Here at the Café today we have with us mystery author Rhys Bowen. In honor of her British roots we are having some of the tea she brought back from her latest trip to England. Her latest book, TELL ME, PRETTY MAIDEN, was released by Berkley Prime Crime in March of 2008.

Café:
Tell us about TELL ME, PRETTY MAIDEN.

Rhys:
Historical mystery set in New York City 1903. Irish immigrant sleuth. This story involves life in the theater and a body of a young girl found in a snow drift. A ROYAL PAIN, comes out in July: 2nd book in the series that began with HER ROYAL SPYNESS last year. It's again historical 1930s, but more a romp than a serious mystery. Lady Georgie (34th in line to the throne) is asked to entertain a visiting German princess. Problem is she's flat broke, living without servants and cleaning people's houses. And the princess turns out to be more difficult than she imagined.

Café:
How long have you been writing?

Rhys:
All my life.

Café:
When did your first novel come out?

Rhys:
My first mystery novel was EVANS ABOVE, the first in the Constable Evans series about a policeman in North Wales. Came out 1997, but I had been writing for years before that and published many different books from YA novels to historical sagas.

Café:
What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book? Tell us a little about the setting and main character.

Rhys:
I started the Molly Murphy series because I was writing Constable Evans and he was too polite. I wanted a feisty female main character who doesn't always know when it is wise to shut up and back off. I also needed to write about the emotions I felt on Ellis Island. The books take place in New York City, 1901-1903. Molly Murphy had to flee from Ireland and has now become a detective in NY. The stories involve the various communities and levels of society within New York City. For the other series, I was being pressured to write a big dark standalone, so I wrote the complete anthesis — funny, flippant, irreverent, etc. The other series, Her Royal Spyness: is about a minor British royal in the 1930s who finds herself penniless and doesn't know what to do with her life. Her adventures in London and a spot of spying for the then queen.

Café:
All of your books sound like fun. What is the main reason that you write?

Rhys:
I love to tell stories

Café:
Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?

Rhys:
Obviously any good fiction writer writes to entertain, but all of my books have an underlying theme and I think they debate right and wrong and the various shades of gray between them and also enlighten the reader to the conditions in 1900, the abuses, the role of women etc.

Café:
Do you have a schedule for your writing or just write whenever you can?

Rhys:
I write two books a year so when I write I'm on a pretty tight schedule. I write every day, at least 5 pages a day until the first draft is done.

Café:
Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

Rhys:
I am one of the non-outlining people. I start knowing very little. I know into which environment the case will take Molly. Sometimes I know who will be killed. But most often I stumble along and a story develops. It's always terrifying every time I start a book, but I seem to work best this way.

Café:
That’s what I prefer as well. If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?

Rhys:
I have my ideal. I work early mornings until about lunchtime.

Café:
That’s great. Day job?

Rhys:
No. I've made money from my writing since 1976

Café:
Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Rhys:
No. I've been lucky.

Café:
What kind of promotion do you find most affective?

Rhys:
Just being visible and being approachable. I go to conferences, I tour to sign books, I have a website, a blog.

Café:
Most interesting book signing story — in a bookstore or other venue?

Rhys:
I spoke at a naturist center last year, but it was very cold so most people were fully clothed. Not all, though.

Café:
That would be a different experience. Heroes?

Rhys:
In the writing world? Tony Hillerman, Reginald Hill, Peter Robinson and many more. In real life? Maja Angelou, Mother Theresa, anybody who works hard to make a difference in this world.

Café:
Person you would most like to meet dead or alive?

Rhys:
Jesus.

Café:
Awesome answer. What do you read?

Rhys:
Lots of mysteries, travel non-fiction, some literary novels and women's fiction , occasional chick lit.

Café:
What are your hobbies?

Rhys:
I play the Celtic Harp. I sing — cantor and choir in church these days. I hike, we travel a lot.

Café:
I’d say that’s one of the more unique hobbies we’ve had. I’d love to hear you play. Favorite TV or movies?

Rhys:
TV Britcoms, Masterpiece theater, British mysteries. Movies — good romantic comedies, lavish period pieces, anything with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith in it. (you can tell I haven't shaken off my British upbringing, can't you)

Café:
Family?

Rhys:
Lots. Four children. Two married. Five grandchildren. Love 'em all to pieces.

Café:
What part of the country/world do you live in?

Rhys:
We have a house north of San Francisco and a condo in Phoenix for the winter months.

Café:
Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Rhys:
Write where your passion is. Don’t write anything because you think it will sell. If you write something that really moves you, it will be a good story. And learn too. Don't expect immediate success.

Café:
Very good advice. Anything you would like to add?

Rhys:
I am part of a blog called The Ladykillers (www.theladykillers.typepad.com) Six other interesting female writers. Take a look at it.

Café:
I will definitely check that out. Website?

Rhys:
www.rhysbowen.com

Café:
Where can people purchase your books?

Rhys:
Anywhere, but I always prefer that they go to a mystery bookstore or independent. Most mystery bookstores have an online presence these days.

Café:
Thanks so much for being here with us at the Café. Books and coffee/tea make the perfect combination.

©2008 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.