Judy Blume has her moment...and so should we all!

LUCY BURDETTE: John and I attended a fundraiser for the Tropic Cinema in Key West several weeks ago, the premiere of the movie based on Judy Bloom’s “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” The stars came out, including Rachel McAdams who plays the mom, Barbara Simon, and Abby Ryder Fortson, who plays her daughter, Margaret. It was written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig who was also in attendance, along with several producers and Judy Blume herself who lives in Key West. We had a blast watching the limousines drive up and drop off the stars, who were then interviewed on Eaton Street by Entertainment Weekly. (I also spotted Jeffrey Brown of the PBS NewsHour and managed to get his attention long enough to tell him that as PBS superfans, we thought he was a real star, too.)




After the notables were settled, ticket-holders trooped into the three theaters to watch the screening. For those of you who haven’t read the book, it’s the story of a 12-year-old girl in suburban New Jersey, wrestling with both the onset of puberty and her feelings about boys, mean girls, and religion. It’s been the target of numerous attempts at book banning since it was published in 1970. I was a little too old to have reaped the benefits of reading that book when I was going through puberty (my parents were mortally embarrassed by the topic,) but it’s hard to imagine wanting to ban a book or movie that helps confused teenagers understand rocky transitions.

(FYI, attempts to ban books have doubled over the past year.) 

One of my favorite parts of the evening was watching how much Judy (who is 85) enjoyed the experience. She maintains that she’s finished writing, and is focusing now on the bookstore that she and her husband were instrumental in founding. But Margaret was her third published book, and I think she had given up on ever seeing it filmed. Watching how happy she was, I imagined this might have been one of the peak moments of her long career.

Can you picture what a peak moment in your life and or career might be? (Maybe some of us have already had it!) (Here was one of mine:)

 

Lucy with Judy B at Books and Books

HALLIE EPHRON: I LOVE Judy Blume!! So jealous, Lucy.

My goal is modest. I’d like to walk to the bathroom on an airplane or Amtrak and pass someone who’s engrossed, reading one of my books. In hard cover. It has happened once, but I knew the person so that didn’t count.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My career highlight so far might seem funny - it’s an editing experience. My manuscript was running behind (surprise!) and in danger of losing its slot on the publication schedule, so my then-editor and I hatched an idea. I had to come to NYC for a marketing meeting; I would stay an extra day and we would do the edit together in person. I arrived at the Flatiron building at 9am; in order to be undisturbed, we were allowed to use Thomas Dunne’s office - he was away. This was on the 17th floor, at the very tip of the triangular building, with spectacular views of Broadway, 5th Avenue, and the expanse of midtown.

My editor sat at the huge monitor on one side of the desk, and I sat with the printed manuscript at the other, and we went through the whole book, page by page, with me dictating changes while she added them in to the computer. We ordered out for lunch, and then for dinner, and I got to see the sunlight shift and slide over Manhattan until it disappeared and a million lights came on. We finished a little after ten that night. She had ordered the car service to take me back to my hotel; I remember sitting in the luxurious back seat, watching the streets fall away, feeling like a character in a movie about a writer in New York. It was an extraordinary, one-time-only experience, and I’m so glad I had it.

JENN McKINLAY: I feel like the plow horse here. LOL. I haven’t had a peak moment yet. I’m hopeful that someday I will, so I keep writing. If Judy had to wait that long then I guess I can be patient.

As for Judy Blume’s books, I was too young to be one of her readers – although I do remember a battered paperback copy of Forever - the pertinent parts highlighted in yellow - being passed around on my school bus by the older kids. So many of her books have been challenged and it’s just crazy because it’s not like parents were telling their kids the facts of life back then. Sheesh! I’m delighted the movie has been made. As Lizzo says, “About damn time.”

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, Lucy, that sounds amazing! I was too old for Judy Blume, but I see the adoration, and that’s so lovely. Hm, like Jenn, I’m thinking/hoping that the transcendent moment is still to come. I have had some wonderful amazing times, though. Like once, at a book event, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and said “Will you sign your book for me?” And I turned around, and it was SUE GRAFTON.

RHYS BOWEN: I remember my daughter asking if she could read Are You There God because it was controversial at the time. I let her, of course.

And I’ve had more than my share of career highlights: 3 Edgar nominations have been amazing. Guest of honor at conventions. And being #1 on Kindle was heady. However I don’t feel I’ve ever written that definitive book, the one that will last and people will say “ Oh Rhys Bowen. She wrote xxx.” Maybe that’s wishful thinking.

LUCY: Oh no Rhys, reach for the stars!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: What a fun event that must have been, Lucy, and I love that Judy is so committed to her bookshop. I remember you taking me there the first time I visited Key West.

As for career highlights, I suppose I'd include getting an Edgar nomination for Dreaming of the Bones (although I was much too nervous to enjoy the banquet) and finding out that The Sound of Broken Glass had debuted in the top ten in the New York Times. I was in a hotel room somewhere on book tour and ordered a half bottle of champagne with my very glamorous room service dinner. I still keep the cork in my carry-on bag.

Lucy again: Your turn Red readers...can you describe a peak life moment, or do you have one in mind? If you don't like that question, we'd love to hear any Judy Blume or banned books stories!
 

Random Sunday Thoughts

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Random Sunday thoughts. 

Football:  What do we think about football? Okay, once I learned the rules, it was fun to watch IF the game "mattered." It's also a good time to fold laundry and catch up on administrative stuff, because you don't really have to watch the whole time.  Is it too violent, though? Too dangerous? More dangerous than driving a car?

Cars. Have you SEEN the traffic? Around here, traffic is insane, I mean it, people have either forgotten how to drive, or figure that in the pandemic, the police won't stop speeders, so all the laws are forgotten. I already hate to drive, but this just makes it worse. It's as if 80 MPH is the norm, and you should go faster, much faster, if you can. People don't even stay in their lanes. It's terrifying.

Terrifying? We had a chipmunk in our house. I saw this THING streak by, out of the kitchen and down the hall, the fastest thing I have ever seen. It was too big for a mouse, and too small for a rat, and where did it go? Our house is big and full of things, and many rooms have no doors. So yikes, I thought this is bad. But--okay, trying to think like a chipmunk--I'm not going to veer off course and go into a room. It's running, so it's going to go straight. So I went where I would go if I was a chipmunk, and there it was. Perched on the back of the navy blue leather couch in the living room, as cute is it could be, wide-eyed and striped and just sitting there. We finally escorted it out the front door.

Yeah, the front door. Are there going to be trick or treaters, do you think? (I mean, it seems like the perfect time for masks, and why didn't they just declare all days Halloween rules? YAY dress up day, Halloween, masks are good! But no.)  So will you have trick or treaters this year? 

And if so, and you never know, you better get candy. Just in case.  I am already planning Twizzlers and Mounds and Snickers, you know me. 

Which means you know I love Sue Grafton. And I read on Facebook that her family has sold the rights to the Alphabet mysteries, and someone is going to play Kinsey Millhone in a TV series on A & E. Ah, Sue had always said that she did not want this to happen.  What do we think about this?

And what do you think about going to the movies anyway? Have you been to an actual theater? Even to see Daniel Craig? We have decided to pass on this, and we even got popcorn to make at home. Because on a Sunday afternoon, it's fun to watch TV and eat popcorn. What's on? Football. What do we think about football?

What are your random thoughts for the day, Reds and readers?

 

A Brush with Greatness by Jenn McKinlay

Firstly, Happy Veterans Day! To all those who've served, we thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

JENN McKINLAY: The only Malice Domestic conference I've ever been to was in 2012. It's very difficult to get to Bethesda from Phoenix - two flights and a train - but on that particular year, Elizabeth Peters, aka Barbara Mertz, was going to be there and I knew if I was ever going to meet my childhood idol, this was it. 

Elizabeth Peters, aka Barbara Mertz

There were several events, all of which were standing room only crowds. Ms. Mertz was everything I thought she'd be and more - smart, funny, kind, and with a wicked twinkle in her eye. I was thrilled just to be in the same room with her. When she left, being assisted by an escort, she walked right by my table. 
This was my moment! I sprang out of my seat and accosted her -- as one does -- and she didn't rear back in horror but instead smiled at me as I stood there incapable of saying a word. Me. Without speech. Inconceivable! 

Finally, I choked out a "thank you" and she looked at me, opened her arms for a hug and said, "No, thank you."
At which I cried all over her, like a big dope. So that was my moment with the author without whose work I likely  
never would have become a writer.

So, how about you, Reds? What was your brush with author greatness?

RHYS BOWEN: I’m always rather embarrassed when a fan comes up to me and does the whole fangirl thing. I’ve had one woman rush away and burst into tears (am I that scary?).  But then one day at a conference I found myself sitting at the signing table next to Tony Hillerman. And I’m screaming to myself “I’m sitting next to Tony Hillerman!” And I turn to him and gush “I love your books!”  I wish I could have told him that I only started writing mysteries because of him, but I could hardly get out those four words. So we all have our fangirl moments.

HALLIE EPHRON: The most ‘in awe’ I’ve ever been was when I ended up seated beside Jane Smiley at an event in Steinbeck country in California. I’d just read MOO and A THOUSAND ACRES and been blown away. All I remember is she was very nice and SERIOUSLY tall. Also at the table was Karen Joy Fowler, assuming I'm not mixing up my events. I’d read her amazing mystery novel, Wit’s End. I wanted to slow down time.

Jane Smiley

JENN: Tall girls rule, just sayin'

Lucy with Ann Cleeves 

LUCY BURDETTE: I have fawned over too many people to mention, I am definitely fan girl material. Maybe the first time was Diane Mott Davidson and was she at Malice? I remember that she signed the book I bought to both my sister and to me. The first Bouchercon I ever attended, where I knew absolutely no one and was totally petrified and deeply unpublished, I had a lovely chat with Stephen White. Do you remember his series about a psychologist detective in Boulder Colorado? Love that character! And Michael Connelly more than once... You know what also was very cool was having Margaret Maron moderate the best first novel panel at malice domestic. Remember that Julia?? She was wonderful.  

JENN: I just got this pic of Lucy with Ann Cleeves from the new England Crime Bake this weekend. She really is a fangirl!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Lucy, meeting Margaret Maron at the Malice Domestic where you and I were Best First nominees was my fangirl moment. She was one of my writing idols, and one of two authors whose work seriously influenced my own when I was starting out (the other being Archer Mayor.) It was SUCH a thrill having her moderate the panel we were on, but I'm not sure I even spoke to her privately, then. I didn't want to pester the great woman.

Then, that evening, I was sitting in the bar (as one does) and she came by, squeezed my shoulder, and said, "I really loved your book." I can't recall what I said - probably something like "A buh bub a bubba uh." When we went up to our hotel room that evening, I told Ross, "Don't touch that shoulder. That's Margaret Maron's shoulder." 

Photo from stacybuckeye.com

I got a chance to make it up in a more eloquent way, however, in 2012, when I was invited to contribute to Books To Die For – The World’s Greatest Mystery Writers on the World’s Greatest Mystery Novels. I wrote an appreciation of Bootlegger's Daughter. I still haven't nerved myself to ask her to sign it, though.

Hank with Sue Grafton

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Yikes, I just got back from Bouchercon, when I interviewed James Patterson. And I have to say, he was adorable. Charming, funny, brash, and generous--and a real troublemaker---in a good way. Everyone adored him. I've interviewed Dan Brown, also terrific, engaging and quite brilliant. But in my writer/reader heart? Once I was signing next to Jane Langton. I almost could not breathe, she made such a difference in my life with her A Diamond in the Window. But the best of the best may have been at Crimebake in..2009? When I felt a tap on my shoulder, turned around, and there was SUE GRAFTON holding Prime Time--and asking for MY autograph! Can you even imagine? I was so lucky that someone got a photo of that moment--and here it is. It still makes me smile.  

DEBORAH CROMBIE:  At what I think must have been my very first Malice, my then-editor introduced me to Reginald Hill (She edited the US versions of his books.) All I could manage to squeak out was, "I love your books, Mr. Hill," and I'm sure I must have sounded like a complete dope. But he is still one of the writers I most admire, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet him.

And then there was P.D. James, who I had the honor to share a program with at St. Hilda's mystery conference in Oxford. I acquitted myself a bit better, but she was so sharp and witty and I was undoubtedly the gauche American.  She was also, however, unfailingly gracious and didn't make me feel too big an idiot. What an icon she was.

(Jenn, I was also a huge fan of Barbara Mertz in all her guises, and I LOVE that photo of her.)

JENN: Hank I was a huge fan of Jane Langton as a kid and A Diamond in the Window was FANTASTIC!

So, what about you, Readers, what are your crazy fan moments?

The Alphabet Now Ends with Y

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Mayor Greg Fischer

✔@louisvillemayor

The world has lost a great talent and prolific author in Sue Grafton — and in Louisville we have lost a citizen, friend, neighbor, a master gardener and hometown hero. Her legacy will live on through her words, which will entertain and thrill readers for generations to come.

Mysteries for Readers who Don't Like Mysteries

INGRID THOFT

Can you believe it?  There are actually readers out there who don't like mysteries?!

A friend, who falls into this category, recently asked me for some mystery/thriller/suspense suggestions, a mystery gateway drug, if you will.  I had a few ideas, but I thought, who better to make recommendations to a reluctant mystery reader, than the Reds and all of you?  Here are my choices.  What would yours be?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is one of the greats of suspense fiction, and its ongoing popularity would suggest it appeals to a broad readership.  The creepy characters and setting and the beautiful prose are sure to delight those who usually steer clear of the suspense shelves.

I always suggest newbies start with A is for Alibi, but every Sue Grafton book is a treat.  Why would I recommend a novel featuring a private investigator to non-mystery lovers?  Because Kinsey Millhone is a knock-out character.  Readers become engrossed in the story, but Kinsey is the real draw.  Once you spend time with her, I'm convinced you'll make quick work of the whole alphabet.

The third book in Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, Faithful Place is mesmerizing and transports readers to a small neighborhood in Dublin where everyone knows everyone else's business, and yet, dark secrets remain.  The sense of place is so powerful and the drawing of the familial relationships is so sharp, I dare any reader to put this one down.

So tell me Reds and readers, which books do you recommend to readers who (gasp!) don't like mysteries?

Spin-offs: Characters Who Leave Us Wanting More

Ingrid Thoft

In Tuesday’s post celebrating the publication of Deborah Crombie’s newest book, THE GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS, I asked her if she had ever considered spinning off one of her supporting characters into a separate book.  It doesn’t sound like that’s on the horizon for Debs’ London cast of characters, but it got me thinking:  Are there characters who deserve their own spin-off?  In books and on the smaller screen?

I did a little digging to refresh my memory about successful spin-offs, both on TV and in literature.  Some were obvious including “Frasier” from “Cheers” and the many iterations of “Law and Order” that were spawned from the original series, which first aired in 1990.  But did you know that “Mork and Mindy” was a spin-off from “Happy Days”?  Or that “Torchwood” came from “Dr. Who?”

In literature, I found examples of authors being inspired by earlier works, as opposed to spin-offs created by the original writers.  WIDE SARGASSO SEA, a wonderful book by Jean Rhys, was inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s JANE EYRE.  It tells the tale of the first Mrs. Rochester, the one who went mad in the attic.  AHAB’S WIFE gets her due in the book of the same name by Sena Jeter Naslund.

   

These riffs on earlier works are compelling, but there are some supporting characters who deserve to star in their own stories.  The first who comes to mind is Winston Nkata, the detective sergeant who works alongside DI Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers in Elizabeth George’s English detective series.  DS Nkata’s Caribbean roots are mentioned in some of the books, but never explored in depth.  Nor is much information given about the knife scar that traces a jagged line across his cheek.  There is always the sense that a deep chasm separates Winston’s youth from his current role as a police officer.  As a reader, I’d like to know more.

Aren’t all readers of Sue Grafton’s alphabet series just a little bit in love with octogenarian Henry Pitts?  A retired commercial baker, Henry provides Kinsey Millhone with advice and cinnamon rolls, but it’s his roster of elderly siblings that piques my curiosity.  Now fit and well into their nineties, what must it have been like in the Pitts’ household during Henry’s youth?  And what of Henry’s romantic history?  I’d love to peek into his life when he was a younger man, say 70-years-old.

George Fayne.  Bonus points if you know who this character is without the context of her two BFFs.  Nancy, George, and Bess solve crimes and find themselves knee-deep in trouble on a regular basis.  Of course, I love Nancy Drew, but I’d really like to know more about George.  How did she get that name?  Is it short for Georgina or Georgia?  Always described as a “tomboy,” what exactly warrants that description?  Does she skydive when not teaming up with the girls?  Does she join the guys for pick-up football games?  At a time when Nancy Drew was breaking the mold, I wonder how much George might have pushed the boundaries even further.
  

What are your favorite spin-offs, and which ones have been utter failures?  “The Love Boat: The Next Wave,” perhaps?  Any spin-offs you’re dying to see on the page or the screen?  Any die hard “The Love Boat: The New Wave” fans out there?

A New Kind of Driving Test

 JUNGLE RED:  This is one of those days we especially love—it’s a red pub day!  Today we celebrate Hank’s DRIVE TIME—the fourth of who knows how many Charlotte McNally mysteries. And its now reissued, in gorgeous new editions, so any one you readers who missed it can…ah, trying to think of a driving analogy. Get into the fast lane? Speed ahead with the books? 

Library Journal gave DRIVE TIME a starred review—saying “Puts Ryan in a league with Lisa Scottoline.” Yay! And Robert B. Parker, in maybe the last blurb he gave, said “Hank understands plotting and writes beautifully. I loved Drive Time.”

So Hank’s in the JRW hot seat today. (Driver's seat?)  And she’ll award the Charlotte McNally book of your choice to one lucky commenter!

JRW:  One of the things about the Charlotte McNally books that we love:  You don't have to read them in order. Did you plan that?

HANK: Plan? Plan? When I wrote PRIME TIME I had no idea it would be a series. I was such a newbie that I didn’t plan for that. As a result, there there is one tiny thing in PRIME TIME that's a surprise--and if you read the other books first, it won't be.

However! It is so much fun to see how Charlotte met her beau. So it is extra fun if you don’t read PRIME TIME first. (It becomes a wonderful prequel!)

JRW:  So the books are standalones? Like Sue Grafton’s, right? You can read them in any order.

HANK: JUST like Sue Grafton’s, absolutely. And yes, when I finally figured out what I was doing, I made the other books absolutely standalones.  Of course people's lives change, but each book is a solid complete story in itself.

You can read them in any order.

JRW:  Was it different writing the four books? It’s always a journey for a series author.

HANK: Each book was so different! In PRIME TIME there were no stakes. I had no contract, no deadlines. Only dreams. I was devoted to that story, but I had no idea what I was doing and blithely typed away. It was a joy every minute.

FACE TIME—boom--was a new experience! I had a contract and a deadline, and so my mindset was more much more serious. I also wanted to make the subject a little more important, and the writing richer, and I felt a big responsibility to make it better and even more successful than PRIME TIME.

AIR TIME was the beginning of my second contract! And that was a true life change. I remember very clearly thinking whoa… I have a new job! I’m an author!  I learned from my TV experience to give every story all you've got. To hold nothing back.  But now on book three, I wondered, do I have anything else? And can I grow as a writer? (This was about the time Jungle Red started, right?)

early Reds! Rosemary and Jan, with Lucy, Hank and Hallie

But I was incredibly pleased with AIR TIME. I will admit I think is very clever! And it gave me a lot of confidence.  Yes, Sue Grafton loved it :-) so that gave me great fuel.

JRW: And DRIVE TIME?

HANK:  DRIVE TIME. You know, gang, that was a different story. With DRIVE TIME I thought…and I can tell you this because it’s just us. I thought: I'm an Author.  I'm going to do this, amp it up beyond anything I could have imagined, and I'm going to do this big big big. I understood the stakes. The rhythm. The structure. The careful choice of every word. That every decision counts.

You have known me for a while, you all, and you can see, I can at least, how I changed as an author for  DRIVE TIME.

It's the first of my books with two parallel plots, the first time I had to juggle two stories. One, Charlotte on the trail of her investigation of dangerous automobiles, and a nefarious scheme to steal cars. And then the other storyline, blackmail and extortion at an exclusive private school. And, of course, Charlotte’s personal life.

As I analyze, I do see the structure for the Jane Ryland stories being foreshadowed. In a way, I was working on the Jane Ryland thrillers—though I didn’t know it—as I was writing this book.

So reading it now, through that filter, it’s kind of instructive.

JRW: So the investigation Charlie does in DRIVE TIME: That came from real life?

HANK: Yes, absolutely! We did a series of stories on the ineffectiveness of automobile recalls, and how likely it is that you will rent or buy a car with an open recall—so dangerous, and it’s still a problem.  I’ve also done many stories about the closed circle atmosphere of sun exclusive private schools, and what that can lead to.  And, as I bet we all have, I once got ridiculously lost in a parking garage. Everything is fodder for a story, right?

JRW: And the reviews were amazing—on a different plane.

HANK: Aw. Yes. The Charlie books were very well received, but I could see from the tone of the reviews that people were looking at this one a bit differently. Taking me more seriously. It actually makes me cry to remember it. 

The opening quotation for DRIVE TIME is from Stephen King. And it still gives me chills. Because it is the essence of everything I write now.

“Only enemies speak the truth;

friends and lovers lie endlessly,

caught in the web of duty.”

It is so perfect for DRIVE TIME, and I write about that very theme all the time.

JRW: I bet your drivers ed teacher is laughing so hard. You and cars were never a happy couple.

HANK: Oh, you are SO right! My driver’s ed experience was horrific. 

Actual dialogue from real life:

Hank’s Drivers Ed teacher: “Watch out for that car!”

Hank:  “What car?”

I failed my first driving test.  SO unfair.

JRW:  In happier news:  we hear there’s a DRIVE TIME giveaway? Sounds terrific.

HANK: Yup. It ends in 2 days! Click here for the scoop—two books for the price of one, and a free giftie!  https://a.pgtb.me/p8bk8B

JRW and Hank: So lovely Reds and readers, how was your drivers ed experience? Do you like to drive? Are you good at it? 

 Hank’s giving a Charlie book of your choice to one lucky commenter!

(US only please, the postage is prohibitive.)