br />And I just adore Duncan. There was one scene I just read that had him running his hand over his 5 o'clock shadow and I'm trying to picture how he must look. *sigh* I assume you have an idea of how he looks. I don't have a picture of him in my head but I imagine a really handsome man.<br /><br />Best wishes with this book. It's a hit!<br /><br />Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77318226893185667292014-09-23T14:15:24.972-04:002014-09-23T14:15:24.972-04:00Debs and Hallie, this was a great interview. Thank...Debs and Hallie, this was a great interview. Thank you. <br /><br />Debs, there is so much I'd like to respond to and ask you about… but will try to reduce the size of my conceptual cloud clutter—which only happens when I have an extraordinary number of ideas I need to sort and not lose—about your comment that left me smacking my forehead.<br /><br />"Sometimes I write the end of books part way through, if it comes to me."<br /><br />While writing the book I am working on now, I find the end reappearing as I write in places that are nowhere near the end. It keeps intruding itself everywhere making it difficult to actually write the larger story. I hadn't wanted to lose these pieces yet truly didn't know (until now) they were all that connected to one another.<br /><br />My writing buddy/critique partner has wisely encouraged me to write all these parts down and store them in Scrivener—which I do—of course… she is very, very smart. Until now, however, I hadn't realized that they were inserting themselves into the larger piece like parts of train being pulled along like some kind of magical story engine making sure everything stays on track. I am afraid if I write the ending now it will turn into nothing but a caboose trailing along for the ride.<br /><br />But… while reading your interview with Hallie today I realized what it is and where it fits. I had a Scrivener meltdown last night that said writing buddy talked me through. Now I know where I'm going with all these intrusive pieces… brilliant interview.<br /><br />Happy Book Birthday!Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54400164475329789602014-09-23T14:11:47.671-04:002014-09-23T14:11:47.671-04:00Can't wait to read this one - it sounds great!...Can't wait to read this one - it sounds great! A mystery that carries over to the next book is a definite plus for me.<br /><br />I'd just noticed the item on your website a few days ago about the series being optioned for British TV. I can only hope we'll eventually get to see it here. (My local PBS station has yet to show the second season of <i>Case Histories</i> and hasn't aired any of <i>Vera</i>.) I'd love to see Parminder Nagra get a good role again - she had so little to do on <i>Blacklist</i>.<br /><br />If you had a choice, who would you like to see portray Duncan and Gemma and their supporting characters?SharonTXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41458599762580845312014-09-23T13:29:11.815-04:002014-09-23T13:29:11.815-04:00Congratulations on your publication day, Deborah! ...Congratulations on your publication day, Deborah! I plan on picking up a copy of "To Dwell in Darkness" tomorrow at your author signing and talk in Dallas. I love the chapter epigraphs in your books, and I especially like the maps (a bonus) in the hardcover copies. In how many of your books has Laura Maestro created those wonderful maps?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16432509313245703368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23622066949945134072014-09-23T13:00:11.620-04:002014-09-23T13:00:11.620-04:00Happy Publication Day, Debs! My copy arrived via ...Happy Publication Day, Debs! My copy arrived via UPS this morning, making the start to my day an especially great one. I just returned yesterday from a vacation in Key West with a stop in Orlando, and while it was a fantastic trip, I couldn't believe that I didn't get any reading done. So, this week I have Hank's ARC copy of Truth Be Told to Read and my freshly delivered To Dwell in Darkness. I will be kicking it into high reading gear this afternoon and be in my happy place for the rest of the week. <br /><br />I'm excited about the setting of St. Pancras in To Dwell in Darkness. For some reason, I love train stations and their prominence in books. Linda Fairstein's latest was set in Grand Central Station in New York, and I was spellbound by the history of it. Of course, no one does setting better than you, Debs. I have learned so much that is fascinating about the different areas of London and some areas outside of London and that wonderful Scotland departure. I just know that I'm going to come away from this new book champing at the bit to visit St. Pancras. <br /><br />It's so good to be back here at Jungle Red Writers. I have missed checking in and reading the great posts and comments. It's a lovely part of my day. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66463397726047093562014-09-23T12:27:47.681-04:002014-09-23T12:27:47.681-04:00I'm so excited, Deb! Can't wait to get my ...I'm so excited, Deb! Can't wait to get my hands on this novel!<br /><br />I ditto what the other Deb said: I want to take a day off from life to read all day. (Maybe this weekend? Hmmm ...)<br /><br />You mentioned a storyline that's giving you fits. What's your strategy for working through plot struggles? Do you ever get so foiled you don't know what to do for awhile? How do you work that out?Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3329655924650954102014-09-23T11:36:51.230-04:002014-09-23T11:36:51.230-04:00Oh, my fingers are twitching. I want to read this ...Oh, my fingers are twitching. I want to read this book after reading the interview. But I'm not there yet in the Gemma/Duncan series. Darn it! I had hoped to meet you at Murder by the Book Friday but it's not going to happen. Schedule conflict. A friend is celebrating her 70th birthday and we will be at that shindig. Come to think of it that happens every time an author is in town I want to meet. Have fun on your tour Debs. The weather in Houston is perfect right now.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45073414055961326172014-09-23T11:26:28.102-04:002014-09-23T11:26:28.102-04:00Congrats, Debs. So excited for you and I can't...Congrats, Debs. So excited for you and I can't wait to read it. In fact I'm going away for a birthday trip next week and guess what I'll be reading!Authorrhysbowen@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844065473614874365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46964141398787086472014-09-23T10:56:47.464-04:002014-09-23T10:56:47.464-04:00Congrats on the new book!Congrats on the new book!Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10921281151655570182014-09-23T10:51:35.653-04:002014-09-23T10:51:35.653-04:00Parminder Nagra, one of my favorite actresses. I&#...Parminder Nagra, one of my favorite actresses. I'll keep her in mind while I read the new books, Debs. <br /><br />Happy book pub day!Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68179109544674354762014-09-23T10:29:47.028-04:002014-09-23T10:29:47.028-04:00When we met in April, you told me you were up agai...When we met in April, you told me you were up against a deadline, still working on finishing this book. Do you write better like this? Or was this a one off? Now I have to get off this computer and go read my new book! xoxAnn in Rochesternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68207789801634408872014-09-23T10:28:46.613-04:002014-09-23T10:28:46.613-04:00I DO think Parminder is perfect. Though the role w...I DO think Parminder is perfect. Though the role would require her to scowl quite a bit and dress very buttoned-up. If you ever start a new series, I'd love to see her lead.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62047674418764127512014-09-23T10:06:37.038-04:002014-09-23T10:06:37.038-04:00Deborah - I'm glad you said that. In the book ...Deborah - I'm glad you said that. In the book I just sent off, I had the climax in my head first. The book went through a lot of changes over time - but that scene stayed pretty constant. It gave me a goal.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48705004820207635912014-09-23T10:05:45.144-04:002014-09-23T10:05:45.144-04:00Hallie, St. Pancras! It's one of my very favor...Hallie, St. Pancras! It's one of my very favorite places in London. I was fascinated by the renovation and the history and wanted to set a book there long before the pieces of this story began to come together. I read some wonderful books, and there is a great deal of information on the Internet, some of which you can find using the links in the chapter epigraphs.<br /><br />The chapter epigraphs give me a way to add another layer to the sense of place in the story, and are such fun to research. And of course spending time at St. Pancras was the best research of all. I've taken the Eurostar to Paris, had champagne at Searcy's, listened to a rock band playing in the concourse, had lot of cups of tea and sandwiches at Le Pain Quotidien, which is the unnamed cafe in the book. And I have a drink and dinner a couple of times in the Booking Office Bar in the Renaissance Grand Hotel. It's an amazing space! Unfortunately, I didn't manage to stay in the hotel, but maybe another day when I'm feeling very flush:-)Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28146564221645311362014-09-23T09:58:51.223-04:002014-09-23T09:58:51.223-04:00Loved this interview! we're on vacation at th...Loved this interview! we're on vacation at the beach and I'm driving to Quarter Moon Books this morning to pick up my copy of TO DWELL IN DARKNESS. It just doesn't get any better than this. Happy Pub Day, Debs!<br />Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29511757626476710432014-09-23T09:56:09.442-04:002014-09-23T09:56:09.442-04:00Thanks everyone, and thanks, Hallie, for such grea...Thanks everyone, and thanks, Hallie, for such great questions!<br /><br />FChurch, yes, as Hallie said, I often have a visual picture of a scene that I write towards, sometimes through a whole book or even longer. A sort of target.<br /><br />And Lucy, I have written the ends of books out of sequence several times before, having got the whole thing so clearly in my head I was afraid I wouldn't remember it all if I didn't get it down. But even though I knew how this book ended, I couldn't write it ahead of time, for reasons which I think will be apparent once you read it.<br /><br />Hallie, thanks so much for including the photo of Parminder! Isn't she perfect? Is that how you saw Jasmine, too?Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61097000410875886902014-09-23T09:22:49.522-04:002014-09-23T09:22:49.522-04:00Wonderful, wonderful book. I have no questions. I ...Wonderful, wonderful book. I have no questions. I loved the book, and just wanted to thank Debs for such a terrific book. You will want to read it in one sitting. And, I called a friend who goes to London a couple times a year just so she could tell me about St. Pancras International Station. Terrific book, and, as always, I love how she blends family life and work life. Stunning is the right word.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14412798111311412492014-09-23T09:10:41.393-04:002014-09-23T09:10:41.393-04:00Congratulations! I know what I'm getting my fa...Congratulations! I know what I'm getting my father for Christmas (and I'll be able to get it signed for him when you come to Pittsburgh).Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23313431092606858682014-09-23T09:00:51.687-04:002014-09-23T09:00:51.687-04:00Such a great interview. I am resisting the urge t...Such a great interview. I am resisting the urge to buy the book today, since Deb will be in Baltimore next month and I want to go to that event (and support both her, the library, and the sponsoring store in that way). <br /><br />If I can wait that long, this just might be the perfect book to keep me occupied on my cross-country flight to Bouchercon in November.Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50312401419592634972014-09-23T08:57:56.039-04:002014-09-23T08:57:56.039-04:00As I reread the interview I realized that's ex...As I reread the interview I realized that's exactly what I forgot to ask about. Place! In this one it's St. Pancras (the church, the station...) which is where the action begins, and every chapter starts with a fascinating historical tidbit. I'd love to hear about the research that yielded those gems.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46047126676261939142014-09-23T08:45:56.160-04:002014-09-23T08:45:56.160-04:00What a treat to glimpse inside the brain of a mast...What a treat to glimpse inside the brain of a master story teller! I am in awe. And I assume that this book will also be steeped in a sense of PLACE. Bravo!Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44430159100525390662014-09-23T08:42:15.835-04:002014-09-23T08:42:15.835-04:00And can I just say, it's just that kind of boo...And can I just say, it's just that kind of book. Once you start you won't want to stop.<br /><br />And FChurch, YES, often (when it's working) I have is a visual image of something I'm writing toward. In There Was an Old Woman, there's a huge twist where the old woman realizes she's not where she thinks she is, and I wrote toward that from Page One.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22762191022975517362014-09-23T08:40:47.855-04:002014-09-23T08:40:47.855-04:00Fantastic, fantastic. I devoured this interview,...Fantastic, fantastic. I devoured this interview, nd am coming back later to savor it. But hurray!!! Cannot wait to read this.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20763166023336847372014-09-23T08:18:18.503-04:002014-09-23T08:18:18.503-04:00Debs,
I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to take the d...Debs, <br />I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to take the day off, run out to the bookstore to get the book, run home, turn off the phone, and read all day.<br /><br />Duncan, Gemma, and their family and friends are so real to me that it's hard to believe you've made them up! And thanks for giving them to us!Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.com