JENN: Last year at Left Coast Crime in Phoenix, I was lucky enough to have the delightful Julianne Holmes aka J.A. Hennrikus on a panel I was moderating. The clock shop premise of her mystery series hooked me in immediately and I have been a huge fan of her series ever since.
JULIANNE: This week my third Clock Shop Mystery, Chime and Punishment was published. Being a published author was a long held dream, and I am still
thrilled every time I hold one of my books in my hands. My journey as a
published novelist is only two years long, but it has made a lot easier by the
friends who have been lifting me up along the way, including some of the folks
on this blog.
I spent so many years dreaming about being published that I
was surprised by how much I had to learn once my series was released. First of
all, I’ve learned that the long, languid pace of polishing your first novel is
never to be savored again. When you are writing a series, you are writing the
new book while doing copy edits of the last book while going out to sell the
first book. Deadlines are deadlines, and shifting gears is a necessary skill.
I’ve always loved research, but writing the Clock Shop
series has given me a great opportunity to dive into a world I knew nothing
about. Happily, the universe provided me a great resource when a friend let me
know her husband was a clock maker. David Roberts runs the Clockfolk of NewEngland, and he has been happy to answer questions.
Granted, when I started a conversation with “how would you kill someone with a
clock part” it took him aback. But when I reached out about research for this
book, which centers around rebuilding the clock tower in the town hall, he was
happy to have me come with him on one of his weekly winding appointments.
Going on that research trip changed the book. I had visions of
huge cogs and wheels, but the clock mechanism is a machine that has been
running for one hundred years. Seeing the arms that run the hands, the size of
the clock faces, the mechanisms that rang the bell, the winding of the clock,
the weights that keep it running for a week? All of that was fodder for my
imagination. More than that, climbing up to the tower with David and Susan,
feeling the heat (and thinking about how cold it must be in the winter),
learning that the clock required 350 revolutions to keep it running for a week,
watching David carefully oil, polish and tweak the clock, that helped my
understand Ruth Clagan, my protagonist’s passion. I never, ever take a clock
tower that is running for granted anymore. And I wonder if someone still winds it,
or did they decide to make it electric? I always hope that it is still
mechanical.
The skills of being a clock maker are not unlike the skills
of being a writer. Both take a long time to master, if they are ever mastered.
For both, making a living takes some maneuvering. The clock makers I’ve met,
and the writers I know, also love the work. Passion fuels us all.
I love this Clock Shop series, and am glad that Ruth
Clagan’s third adventure in Orchard, Massachusetts is available for you all to
read. As I’ve been writing this series, folks have come up to talk to me about
a clock or watch.
How about you, readers? Do you have a clock or a watch with sentimental value? Are any of you clock makers?
How about you, readers? Do you have a clock or a watch with sentimental value? Are any of you clock makers?
She blogs with the Wicked Cozy Authors and Killer Characters. JHAuthors.com T:@JHAuthors I: @jahenn
Congratulations on your new book, Julianne. A series about a clock shop sounds quite marvelous and I’m looking forward to reading your books.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, my grandmother had a grandfather clock in her living room . . . I loved hearing the clock chime.
We don’t have a grandfather clock, but we have a vintage table clock; one that has its own key for winding about once a week. It, too, chimes, and reminds me of the clock I loved when I was a child . . . .
I love table clocks--there are so many, and all with such great personalities.
DeleteThis post reminded me that I miss wearing a watch. I remember reading an article that said people used their phones now and no one was wearing watches anymore. Ever since, I have been determined to find a good old fashioned watch - still looking.
DeleteI have always been fascinated by clocks. Both of my grandmothers had chiming clocks that I loved as a kid. One of those clocks went to my sister, but the other went to a great aunt somewhere far away. I have no idea where it might be now. I do have an antique school clock that my grandfather gave my mother, though. I haven't found the wall for it yet in my current home, but I'm sure I will. I also have a mechanical watch that's called a "complication." It's self-winding, and has four additional dials, beyond the basic analog time: one for a 24-hour clock, one for the day, one for the date, and one for the phases of the moon. My late husband literally searched the world to find that watch for me, after I casually mentioned that I thought a watch that showed moon phases would be cool. It's a treasure.
ReplyDeleteYour watch sounds so wonderful! It also sounds like it could be used in a mystery somehow...hhmmm. Regarding the wall clock, I hope you find a place soon.
DeleteDeathwatch title?
DeleteThat sounds fantastic. I think I have watch envy.
DeleteI'm so excited I get to pick up my copy at Northshire Books this afternoon, Julie! I wear my mother's watch. It has a battery, but I love that what was on her wrist is now on mine. I also make a point of greeting Whittier's clock every time I go to the Amesbury public library. It is a tallcase and has the half sphere display where a smiling sun marks the passage across the beautifully painted thirty-one days. Hard to describe but I think we have talked about it before.
ReplyDeleteWe have talked about that clock before. I need to come up and visit it. How wonderful that you wear your mother's watch. A lovely remembrance.
DeleteHow lovely to have your mother's watch, Edith. And every library should have a really good clock.
DeleteHow fascinating! I'll have to put these on my list! I once had a beautiful grandfather clock and in the perfect spot. Sadly, when I sold my house I had to give it up. BTW, I have Holmes ancestors, also making me something like a 14th cousin to A. Lincoln!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that grandfather clock story from a couple of people. They are made for a time when people didn't move much, since moving them requires a ton of effort. My Holmes name comes from my paternal grandmother's family. I always intend to look into the family tree more, but I suspect my love of research would mean I never wrote another book.
DeleteCongratulations, Julianne. I look forward to exploring your books.
ReplyDeleteI break clocks. And watches. And don't get me started on kitchen timers.
Thank God for the miracle of iPhones and digital clocks on stoves and microwaves and car clocks and the one in my bedroom that shines the light on the ceiling. As long as I don't fiddle with any of these, I'll be right on time.
The one in my bedroom has the temperature on it too. I like to be able to wake up in the night and know if I'm cold or hot or just right.
My grandfather had a collection of chiming clocks, all needing to be wound each Sunday. He was dedicated to this task. When he died, they all stopped within an hour. No kidding. Deus ex machina?
Wow, your grandfather's story gives me chills. I spend time in this book talking about winding day in the shop. It requires a lot of effort to keep mechanical clocks working.
DeleteLOL about the your clock karma. I will admit, I am attached to my phone. Amazing what one machine does to control my life.
That's incredible about your grandfather and such a perfect opening for a story.
DeleteJulianne/Julie, so happy to see you here this morning. I love your clock series and ordered the new one yesterday. I hope more are coming! You are so spot on about how a writer will never have the languid pace of that first novel back:). Isn't it a fascinating life? I also agree about how going on a research excursion can bring twists to the book that you never imagined. I honestly don't know how writers write only from their imaginations. How about someone like JK Rowling who made up her whole world? It's remarkable!
ReplyDeleteand huge congrats on the new series--I hadn't heard that news!
Thank you Lucy/Roberta! This writing life is wonderful, better than I could have imagined.
DeleteI think I want to try and make up a new world at some point. There is a freedom to it--you make up all the rules. Sort of fun to be queen of everything, even if it is only in fiction.
World building has always intimidated me, Julianne, but I love the way you think of it - as freedom - it does make it awfully tempting to try it.
DeleteCongrats, Julie! This is such a cute series.
ReplyDeleteI have an old Micky Mouse watch that needs repaired because I overwound it as a child. I also have a antique from my grandmother. It also needs a little maintenance.
Mary/Liz
I'm impressed that you still have your Mickey watch! The inherited maintenance required clocks are a familiar story. It might be fun to explore that.
DeleteOne of my daughters had a Winnie the Pooh watch from the early 90's. I wonder whatever happened to that.
DeleteWell now, this is a first for me. An author being interviewed for the blog that I'm already familiar with. I have the first two books in the series and just picked up Chime and Punishment yesterday!
ReplyDeleteAs for the question about the clock and watch, I don't have any with sentimental value. My mom did as she wore my dad's watch for years after he passed. When she passed, the watch was set on her nightstand where (after a brief pause to go check), it still resides.
I do have my grandparents old time radio though. And it still works. My grandmother was going to get rid of it but I offered to buy it from her so it stayed in the family. Instead, she said I could just have it. That is out in the den.
As an off-topic aside, I just wanted to let Ingrid Thoft know that I got the Glen Erik Hamilton "Every Day Above Ground" giveaway in the mail yesterday. Thanks!
The memory of your father's watch is lovely. Thanks for being a reader of the series. I hope you enjoy CHIME AND PUNISHMENT!
DeleteI love that you kept the watch and the radio, Jay. I'm a declutterer but there a few things that I just can't part with from my grandparents and I mourn the things that other relatives tossed away or sold without ever asking if anyone wanted them. I'm so glad your grandmother gave you the radio.
DeleteJ.A, thanks to you for your comment about the watch.
DeleteJenn, I am not a declutterer by nature but I have to get rid of stuff because there's too much of my mother's stuff that I'm never going to use. As for my own stuff, I'm slowly starting to weed out some stuff because I'm never going to use it again.
I love clocks and watches, and enjoy seeing all kinds of different ones. A friend has an extensive collection, and he always posts a "Watch Wednesday" of whichever one he's wearing that day. Some of them are so unusual. He even has a tiny tattoo of a watch on the inside of his wrist. When a relative's belongings came to us I gave my friend a most interesting clock, round, with a disklike appearance. He said it was a lady's purse clock! A little heavy to haul around, but I loved the retro look of it.
ReplyDeleteIn the early 70's I had a cool grandfather clock made of a tri-folded sheet of black Plexiglas, with white dots and hands, very minimalist. My ex ended up with it, or I'd still have it.
The most unusual clock we have now, other than a small brass and glass carriage clock my mother-in-law used to take on overseas trips (so heavy!), is my husband's family's cuckoo clock. I think it was his grandmother's, and he remembers hearing the cuckoos as his childhood background noise. We don't use it; I'm not a fan of the noise, but it's a wonderful thing to see.
What wonderful clock stories! Watch Wednesday friend sounds like my kind of guy. And I love the description of your ex-clock. Sounds very unique!
DeleteJulie, search Facebook for Kenneth D King. He's a professor at FIT in New York, and he also makes clocks. He just made an extraordinarily beautiful wall-hung grandfather clock for a client. It's a must-see.
DeleteI'll try to tag you on the photo, if I can. I think his posts are set to Public.
Watch Wednesday? I love it.
DeleteThank you for having me on the blog Jungle Reds! Jenn, that panel was a lot of fun, as was the conference.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us, Julianne. I love your clock shop series and am really looking forward to the new one!
DeleteWelcome to Jungle Red, Julianne! How did you first decide to set your mysteries in the world of clocks? One of my favorite clocks is the astronomical clock in the old town center of Prague. A must see for anyone who visits!
ReplyDeleteI went to Prague a couple of years ago, and that clock really was amazing. I mention it in the second book of the series. The world was actually chosen by an editor at Berkley, I'm the lucky person who got to write the series!
DeleteOh, love these books! And yes, my parents were big collectors of museum-quality antique clocks, and I am lucky enough to have inherited a few...come see them!
ReplyDeleteAnd when my Gramma Minnie died oh so many years ago, I was asked which of her things I wanted--I only chose her watch. Think how many times she looked at it? I love that.
Congratulations on the new series! xoxxoox Tell us more!
I think it was the fact that you had a blurb on the book that made me want to pick it up.
DeleteHank, I do need to see them! I love the story of your watch--such a wonderful memory. The new series is a lot of fun--about an ex-cop who runs a theater company. Exciting times!
DeleteJay, Hank has been a great supporter of mine, and is one of the great cheerleaders in our business. She, Hallie, and Roberta have known me for a long time, and are great examples of how to navigate this business.
DeleteWhen I stopped working I stopped wearing wristwatches. But I do strap one on from time to time. My son gave me a Curious George watch for Christmas one year. I also have a Donald Duck watch, not an antique! I have an electric table clock made of Bakelite that belonged to my grandparents. Evidently my aunt bought it for them when electricity came to their part of Texas. That was probably thanks to LBJ!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Hudson, Ohio for about 18 years and the town square had a clock tower. J.D.Rockefeller had something to do with it. I don't remember if he contributed to building it or if he just liked hanging out and passing out pennies there when in town. I know the clockworks were redone while we lived there as the time was correct only twice a day. I am going to have to get a hold of the first book in your series, Julianne.
Keeping a clock tower working is a huge feat. At least it wasn't boarded up--that's the case near my house. I hope you enjoy the book!
DeleteJulie, you have presented me with yet another fascinating subject that I want to read about. A series featuring clocks has got to be on my TBR list. Your visit to the clock tower was so interesting to read about. Thank you for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a table or mantel clock that I would have had to love, but, alas, my sister got it when we divided household items up. Other than that, my family didn't have any other clocks, such as a grandfather clock. My husband's grandfather had a pocket watch that my husband inherited, and we also have another old pocket watch, whose origin I don't know or remember. I do think that pocket watches are special, as they were personal items carried on the person.
I used to love to wear wrist watches, but cell phones have obliterated that need and/or pleasure. I rather lament that loss. I know I could still wear a watch, and I have several to choose from, but I've fallen into the habit of using my cell phone as a clock, and I don't know if there is any going back or not.
I've fallen into the phone/fitbit watch habit as well, and do miss watches. Though now that I need reading glasses, they may not be as easy to use.
DeletePocket watches have a wonderful history. What a treasure!
This latest book in the Clock Shop Mystery series is next tbr book. I love this series.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my prized possessions are a pair of Seth Thomas mantle clocks. One belonged to my grandparents, and my dad loved it so much when he went on visits that he bought one for his household. I love the gentle ticking sound to - very comforting. My hubby doesn't care for it as he doesn't like the chimes every quarter hour, so the clocks are inactive (also because there are no shops nearby that would know how to care for these old beauties).
ReplyDelete