Category: Sam’s Sunday Supplement

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Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam's Sunday Supplement

Sam’s Sunday Supplement #11

Welcome to Sam’s Sunday Supplement #11, a weekly digest of news from Sam’s world.

The Sam Smith Mystery Series is based in Cardiff. Here is a view of Cardiff Bay. At present, Sam is working from a houseboat. Her office houseboat is moored to the right of this picture, on the River Taff.

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I am researching background material for my 1944-5 mini-series. Although cars were rare in country areas during the Second World War, and petrol was rationed, my heroine, Ann Morgan, will have access to a vehicle because her husband is a flight lieutenant in the RAF seconded to M15, the security service. The Morgan’s car will be this stylish 1938 Jensen S-type. Anyone fancy a ride! 😃

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Currently, I’m reading Above Suspicion and Assignment in Brittany, the first two novels written by espionage novelist Helen MacInnes, pictured. These novels about the Second World War were written during the war, so they carry the stamp of authenticity. Furthermore, Helen MacInnes was married to Gilbert Highet who served in MI6 as a British intelligence agent. It is believed that Highet provided espionage details for many of MacInnes’ books.
An all-male cast, filmed in one room, no special effects…focus groups would never allow this film to be made today, yet it is spellbinding. Twelve Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon (see below) were directed by Sidney Lumet. The films receive a mention in my book, Mind Games, which incidentally is on course to break the record for pre-orders in the Sam Smith Mystery Series.

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Three posters from Dog Day Afternoon, one of my favourite films, and a film that has influenced my writing. There is a realistic feel to this movie enhanced by the natural interaction between the characters, the lighting and the ad-libbed lines, including the classic Wyoming line. Al Pacino is outstanding, and that can be said for all of the cast. Cinema doesn’t get any better than this.
An interesting insight into the creation of a detective series.

If you would like to follow Ann’s War, my Second World War mini series, on Facebook please follow this link Ann’s War

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Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam's Sunday Supplement

Sam’s Sunday Supplement #10

Welcome to Sam’s Sunday Supplement #10, a weekly digest of news from Sam’s world.

Mind Games has been edited and proofread, and the manuscript will be uploaded to Amazon next week. The book is currently available for pre-order and will be published on the 3rd June 2017. A print version will also be made available. All my books are in print and available at discount prices through the Goylake Publishing link on the Amazon product pages.

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I have been having fun this week casting actors and accesses from the 1940s in roles for my 1944-5 mini-series. So far, I have found parts for Gene Tierney (pictured), Joseph Cotton, Dana Andrews, Judith Anderson, Mary Astor, Vincent Price, Trevor Howard and Clifton Webb 😃
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One of the chapters in Digging in the Dirt is set in Victoria Park, Cardiff (pictured). As the name suggests, the park was named after Queen Victoria and was created to celebrate her sixty years on the throne. The park also contains a sculpture of Billy the Seal who lived from 1912 to 1939 in what is now the paddling pool. Apparently, Billy got tangled in a trawler’s net and was rescued at Cardiff Docks. Billy was popular with the locals and they were saddened when he died in 1939. However, upon Billy’s death it was discovered that he was a she, and maybe should have been called Billie.

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There are several Second World War strands to Digging in the Dirt. One of those strands is loosely based on the life of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade a remarkable woman who in her early thirties became head of the French underground intelligence network, “The Alliance”. The Alliance’s assignment was to gather information about German troop and naval movements and logistics inside France, and transmit this intelligence to Britain, using a network of clandestine radio transmitters and couriers. It was extremely dangerous work. Many of Fourcade’s closest associates were captured, tortured and killed by the Gestapo. Some, however, escaped, including Fourcade herself, on two occasions. On the first occasion, 10th November 1942, she was arrested with her staff, but escaped to London. After returning to France she was captured a second time. Her second escape was more harrowing: in the small hours of the morning, she forced her petite body between the bars of a cell window. At the conclusion of the war, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was decorated for her outstanding contribution in the fight against fascism.

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In general, I tend to prefer books to movies. However, with the Maltese Falcon I prefer the movie to the book. One of the finest detective films ever made.

Categories
Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam's Sunday Supplement

Sam’s Sunday Supplement #9

Welcome to Sam’s Sunday Supplement #9, a weekly digest of news from Sam’s world.

Last weekend Sam’s Song reached #1 on the Amazon.com private investigators chart, the third time in nine months that the book has reached #1. Once again, many thanks to everyone who has read Sam’s Song.

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I am storyboarding a mini series of five novellas set in 1944-5. The series will feature five mysteries with an overall story arc for the main characters. The timeframe includes the D-Day landings, the Welsh Great Escape when 67, 70 or 84 – depending on your sources – German POWs escaped from Island Farm POW camp in Bridgend, and the Victory in Europe celebrations. Pictured, Field Marshall von Runstedt, General Blumentritt, General Heinrici and Field Marshall von Kleist arriving at Bridgend Railway Station en route to Island Farm after attending the Nuremburg war crimes trials.

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Here is a sneak preview of the cover for A Parcel of Rogues, book thirteen in the Sam Smith Mystery Series. This story will centre around a murder investigation. I have a new cover designer and I’m delighted with the covers. Indeed, this cover actually suggested a plotline for the book, which is why I like to have my covers in place before I write.

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In Digging in the Dirt, book twelve in the series, Sam and another character discuss the poems of Dylan Thomas, including this one, Fern Hill, read majestically here by Richard Burton.
One of my hobbies is genealogy and I’ve traced my family tree back to the mid 1600s. So far, I have not come across any Scottish ancestors or bike manufacturers. Nevertheless, I thought I’d share this lovely picture with you.

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As ever, thank you for your interest and support. More news next week.
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Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam's Sunday Supplement

Sam’s Sunday Supplement #8

Welcome to Sam’s Sunday Supplement #8, a weekly digest of news from Sam’s world.

Another exciting week. This week Sam’s Song reached #2 on the Amazon.com private investigators chart and #11 on the Amazon Germany mystery chart. Many thanks to everyone who has read the book.
This week I completed the storyboard for Digging in the Dirt, Sam Smith Mystery #12. The archaeological dig that will feature in Digging in the Dirt takes place at two sites, Kenfig and Stormy Down. During the Second World War, Stormy Down was an airfield for allied airmen, including airmen from Poland and other countries in occupied Europe. One of the archaeologists, Jana, has Polish ancestors, so the dig is especially poignant for her. Pictured, a Miles Martinet, foreground, and Avro Anson, two of the aeroplanes based at R.A.F. Stormy Down.

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I’m looking into the possibility of writing a number of mini series alongside the Sam Smith Mystery Series. These series will feature private detectives from different eras, from Victorian times and the Second World War, for example. Each series will include five individual stories, each containing a mystery, while the complete story arc will reveal the main character’s story. I hope to make these stories available FREE to subscribers of my newsletter. In the coming weeks I will be upgrading my newsletter through Author Reach and will post details here.

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Recently, I came across this movie poster for Laura, one of my top ten films. As you can see from the poster, Laura is an elegant movie, which tells an original and absorbing story. Highly recommended.
As ever, thank you for your interest and support. More news next week.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam's Sunday Supplement

Sam’s Sunday Supplement #7

Welcome to Sam’s Sunday Supplement, #7, a weekly digest of news from Sam’s world.

The editing of Mind Games, book eleven in the Sam Smith Mystery Series, is now complete and the book is on schedule for publication on 3rd June 2017. Mind Games can be pre-ordered for $0.99, €0.99, £0.99. With the editing complete I have stepped up my research for Digging in the Dirt, book twelve in the series.
One of the chapters in Digging in the Dirt will be set at Lavernock on the South Wales coast. On the 13th May 1897, Guglielmo Marconi, assisted by a local man, George Kemp, transmitted and received the first wireless signals over open sea between Lavernock Point and Flat Holm Island.
In Morse code Marconi transmitted the message, “Are you ready?” He received the reply, “Can you hear me?” And responded, “Yes, loud and clear.”
The recording slip for the first message is on display at the National Museum of Wales. Pictured here, Guglielmo Marconi, post office engineers with Marconi’s equipment, Lavernock Point and the island of Flat Holm.
More news about Digging in the Dirt. I have a new cover designer and I’m very pleased with this draft cover they have created for the story.

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Faye Collister, Sam’s friend and assistant, features in Mind Games and Digging in the Dirt. Readers of my series will know that Faye has a number of issues, including an obsessive compulsive disorder. This link might help you if you have friends or family who suffer with OCD Psychology Today
One of the inspirations for the Sam Smith Mystery Series is The Rockford Files starring my favourite actor James Garner. A highlight of The Rockford Files was the telephone answering machine messages at the start of each episode, including this one from The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers…Jimmy, old buddy-buddy – it’s Angel. You know how they allow you one phone call? Well, this is it.

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As ever, thank you for your interest and support. More news next week.