Don’t worry — I’m not going to sing anything from Cats! You can all thank me later.
When I travel for my books, a lot of times, I get asked for my favorite stories from my writing. There are quite a few but one stands out. When researching my biography of Craig Rice, I could not find a copy of the film made from her book, Home Sweet Homicide. The book is a precursor to so many of today’s cozies with a single mom, 3 precocious kids, and a cop boyfriend. The book was supposedly loosely based on Craig’s own life.
When I visited the family in California, David, Craig’s son, had a copy of the movie. I was able to sit with 2 of Craig’s 3 children and watch the movie that was loosely based on their lives. It was a delight for them to remember things and talk about their lives and the film that evening.
Fortunately, the book is back in print these days through Rue Morgue Press. This lost classic deserves much more credit than it does, showing a wonderful post-WWII picture of LA. I recommend the book (and of course my biography of Rice) to anyone interested in early cozies and 1940s California.
*** It’s official: I’ve now read over 100 books for the Best Novel Edgar this year. How fun to get to read so many new authors, people who I normally would not pick up, and discover new treasures.
-
That’s a great story, Jeff. Thanks for sharing.
As for reading more than 100 books . . . I don’t know how you find time! It’s sounds daunting.
by Casey
on June 6th, 2008 at 6:49 am
-
What a special story, Jeff! I’m sure they appreciated the time you puy into the book.
by Judy
on June 6th, 2008 at 6:59 am
-
100 books
Wow!
I’m still reading one of four or five I started….uh, 4 or 5 months ago.
Zz
by Zorro
on June 6th, 2008 at 7:12 am
-
Thanks so much. Second time this has been chosen so I will have to track it down.
by Patti Abbott
on June 6th, 2008 at 7:35 am
-
First of all, I didn’t know there even were 100 mysteries published in a year. I figured just Casey’s usual 27 and maybe another five or 10 by everybody else in the world.
Secondly, I have never in my life said, as Casey just did in her comment, “It sounds daunting.” Men and women are indeed separated by a common language, just like we Americans and the Brits.
Can you imagine a man having a cup of joe with his friend at the local Starbucks, and one guy says, “Man, I’ve just painted the house, shingled the roof, fixed my motorcycle and jogged ten miles.”
And the other guy, sipping hard on his mocha latte saying, “It sounds daunting.”
You’d get that mocha latte right in the face is what you’d get.
by C.R.
on June 6th, 2008 at 7:40 am
-
Hey, CR! Remember, I started my writing life writing historical romances. “Daunting” just comes with the territory!
by Casey
on June 6th, 2008 at 7:43 am
-
And another thing . . . what real man would drink a mocha latte????
by Casey
on June 6th, 2008 at 8:14 am
-
Certainly not me! I’m a cappuchino man myself.
by C.R.
on June 6th, 2008 at 8:19 am
-
Ps
Casey,
Please check your email. I’ve sent you a secret message.
by C.R.
on June 6th, 2008 at 8:21 am
-
Ooooh, I love secret messages! Scurrying over there right now.
by Casey
on June 6th, 2008 at 8:27 am
