Featured Book for May: HER ROYAL SPYNESS by Rhys Bowen [ Edited ]

[becke_davis]

Rhys Bowen is the author of several different mystery series, and I've read at least one of each series.  Rhys will be visiting with us from May 18 through the end of the month.

Our featured book, the Agatha-winning HER ROYAL SPYNESS, is the first book in this series:

Her Royal Spyness  

Royal Pain  

Royal Flush  

If you scroll down the main page of her website, you can watch a video trailer of HER ROYAL SPYNESS:

http://www.rhysbowen.com/spyness.html 

Rhys blogs at the Jungle Red site, where you will find other familiar mystery authors:

http://www.jungleredwriters.com/ 

Message Edited by becke_davis on 05-03-2009 12:13 PM

[becke_davis]

These are the books in Rhys Bowen's Welsh series:

Evan Blessed  

Evan's Gate  

Evans Above  

Evanly Bodies  

Evan and Elle  

Evan Can Wait  

Evan Help Us  

Evan Only Knows  

Evanly Choirs  

Evans to Betsy  

[becke_davis]

This is Rhys Bowen's very popular Molly Murphy series:

Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Series #1)  

Death of Riley (Molly Murphy Series #2)  

For the Love of Mike (Molly Murphy Series #3)  

In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Series #4)  

Oh Danny Boy (Molly Murphy Series #5)  

In Dublin's Fair City (Molly Murphy Series #6)  

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (Molly Murphy Series #7)  

In a Gilded Cage (Molly Murphy Series #8)  

[becke_davis]

I'll introduce Rhys and provide more links and information closer to her visit.

[RhysBowen_writ…]

Becke--I'm here and looking forward to chatting.

Rhys Bowen

[becke_davis]

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RhysBowen_writer wrote:

Becke--I'm here and looking forward to chatting.

Rhys Bowen

---

Wow - you beat me to the punch!  Let me get that intro up -- welcome to the board!

[becke_davis]

Here is a brief bio of Rhys from her publisher's website:

Rhys Bowen was born in England grew up in Bath, England and went to school and college in England, Austria and Germany. After completing her degree Rhys went to work with the BBC in London, finding her niche in the drama department. Working on so many fine plays inspired her to write my own. Dandelion Hours was her first published, or in this case, broadcast, work. It was followed by several other radio and TV plays before Rhys took up an offer from Australian broadcasting, and went to work in Sydney. There she met her future husband, a fellow Englishman. He was on his way to San Francisco, where they settled in 1966 and have lived ever since.

Once in the states, Rhys started writing children’s picture books. The first book won several awards and established her in a new career. Children’s books, young adult books, adult historical romances and sagas followed until she decided it was finally time for me to write what I enjoyed reading most...and that was mysteries. The kind of mystery that gives the reader a great sense of time and place as well as a rattling good story.

When she’s not writing, Rhys loves traveling, hiking, tennis, singing and sketching––but not as much as playing with her three little grandchildren. 

Rhys - I didn't realize you wrote children's books, too.  Did you use a pen name for those? 

[becke_davis]

Rhys - I read in one of these articles that Rhys Bowen is actually your grandfather's name.  Is your real name a secret? 

**I'm going to leave that question posted, but I stumbled across a Wikipedia post that answers my question:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_Bowen 

Here are links to some interviews with Rhys, and some reviews of her books:

http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/02/jacqueline-winspear-rhys-bowen-at-velma.html

http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/feb01/bowen.htm

http://www.momentsincrime.com/rhys_bowen/

http://reactionstoreading.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/review-her-royal-spyness-by-rhys-bowen/ 

http://www.who-dunnit.com/authors/214/ 

http://theladykillers.typepad.com/the_lady_killers/2008/11/the-throw-away.html 

This takes you to a series of video clips of an interview with Rhys:

http://www.poisonedpen.com/interviews/rhys-bowen 

And another fun video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxSVoPNvhAg 

[becke_davis]

One of the things I like about Rhys Bowen's writing is the way she really gives us a sense of place.  When I read her Evan books, they brought back fond memories of Wales.

In Her Royal Spyness, one of my favorite images was the tartan-carpeted castle with it's tartan wall-papered bathroom.  I love the image of that huge, funky bathroom with the windows always open and the wind blowing through it like a gale.  It reminded me of my first house in England, which had no central heating; the bathroom had a "shaver point" electric outlet that had apparently been intended for a hotel -- it had "for razers only" written in nine different languages.  So, for me anyway, imagining Rhys' castle bathroom wasn't that big a stretch.

I'm curious about the "secret" entrances to Buckingham Palace, and all the requirements one must follow when meeting with the queen.  It made me think of all the to-do when Michelle Obama hugged the queen.  Rhys, how did you go about researching this protocol?  And how did you find out about those not-for-the-public entrances to the Palace? 

[becke_davis]

I know several of you were reading Her Royal Spyness - if you've finished it now, I'm looking forward to seeing your comments. Also, if any of you have read A Royal Pain, let's talk about that one, too.  In the second book in the series, Georgie is back and, as you might expect, Her Majesty has a job for her to do.

[Beth_Groundwat…]

While I'm lurking on the board, waiting for questions to answer from members of the group, I thought I'd check out the other topics and chime in. I've read Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness and really enjoyed it. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is a chariming character and the setting of 1930s London is fascinating. I recommend the book to cozy mystery lovers!

[becke_davis]

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Beth_Groundwater wrote:
While I'm lurking on the board, waiting for questions to answer from members of the group, I thought I'd check out the other topics and chime in. I've read Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness and really enjoyed it. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is a chariming character and the setting of 1930s London is fascinating. I recommend the book to cozy mystery lovers!

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Beth and Rhys - I'm sure the two of you have attended a lot of the same mystery conventions. Have you ever met? 

[Beth_Groundwat…]

Yes, Rhys Bowen and I have met, though I may remember her better than she remembers me! She's a more established mystery author than I am.

[ms_linda]

I finished the book last night and loved it.  I could really picture Castle Rannoch in my mind, it makes me shiver to think about it. I also really enjoyed all the adventures Georgie had crashing weddings, working at Harrod's and especially her housekeeping escapades. I look forward to reading the next one.

[becke_davis]

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ms_linda wrote:
I finished the book last night and loved it.  I could really picture Castle Rannoch in my mind, it makes me shiver to think about it. I also really enjoyed all the adventures Georgie had crashing weddings, working at Harrod's and especially her housekeeping escapades. I look forward to reading the next one.

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Oh, that scene at Harrods was priceless!  You wanted her to be able to explain it, but of course, she couldn't!

[becke_davis]

Rhys - We aren't kicking you out of here -- I'm surprised to see the featured book icons have already changed! I didn't expect that to happen until Sunday, since the June discussions will kick off on Monday.

But I will take this time to thank you for joining us! Please come back when your next book comes out, and be sure to keep us posted on the movie situation.

It's been a pleasure having you here with us!