JENN: I am just thrilled to celebrate the release of Wild Irish Rose by interviewing our Rhys and her daughter and co-author Clare Broyles. Not for nothing, but it feels as if we've been waiting for more Molly for FOREVER :)
Dear Jenn: thank you for interviewing us. We’re so excited for launch day today. Clare, especially. It’s a big day for her—her first mystery novel, her introduction to the mystery community. I know everyone is going to be so delighted with her talent. I have to share that the story-line for this book came from her!
JENN: As the mother of two sons, I can't imagine writing a book with them without blood being spilled and I'm not talking about in the book! How was the experience of writing together for you two? Easier than you expected? Or did you quarrel? If you did disagree, who won?
RHYS: Amazingly I don’t think we disagreed over anything. We gave each other comments and suggestions and these always made the story stronger. But Clare and I have had a very harmonious relationship from the beginning. She is sweet-natured and easy-going. When she graduated from high school we went around Europe together for a month and never had one cross word during that time, which is quite amazing.
CLARE: Having read and taken notes on all seventeen of the previous Molly Murphy novels I had great faith in Rhys’ vision for the series. Her characters are so fun to write! My goal was to write this novel to seamlessly fit in with the other Molly Murphy’s. So I was much more likely to ask for advice than to argue. It has been such a gift to be able to work together because we have such fun. We would much prefer to make each other laugh than to disagree about anything.
JENN: For Clare: Did you always want to be a writer like your Mum? Was it intimidating to step into the world of Molly Murphy that Rhys created or was it easier because you know her voice so well?
CLARE: Writing has always been a part of my life. At the beginning it was mostly poetry and parodies. In college I handed my organic chemistry professor a poem that began, “The naming of molecules is a difficult matter/ it isn’t just one of your holiday games/ now you may think that I’m mad as a hatter/ when I say each organic compound has three names.” It went on to describe the different molecular names in verse, ending with, “The last is the name that the chemists keep secret, and this is the name that you never will guess/ for it’s not to be found in a book or a lecture/ and this is the name that appears on the test!” My professor remarked that I was more skilled at poetry than organic chemistry and suggested a change in major. Although I enjoyed writing, it was a daunting prospect to tackle a novel. My mother’s career made it clear that being a working author is a possibility, but also that it is hard work. It is a very rare day that she doesn’t write five pages.
It was intimidating at first to step into Molly’s world. Every time Molly walked down a street I would have to stop and think, “What does this street look like? What is she wearing? What kind of traffic is going by?” There is an immense amount of detail in the Molly Murphy books and it is important to get it all correct. I do think that I had a huge advantage in having been one of my Rhy’s first readers since I was in high school. I know her voice and I know the parts of Molly that come from her personality. Molly has my mom’s sense of humor and her refusal to let anyone put her down.
JENN: For Rhys: How hard was it to put the world you've created into your daughter's hands? Did you have any control freak moments? What do you think Clare brings to the series that is uniquely hers?
RHYS: I have to confess I was hesitant when she first came to me with the idea that she wanted us to continue the series together. I knew she had the capability to be a good writer, but I was already doing two books a year and I wondered if I’d end up having to write and re-write a lot of the book. As it happened she got Molly’s voice instantly, came up with brilliant plot suggestions and hit the ground running.
JENN: What did you discover about yourselves during the collaboration? Did you enjoy the experience?
RHYS: I think I had to learn to let go of my character, my series and trust Clare to lead us into new directions. I think she’ll bring a freshness to the series. And we have had so much fun! We always laugh a lot together and this has been a joy.
CLARE: I learned I can be a working author. I didn’t have the luxury of writing only when I felt the inspiration. Since I teach full time during the school year I needed to write very steadily during the summer. Sometimes I had no idea what was coming next. Rhys taught me to begin with editing the work of the day before and let that lead into the new scene. I found taking a long shower or walk to be helpful when I’m stuck!
JENN: Was it easier to collaborate on a world that is already established than starting a collaboration with a brand new series?
CLARE: It was so much fun it is to write in a world that already has established characters. The world of the series already has its rules. When the writing is flowing, I have the same enjoyment that I do in reading a good book; a feeling of spending time with characters that I care about. And , as my husband and children can attest, the same tendency to completely lose track of time. It might be difficult if I didn’t like the characters. For example, if I had to write in the head of someone truly evil. Molly has a strong moral sense and a self-deprecating sense of humor, so it is fun to put myself in her head as I write.
RHYS: We wrote a children’s book together several years ago that needed serious world-building skills. Lots of discussions. But Clare read all 17 books and came in with a good idea of Molly’s world so it was easy for us both to explore new plot options. Also, being Clare, she started reading the NYT for every day we were writing about to make sure it was all true to life.
JENN: For Clare: Was this the first mystery you've written? Do you see yourself branching out to write a series on your own? Would it be historical or do you have other genre aspirations?
CLARE: Yes, this is the first mystery I have written. I would like to write my own series and it will definitely be historical. I love researching the past. I think Rhys’ books have a fantastic blend of fictional characters with real people from history. I would hope to do something similar while perhaps drawing from my own background as a musician.
JENN: For Rhys: Do you see yourself collaborating on other books and series or is one enough, for now?
RHYS: Jenn, I’m doing two and a half books a year at the moment. You are the only person crazy enough to do as much as this!
JENN: LOL. We are birds of a feather :)
RHYS: My hope and desire is that Clare can gradually take over this series and I can step back to just offering thoughts and guidance when asked for. I want Clare to branch out with her own writing career.
JENN: What's next for Molly Murphy and your partnership?
RHYS: We’ve already finished the next book, tentatively called ALL THAT IS HIDDEN. It deals with New York crooked politics, docklands and Bridie’s new school.
Thank you so much.
JENN: It was an absolute delight!
GIVEAWAY!!! We’ll be happy to send a signed copy to our favorite comment of the day!
All right, Reds and Readers, your turn! What questions do you have for Rhys and Clare? How excited are we all to have another Molly Murphy? Yay!!!
