HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: So the other day, Jonathan said to me: wow, you have
on real clothes! And, sadly, he was right. It’s just SO easy, on writing days,
to wear a white t-shirt and sweat pants.
I know, I’m so proud of myself, I said. I pointed a toe like a ballerina.
Look, I said, real shoes.
My beloved and talented Tina Whittle had had the same experience. But sometimes,
she goes outside! And as she reminds us,
that can work. (And whoo hoo! A giveaway! Keep reading.)
TINA WHITTLE: When my daughter
was ten, her school held Dress Like Your Favorite Author Day. Kaley decided to
go as me. She wore pajama pants and a baggy sweatshirt, her hair in a tangled
topknot and her glasses perched haphazardly on her head. To complete the look,
she carried a giant mug of coffee in one hand and cradled a stack of books against
her chest.
“Everybody be quiet,” she said. “I’m doing research.”
HANK: ed note. Sorry to interrupt. But this is so hilarious.
TINA WHITTLE: I had to admit…her impression was spot-on. I spend most days wearing a
similar outfit, hot coffee and research close at hand. But ever since I started
writing the Tai Randolph series, which features my gun-shop owning protagonist Tai
and her former SWAT boyfriend Trey, I’ve learned that while secondary research
is important, the best research is the hands-on, up-close, in-person variety.
One of my favorite research trips is to the Ferrari dealership in
Atlanta (Trey drives a black-on-black F430 coupe…and I don’t). The manager lets
me sit behind the wheel of these magnificent cars, which smell of hand-stitched
leather and air-brushed steel. If it’s a quiet day, I get to go back to the
maintenance facility and listen to the engines being revved. Did you know that
Ferraris are not only designed for speed but also for sound?
Acoustic engineers
utilize third and sixth harmonics on the air intake, like a wind instrument or pipe
organ, to make that classic banshee growl musically resonant. I’ve gotten to
drive a Ferrari only once, and I was so nervous I never took it about fifty
miles per hour, but I still remember how responsive it was, like a live thing.
Tai’s background as a tour guide means I need to know a lot about
graveyards, her specialty. One of her favorites, and mine, is Bonaventure
Cemetery in Savannah. Made famous by Midnight
in the Garden of Good and Evil, it’s a fascinating “city of the dead.” I
love Bonaventure because it nestles in the bend of the Wilmington River, right
in the middle of a salt marsh.
There are benches scattered throughout where you
can sit and watch ospreys fish and herons rise against the breeze. Cemeteries
keep stories alive, and as a collector of stories, I appreciate this about
these resting places.
Trey lives on the 35th floor of a fantastically exclusive
skyscraper condominium in the heart of Buckhead, the second wealthiest zip code
in the South. This part of the city captures one of the things I love most
about Atlanta—its up-ness. I have yet to experience another urban center so
elbow-to-elbow with its own identity. It’s as if the city’s trying to s-t-r-e-t-c-h
itself taller than it was a week ago. That's Atlanta to me. Always after that
extra inch.
For Necessary Ends, the sixth
book in the series, I took my characters a little north of Atlanta to Barnsley
Gardens, a resort property that was once an antebellum plantation. The Italianate
manor house is now in ruins, just one casualty of a particularly Southern saga
featuring war, genocide, curses, hauntings, cotton money, yellow fever,
tornadoes, and murder (the front parlor floor still has the blood splotch on it
from said killing, preserved under glass). In other words, it was the perfect
setting for a mystery.
What’s next for me on the research trail? I have no idea. But I am sure
that, to quote Carl Sagan, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be
known."
What about you? Care to share something fascinating you’ve learned
recently? An intriguing new spot visited? An adventure on your horizon?
HANK: Yeah, wow. That Sagan quote knocks me off my feet. The motto of an
investigative reporter!
Thank goodness have to get dressed to go to Channel 7. So, yes, what
about you? What fascinating thing have you learned recently? (I learned if you
put the French fries in the oven on really high heat first, then turn it down,
they are lovely and puffy. Not a big deal, but nice.)
Or just confess. When was the last time you put on real clothes?
And, whoo hoo! Tina is giving away a copy of either the first in the series---The Dangerous Edge of Things--or the newest--Necessary Ends. Winning commenter will be will be chosen at random from the commenters!
Tai Randolph is no stranger to solving mysteries. With a taste for danger
and a talent for amateur sleuthing, she has helped put an assortment of
murderers behind bars, much to the displeasure of her lover, Trey Seaver. A
former SWAT officer with the Atlanta police department, Trey believes in
letting the authorities handle complex matters of crime and punishment.
But then the Talbot case flares back to life.
It was the crime that rocked Atlanta—actress Jessica Talbot shot dead in
her Buckhead mansion and her husband, movie producer Nick Talbot, accused of
the murder. It seemed an open and shut case…until a dirty cop's secret forced prosecutors to set
Talbot free. Now, four years later, someone wants him dead, and the evidence
points to the man most convinced of Talbot's guilt—Trey.
Talbot offers an irresistible deal—he'll keep Trey’s name off the suspect list
if Trey agrees to a one-on-one interview. It's a chance for Trey to determine
once and for all if Talbot really is a killer, but it could also expose secrets
in Trey's own past, confidential information he has sworn to protect. Caught
between his drive for justice and his need for security, Trey does the
unexpected—he asks Tai to help him investigate.
It's a situation fraught with drama and potential
disaster, the kind of case Tai relishes. With Trey by her side—and in a
killer's crosshairs—she vows to use every trick in her slightly sketchy
playbook to stop a vigilante murderer from claiming a fresh victim.
Tina
Whittle’s Tai Randolph mysteries—featuring intrepid gunshop owner Tai and her
ex-SWAT partner Trey—have garnered starred reviews in Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly,
Booklist, and Library Journal. Published by Poisoned Pen Press, the sixth book in
the series—Necessary Ends—debuts
April 2018.
A two-time
nominee for Georgia Author of the Year, Tina enjoys boxing, sushi, and reading
tarot cards. She is a proud member of Sisters in Crime and serves as both a
chapter officer and national board member. Visit her website to follow her on
social media, sign up for her newsletter, or read additional scenes and short
stories at her website: www.tinawhittle.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new book, Tina . . . “Necessary Ends” sounds like an amazing story and I can’t wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteAs for the lounging around in comfy clothes, that’s pretty much standard around here unless I’m going go to work. Or to church. Or to the store. Or driving to Virginia. Comfortable is very good . . . .
What fascinating thing have I learned recently? Thanks to a very smart grandchild, I now know that any month that begins on a Sunday will always have a Friday the thirteenth, cold water is denser than hot water, and the Guinness Book of Records is the book that is most often stolen from the public library.
Hi Joan! Now I know two new things today (my high school physical science teacher will be very pleased that I remembered ONE thing about water). Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteCool facts, Joan! Trying to think of facts..
DeleteHilarious blog! I have a favorite pair of pajama pants, crops with cactus all over them. I think most of the people in my building have seen me with my long sweater coat and those pjs peaking out when I take the pup outside for quick relief. I enjoyed the laugh, and I'm looking forward to reading the book, Tina.
ReplyDeleteHi Chris! Great to "see" you here this morning (I'm going to pretend you're wearing those pajamas because they sound awesome). I got all dressed up in an actual sweatshirt and leggings today -- going all out for the Jungle Reds! I hope you enjoy the book, and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteOh, yeah, trenchcoat. VERY valuable. ANd wow, TIna, we are impressed. I have camo stretch pants and a big cashmere hoodie. But people are here. Yeesh.
DeleteI love that story--such a great way to start the morning. And also love your description of Atlanta--I've visited and driven by and flown through, but never have grasped the essence of the city. Question: does having a gun-shop owner protagonist mean you have to address the politics of guns?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! And yes, Atlanta is an enigma of a city. I set my protagonist's inherited gun shop just outside the ATL limits proper, in the city of Kennesaw, where according to law, every head of household must own and maintain a firearm and ammunition. I did this on purpose because I wanted to deal with the gun issue as a Southerner living in the middle of it. Like Tai, I inherited that culture, one of violence and racism. It's mine whether I asked for it or not. Like her, I have to reckon with it. Thanks for stopping by, and for the insightful question.
DeleteThat's amazing, Tina, that Kennesaw has that law!
DeleteI know. When I talk about this series, and the things that I make up versus the things that are real, this is the real thing that people find hardest to believe. It's not enforced, of course -- how could it be? -- but its philosophy is more important than its legality. And that's the thing I'm trying to deal with in these books.
DeleteAnd what a challenge--and what a triumph--to face reality instead of hiding from it.
DeleteTina, as a Texan we have a lot of the same culture, and I am so interested to see how you deal with it in your books. I think I should start from the beginning!
DeleteAh, Texas -- now that's a culture unto itself, Deborah. If you're like me and like to watch characters develop, then yes, the first book in the series is for you. And in that book my character is just beginning to come to grips with that culture. I have cop characters and ex-cop characters who carry every day. I have characters who are baffled by that. The research is heavy (and has informed a lot of my own feelings about the issue) but I try to differentiate my feelings from my characters' feelings, and let them make decisions I might not agree with but which are true to the story. It's sometimes a hard balance. Thanks for the interest, and for joining in the discussion.
DeleteLucy asked the question I was going to! My sons were just here and I always learn fascinating stuff from them - but do I remember? Heck no. As for real clothes, I'll have to put them on at least seven times in the next two weeks - because book release week! Best of luck with the new book, Tina. I would love to drive a Ferrari, and so interesting about the acoustics of the engine. Awesome factoid.
ReplyDeleteI have forgotten more fascinating stuff than I'll ever remember (except about Ferraris -- that research sticks). And Lucy asked a great question; it's one of the big questions I keep in mind as I'm writing this series. And it's a subquestion to THE question, which is, how do we decide who we are? Thanks for stopping by! And best of luck with your book release in the outside world!
DeleteGreat article. One of these days I plan to visit Atlanta and/or Georgia.
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't have to go to the daytime situation - I would be in sweats and a t-shirt all day. Okay, this is my weekend wear if I don't have to go out.
Don't enter me as I have read all the book in this terrific series.
You'd better let me know if you come to Georgia, Dru Ann, either Atlanta or Savannah or parts in-between -- I owe you dinner and a tour and...well, whatever you want. Thanks so much for your support, and for stopping by today.
DeleteA friend of mine moved to Atlanta a few years back, and now lives in Stone Mountain. She's always showering me with stories about the contrasts she finds in the city between the past and the people who live there now. One of the more fascinating stories she has told me is the history of the area around Sweetwater Creek State Park, with roots in the Cherokee removal/Trail of Tears, and the New Manchester cotton mill that was burned during the Civil War. So much rich history everywhere you look!
ReplyDeleteThe most recent trove of fascinating facts I've stumbled onto also comes from Atlanta, where Gregory Bern is studying animal cognition at Emory University. Among other things, I learned that sea lions can pick up the beat in music and bob their heads along in time. No word on whether they clap on 1 and 3, or 2 and 4, however.
And I'll offer this bit of wisdom from Michael Rosenberg, a very wealthy man I used to know. When a colleague mentioned that he'd just bought himself a Ferrari, Michael asked what color it was. The colleague said it was red. Michael just smiled and said, "The first Ferrari is always red."
I love that quote! And I know it's true -- the Ferrari showroom in Atlanta is a sea of red. My co-protagonist Trey drives a black one and he had to order it special from Italy because the choices were red and more read.
DeleteAtlanta is chockful of history (especially Stone Mountain) and it's rich in contrasts. If you're ever flying through Hartsfield (and everybody does, it seems, at some point) instead of taking the train, walk between concourses B and C -- they've turned it into an Atlanta history timeline, from the pre-Columbian era through the Civil Rights era and into contemporary times with artifacts and videos and photographs. Very informative and well done.
I've only been to Atlanta a couple of times: once to change planes, and once for a World Science Fiction convention. Neither time did I have the opportunity to get out and explore. I did, however, drive across Tennessee recently and there, again, I was stunned/amazed/intrigued by the layer after layer of history I encountered. I'll have to put Atlanta, and Georgia, on my To-Do list, for sure.
DeleteSUCH a great quote! And useful for many occasions, not just cars.
DeleteAtlanta still manages to surprise me. I hope you can find the time, Gigi, to put it on your travel plans.
DeleteBarnsley Gardens! It's spooky and joyful (wedding venue). Love the Ferrari facts. The week we moved to the Atlanta suburbs, I attended a welcome event at a historic church in Roswell. After identifying myself as a recent Ohio transplant, the hostess graciously showed me the Yankee bullet holes and spur scars left by Union soldiers quartered in the area.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Barnsley Gardens (which I changed to Beardsley Gardens in the book because of the nefariousness I wrought there, but otherwise kept the main details the same - it's the reason there's a graveyard on the front cover of the book).
DeleteWe're always digging up artifacts around here. I have several Civil War era liquor and apothecary bottles on my mantel. No bullet holes here, alas. But I can show you the graves in Savannah's Colonial Cemetery where Union soldiers also quartered (as for the bodies, those got piled in the corner, some of which never got returned to their proper resting places).
The other question: When do you put on your 'real' face? I'm not a big makeup person but now I sort of need at least a little in order to recognize myself.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new book, Tina. I confess I came to a full stop when I got to the part about your protagonist being a gun-shop owner. Echoing Lucy's question.
Most of the time my freckles and a nice sunscreen are my only make-up, but if I have an event, I put on the bare minimum (which feels about as comfortable as putting on pantyhose). For people who hate make-up but who must wear it on occasion, I highly recommend Bobbi Brown's Make-Up Manual -- easy to follow, lots of good info, and results that don't feel like a splash of paint on the face.
DeleteAnd I feel you on the full stop -- the gun issue requires it right now on every level, political and moral. But to continue with the answer I gave Lucy, it's an issue that requires wrestling and reckoning, especially here in the South, where it is so tangled with history and culture and the stories we tell about ourselves (which is the reason I made Tai's former job a tour guide in Savannah, so she would know the truth of that history). For six books now, she's been my fictional proxy in that struggle. At the end of this book, she takes a serious and meaningful step toward dealing with it, a step I've been planning since the very first time she and I both stepped foot in that ramshackle inherited shop. I hope my readers will stick with me, and her, through it.
I have discovered that mascara and a tiny bit of foundation will make a lot of difference.
DeleteUnless I'm going farther than the budget supermarket down the street, my "real" face is a bit of color-correcting moisturizer (amazing how much difference that makes) and some tinted lipgloss.
DeleteNow I have to get dressed because the guy who is fixing the cobblestones is here and blocking the driveway but Jonathan has to get out… domestic crisis back soon!
ReplyDeleteDeal with said crisis! We'll hold your space!
DeleteI need to give my characters better cars. I love the bit about the sound of the engine, Tina. I get dressed every day because I have to walk my dog. I saw Hallie's comment about the "real" face. I wear sunglasses on those walks even when it is cloudy out so I can avoid makeup. Don't enter me in the contest.
ReplyDeleteThat sound....omigosh. I can hear a Ferrari engine from a half mile away and know it for what it is (we have zero in Savannah, except for the celebrities who come zooming down Highway 80 on their way to Tybee Beach, but Atlanta is a prime Ferrari-spotting spot). Thanks for stopping by! And if you decide your characters need a Ferrari, come to Atlanta! I'll introduce you to the manager, who loves mysteries and is easily bribed with a signed copy or two.
DeleteFor a far more downscale option, Ford tunes the pipes on the Mustang GT, too. Not the same, I know, but you can dream . . .
DeleteI almost gave character Tai a Mustang. She ended up with a Camaro. Because of course she did.
DeleteThe choice of charaters' cars is SO critical! Charlie has a jeep. Jane had an Audi TT, but she regretted it, and now has a regular Audi.
DeleteConsumer regret. Even our characters suffer from it.
DeleteExactly! Xxx
DeleteQuick comment today as I have to go upstairs and put on "real clothes" as we are off to Philly in a bit. Congratulations on your newest child I mean book. I am not sure I'd know a Ferrari if one ran over my foot! Well, maybe then!
ReplyDeleteI've been inown to walk my dogs in pajama pants and a sweatshirt. Don't tell anyone tho
Your secret is safe with me. I don't know about your dog, though -- canines can't keep a secret to save their doggone lives. So if word gets out, don't blame me! And thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI love the image of the "career day" look. I think my kids might have added earrings - I have apparently been known to define the difference between "home" and "out of the house" outfits by indicating that I have added earrings and am therefore fit for public consumption. The series sounds wonderful and I'm looking forward to diving in.
ReplyDeleteI am stealing your wardrobe tip about the earrings. Hopefully I can manage to keep some nice ones on the dresser. Perhaps they will fool people into thinking the rest of my outfit is deliberately chosen as well. Is shabby chic a thing for people or just living rooms?
DeleteThanks for stopping by, and for the kind words -- I hope you enjoy the books!
Hi Tina. Thanks for the info about Hartsfield. I get stuck at Hartsfield often, nice to know there is a museum available. I love Atlanta, visiting Zoo Atlanta and the World of Coke high up on my bucket list. Lots to love about your series; I just reserved book 1. Cant wait to read the rest. Do they need to be read in order?
ReplyDeleteLast time I wore real clothes was yesterday when I ventured into summer. Again. In house I usually wear a kaftan, or dress like the Emperor.
Most recent fact I learned Boucher as in Bouchercon is pronounced like voucher.. not Boocher.. been mispronouncing it for oooh 'bout 30 years.
Hi Coralee! I also recommend the art installation at the ATL airport between Concourses A and B -- it's a faux forest, soothing and shadowy with leaf-filtered light and the sounds of birds and breezes. A spot of peace in one of the most hectic places I know.
DeleteI hope you enjoy the books! I'll tell you this about them (and it's no spoiler, since everybody tells me it's obvious for the first moment Trey appears on the page); while each mystery is a self-contained plot, the relationship between Tai and Trey is an ever-evolving story from book to book. So if you're a "solve the puzzle" reader, you can read them in any order. But if you're a "watch the characters develop" reader, then I recommend starting with the first book. Thank you for stopping by!
The Atlanta airport! One of my most fun stores when I lived there was covering the opening of the new fancy Hartsfield. I stayed up all night, getting video of the preps and the bustle, and then the first flight out of the shiny new airport. It is now the old airport.
DeleteThe airport feels like its own city, with its own peculiar customs and lore, its own checkered history.
DeleteLoved this! Loved seeing the photos of "real life" background of the books I have enjoyed so much. And the part about living in sweat pants. For neighborhoods errands, I just throw on a jacket. Big park 2 blocks away. Runners and bicyclists. Lot of exercise venues. Plenty of people walk to and from in exercise clothes. Who's to know? But it becomes increasingly challenging to dress like a regular person and there are many of those days. As for learning new things? Every day. Who knew (not me) that the old jokes about selling the Brooklyn Bridge are based on fact? It was a common- and surprisingly successful!- scam to offer it to naive immigrants.
ReplyDeleteHi Triss! I love your series for those very same reasons, all the real life backstory providing a framework for your books. True and sad fact -- I have never actually been to Brooklyn. I'm going to resolve that soon, I hope.
DeleteI am also stealing your tip about hanging out with people in exercise clothes. I may even get a water bottle, really sell it. During the nine months of Georgia summer, we're all a little sweaty, so I will look like I got stopped mid-jog.
Also, great to see you again, even virtually.
DeleteBrilliant! Try to look a little sweaty…
DeleteAs a native Atlantan, I am thrilled to learn about a series set here. Congratulations on the new one. My mother's family has been here for generations with nary a gun among them, only fishing poles.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Atlanta! I adore the city, but like my narrator, I'm an outsider, a flatland Middle Georgia girl currently living on the coast (though I did live in Atlanta while my husband attended Georgia Tech -- Go Jackets!). Fishing poles aplenty here too. People don't understand this about Atlanta, how very close spectacular nature is, sometimes right in the backyard. Excellent fishing and hiking and boating even in the middle of the city (I set one scene in Necessary Ends at Constitution Lakes park on Dollhead Trail -- I just learned about that one a few years ago). Thanks for stopping by and chatting this morning!
DeleteRandom thought: When I lived in Atlanta, I once gave a dinner party, very fancy, but served onion rings from---what was the place by Georgia Tech?
DeleteThe Varsity! I love those rings! Give me an FO and a heavy dog walkin' with a side of those rings, and I'm a happy girl. As long as I have an antacid chaser.
DeleteAlso, I did not know you once lived in Atlanta! How awesome to think we both drove Peachtree at some point.
DeleteThe Varsity! Exactly! Xxxx and you probably were not born when I lived there :-)
DeleteTina, your daughter definitely has the writer's gene: she closely observed the most salient aspects of her favorite author in order to recreate them!
ReplyDeleteThe last time I wore real clothes was last night, for girls' night out. Otherwise, it's jeans, a weather-appropriate top (t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or turtleneck, depending on how cold it is), and almost always some kind of sweater. This week I've been wearing a favorite, very ratty-looking, but purple, and it has pockets.
We window shopped Ferraris and Lamborghinis in Sydney, years ago, at a showroom midway between our hotel and the Circular Quai. That's as close as we have ever been, though. So one of my two newly learned facts is about keying the engine sound. Did you know Harleys have a similar process? You can tell a Harley Davidson from any other motorcycle, merely by sound.
The other new fact has to do with your mention of Kennesaw, Georgia, where your books take place. When I was growing up in Hamilton, Ohio we often drove to Oxford, home of Miami University (Hank went to college in Oxford). In between in Milford, where there was always a sign, "Birthplace of Kennesaw Mountain Landis, First Commissioner of Baseball". I never knew who this was until this morning, spurred by the memory jog to look him up on Google.
Kennesaw Mountain Landis, named for his father's birthplace (which is between Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia), was a lawyer and eventually a judge. He was elected the first commissioner of baseball after the "Black Sox" game-fixing scandal of the 1919 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the heavily favored but eventual losers, the Chicago White Sox.
In other words, I fell down the rabbit hole this morning. Still in my jammies.
Oh, I am so familiar with the rabbit hole. So many of them! And now I've learned that Harleys and Mustang GTs have sound engineering too. And while I am quite familiar with Kennesaw Mountain (and the Battleground National Park that it's a part of) this is my first time hearing of Kennesaw Mountain Landis. He had to become somebody important with that name. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteTalk about 'real clothes,' this experience getting a tux for the Edgar Awards Banquet has been interesting. So many choices. And who knew buying one was so much more economical than renting - like we all did in high school.
ReplyDeleteSuffice to say, I am unlikely to look more dapper in my life than I will that night (well except for at the Malice banquet, where I will be wearing the tux again - you know, since I bought it). LOL
I imagine that is the thing about owning a tux -- one looks for excuses to wear it, which should surely spice up one's social calendar.
DeleteBut I find upscale men's clothing fascinating. My character Trey has a closet full of Italian suits, which led me down the rabbit hole of bespoke fashion. His tastes are pretty traditional -- black jackets and pants with white shirts -- but I spotted Donald Glover on TV wearing an orange Dolce and Gabbana suit. That he totally rocked.
Three cheers for dapper -- and I hope you and your tux have a fabulous night!
Cannot wait to see all the photos! We will all be giving you a standing ovation!
DeleteReal clothes were always worn in the 1950's when I was growing up even in the home and definitely shopping, working and walking. Nowadays people wear whatever even to the bank and supermarket.
ReplyDeleteI used to teach college composition and can attest to your observation -- the number of students who regularly attended classes in pajamas was astounding.
DeleteGuilty. My 8 am german class (what was I THINKING???) was in the same building as my dorm. Trenchcoat over pajamas. But I ma sue the prof never noticed. :-) But it was all women, anyway.
DeleteLearning new things is my favorite hobby! I will know more about this after my afternoon with a guide in Rome next Friday, but I am learning about the Jewish Ghetto area of Rome. The restaurants are supposed to be great, it's along the Tiber, and the history!
ReplyDeleteClothes? Dressing up for me these days is my "better" black pants and a "better" sweater along with my usual SAS black shoes.
Okay now, you're just rubbing it in, aren't you? I am SO jealous that you get to lunch along the Tiber. Even I'd dress up for that!
DeleteMay you learn many new and wondrous things -- may your brain purely sparkle with it! Safe travels, and thanks for stopping by.
Congratulations on this fabulous book, Tina! My most fun recent research trip was to The Drunken Admiral themed restaurant in Hobart, Tasmania. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteNow this sounds like too much fun. And thanks for the kind words -- back at ya! I really enjoyed LOST LUGGAGE and can't wait for the next one. But then, I adore reptiles. One of my favorites research jaunts was to visit a reticulated python -- I got to hold her (with help) and learn about what a job it is to care for such a creature. Thanks for stopping by -- it's good to see you again if not in person, at least virtually.
DeleteOkay, I will let you hold the pythons on my behalf! Thanks for the kind words and happy to see you anywhere. xx
DeleteSame here! I still have my Barry Button! He's one sweet looking critter.
DeleteI love the "nine months of Georgia summer." It was almost like that in NC. Now that we've moved to PA it appears we've got nine months of snow. But seeing Flo and Eddy back looks like a sign of good things to come.
ReplyDeleteTackling the issues around gun culture feels both courageous and necessary. I applaud you! I hadn't heard of your series but I'll definitely search it out. Maybe I can get my book club to read one.
If I'm at home, I'm usually wearing gym shorts and a polo shirt. If I'm going somewhere nice, I'll make sure my socks match.
Thanks, Jim. Like you, I was heartened to see Flo and Eddy back. It feels like at least one cog in the great machine is turning properly.
DeleteLet me know if your book club decides to tackle one of the books (I'd recommend the first for that). It's challenging to write characters who make decisions that I wouldn't, who come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives. But it's been valuable to me as a human being to explore gun culture from many angles, not the least of which is the one I'm stewing in, my own native turf. It's definitely given me material to chew on. Thanks much for stopping by.
Yes, indeed ,Flo and Eddy are back! And all is right with the world.
DeleteAnd great idea for a book club!
Are these the same Flo & Eddie? Most mallards in the wild live between 5 - 10 years. Although one banded duck was found to be 27. Welcome back ducks btw.
DeleteI'm laughing as I sit here in my twenty year old terry-cloth Victoria's Secret bathrobe and wooly socks. Your daughter nailed it! Like you, I also enjoy a good walk in an old cemetery and just learned that there was a vampire scare in a little town not far from me - definitely going in my next book.
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations on Necessary Ends - I can't wait to get my hands on it! And yes to more Ferrari talk - I adore sports cars and must live vicariously through Trey.
A vampire scare? whoa!
DeleteTrey has a much more interesting commute than I do (and a better wardrobe and apartment too). This is one of the perks of the profession, I suppose -- living vicariously. I console myself with the fact that I don't have to pay his car insurance or gas bill at least (as if I could).
DeleteGreat to see you, Shari, and congrats on your latest! I'm so happy to see that malicious lobster of yours out in the wide world.
Hi Tina. I must be the odd person because I hate hanging out in pjs. I have to get dressed and make up my bed every morning before the day can start.
ReplyDeleteMy brother lives in Atlanta, and it is a wonderful and complex city. Hell in the summer, though. I had not heard of Barnsley Gardens, so I guess that qualifies as the fascinating new thing I just learned!
Yeah, I don't go as far as PJs. But (clean)sweatpants and a (clean and pressed) t-shirt? Hmm. SOUnds fine to me. But combed hair, and made bed, definitely.
DeleteI am totally with you both on making up the bed -- it must be done for my brain to work properly! And clothes must be clean. Truth be told, my daughter exaggerated the teeniest bit. My hair is wild but usually subdued, and my favorite lounging about outfit is a yoga pant and tee shirt (or sweatshirt) combo. But she got the askew glasses and coffee and pile of books exactly right.
DeleteHank, you press your t-shirts????
DeleteSometimes… They look so great when you do. :-)
DeleteI have to get dressed every morning because I drive Youngest to her high school. We'll see what happens when she starts college this fall. Maybe I'll get some styling "athleisure wear," the stuff that makes you look as if you're going to break out into a run at any second but mostly gives you an excuse to never wear a fitted waistband again.
ReplyDeleteThey make such fine athleisure now -- makes you feel peppy and stylish and coordinated all at once! I can even wear boots with these pants I have on now and look . . . well, almost stylish. Like I tried anyway.
DeleteMy daughter just started college too. One of the biggest prompts for her to get her driver's license was so that she wouldn't have to be chauffeured by such a hopelessly unfashionable human as myself. Thanks for stopping by!
So great to see you here at the Reds, Tina -- another one of my favorite writers in one of my favorite hangouts!
ReplyDeleteYour story about the harmonics of the Ferrari reminded me of the old story they used to tell about Rolls Royce: A copywriter wrote an ad that said, "In the Rolls Royce (model whatever), the loudest sound you hear is the ticking of the dashboard clock." One of the engineers saw the ad and muttered, "I've been meaning to do something about that clock!"
I am about 3/4 of the way through Necessary Ends (and loving it, of course!) One thing I really enjoyed was your comments on Buckhead today versus the old Buckhead. One of my husband's old college buddies lives in Atlanta and we used to visit fairly often in the pre-kid days, meaning over 25-years ago. My memories of Buckhead from then don't match with your current descriptions of it, so it was fun to see that acknowledged.
No need to enter me in the drawing, either -- give it to someone who has not yet discovered you!
Such a funny clock story!
DeleteHi Susan! So great to see one of my favorite readers here! I am happy to hear that you're enjoying Necessary Ends. Buckhead is one of those places most changed, I think, and most paradoxical, but the whole city is in flux, something I try to address in each of the Atlanta books.
DeleteThanks for sharing that Rolls Royce story -- that's EXACTLY the mentality Ferrari engineers have. When I was researching the Ferrari acoustic laboratory, I read that the sound isn't ONLY about the sound, of course -- there's hydrolics at work, and engine efficiency, and energy re-uptake. Pretty must have a reason for engineers (I live with one and can attest...pretty is as pretty does, and pretty must do its share of the work).
Thanks for stopping by one of my favorite hangouts!
Tina, sounds like you have a great life! I'm going to have to do some research and find out where my closest Ferrari dealer is. I'm betting it's at least 3 hours away.
ReplyDeleteThat's the best perk of the writing profession -- you have an excuse to do all manner of things. And I encourage you to find that dealership. Let the manager know you're coming - he or she can tell you the best time to come, a time when it's not crowded. And then ask for stories. Every Ferrari manager has a collection of AMAZING stories that will delight and astound you. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm back, I'm back. Yeesh. The guy is fixing our wall-ish thing, and its about forty below zero. The ducks are shivering. The driveway is full of rocks and stones, and the electrician has to get in. Working at home, sure. NOT ONE WORD WRITTEN!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, you're having one of those days. It's Mercury retrograde, you know, the time of chaos and temporal wackiness. Here's hoping you get some word time soon.
DeleteI knew it I knew it I should’ve known! OK though, all is explained!
DeleteNecessary Ends sounds captivating and special. Your observations about life and clothes is interesting, but changes so drastic that have occurred in the past 10 or more years which are not to my liking.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yes indeed. One of my characters thrives on change and the other thrives on regularity. I'm in the "not change" category, so I am sympathetic to him, but I realize that our future belongs to the resilient. So I'm trying to build my "bendy in the wind, like a willow tree" muscle. Trying very hard.
DeleteThe story of your 10yo daughter dressing up and imitating you made me laugh. Funny how our kids can bring us into focus in different ways from what we expect. Last time I wore real clothes was two weeks ago when I was out to dinner with friends. Have gotten away with sweats or leggings and t shirt or sweatshirts since then.
ReplyDeleteI had to pack a suitcase of professional outfits for Left Coast Crime -- for me, work is about having to put on real clothes. My daughter is in college now. For her, any fun event is an excuse to dress up, do her hair, experiment with some make-up. She relishes it, like she's her own art project. And I guess she is. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteGet dressed? I’m lucky if I shower and I’m not sure I remember how to comb my hair. Kidding! Mostly. This series sounds fantastic, Tina, and you surely suffered through that Ferrari research! LOL! Congrats on your release!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I am glad someone appreciate all the hard work I put in with that Ferrari! Suffering for my art and all that. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThat story about your daughter is priceless. Thanks for my morning laugh.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome! This is my life, every day, with this kid (who is no longer a kid by any definition, but who still inspires me with her creative wit).
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
Tina, your daughter sounds hilarious! I usually dress to work at home. Something about staying in my pjs or sweats keeps my brain from fully engaging.
ReplyDeleteI've known for some time that clown fish all begin their lives as male until one transitions to be become female in order to lay eggs. What I didn't know is the process by which the fish that's going to transition is determined. Apparently, the larger fish engage in a sort of "angry dance" (not a scientific term) and whoever is dominant at the end of this process (other fish cower in submission in response to her dance) becomes the female. Fascinating!
I know EXACTLY why your brain does that -- enclothed cognition. I just finished writing about it for The Strand, and it's a recurring theme in the series. Basically it describes how your cognitive processes change in response to what you're wearing. Tell someone they're wearing a lab coat, and their IQ goes up. Tell them it's an artist's smock, and their IQ takes a hit, but their creativity goes up. Weird but true.
DeleteAnd now that I know about angry dancing, I will never look at a night in the club the same way. Not ever. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Apparently, I need to wear a lab coat while I write!
DeleteOr an artist's smock! Depending. Luckily, one garment will suffice -- your brain will trust what you tell it. :)
DeleteHey Tina! Maggie Toussaint's stories downloaded just fine yesterday. Thanks! Necessary Ends is showing up tomorrow, so don't include me in the drawing. Gun culture in the south is complex. You have the folks who enjoy plinking tin cans with a .22, or targets if they're fancier. You have the folks who hunt and fish for food, not for sport. You have folks, a lot of them veterans, who enjoy competitive shooting. And then you have the weirdos. Nuff said. As for sounds, I haven't experienced the fancy cars but wouldn't it be nice! I always know a Huey when I hear it; Houston has a lot of air traffic including military. I think my Mom used to recognize military planes by sound during WW2. As for clothes, I'm currently in my jeans getting ready for a library/post office run.
ReplyDeleteYay! You will love Maggie's stories. Fun fact -- Maggie and I live right down the highway from each other, but we met in Colorado Springs when we were on a panel at Left Coast Crime together (the Romance panel). Go figure.
DeleteYou have succinctly summed the various kinds of people that came to Tai's shop (and example of the last category shows up pretty soon in Necessary Ends, which I hope you enjoy -- I'm excited to think of it in your hands! Thanks for dropping by on your way to the library (which is always a treat of a chore, I must say).
Love the way you research! I will love hearing the Ferrari sound as I read Necessary Ends. Every time we know just a bit about what the author puts into a book, it becomes more real--and a more desirable read. Speaking of strange facts: my husband says my previous chihuahua (she passed away at 18) could detect the sound of my ordinary Lincoln Villager mini-van over any other vehicles from a block away, and run to the door to greet me.
ReplyDeleteI was once waiting to cross Peachtree Road in Buckhead and heard a Ferrari. I couldn't see it, but I knew it, and I grabbed my mom-in-law's elbow and said, "There's a Ferrari somewhere." And then BOOM it came streaking through the intersection and cut a sharp left like it was on a roller coaster track. It was red, so it wasn't my protagonist's, but it sure felt like he was there for a second.
DeleteI love your dog story! My daughter's Maltese knew the sound her her school bus (not the other school bus, her specific school bus). When I started driving her to school, the poor little dog got very confused when he'd hear the bus but no Kaley would come through the door. He blamed me, of course.
Thanks for stopping in and sharing a story!
Oh, that’s impressive!
DeleteWhat fun researching all those interesting places! I have to admit I never heard of You Tina, nor of your books - I just ordered the first one in the series and will be up to speed soon!
ReplyDeleteWow! Thank you! I hope you enjoy it! And PS: if you go to Amazon today, four of my Tai & Trey short stories and novellas are free, including the story of my character's first date: "Liquor, Larceny, and the Ordinal Classification of Courtship Rituals." They're all listed at my author page. Just to give you something to read until the book gets to you. Thanks for stopping by, and for giving the series a read.
DeleteHonestly, this isn't as morbid as it sounds, but we live in an "Active Adult Community" and I have learned to tell the difference between the engine sounds of Fire/Paramedics and Diesel Landscape trucks coming in (constantly).....my husband is quite impressed! As to me getting dressed, we have been caretakers for three of our grandchildren for the last ten days while their parents are enjoying a long planned trip to Italy and I have been in sweatpants/yoga pants pretty much 24/7 (Grandma needs a nap). My husband was trying to get them dressed and out the door to the park when the little one came out with a t-shirt on but still sporting his dinosaur pajama pants. When Papa told him he needed to change in order to go out, Cooper asked "But why Papa, Grandma wears her pajamas all the time"!! Tina, I haven't read your books previously so really looking forward to them....especially perhaps getting a perspective on gun culture that is so different than my own.
ReplyDeleteThose kids don't miss a thing, do they? My daughter is in college now, but oh do I remember the days when all I wanted her to do was nap so that I could nap. Now she wants to nap all the time and I want her to do chores...also so that I can nap. I hope you enjoy the books. I'll admit, my characters' perspective isn't my own either--they make choices that I don't/can't/won't. But I have learned a lot from that research even though it's more sobering than driving a Ferrari. Thanks for joining the discussion.
DeleteTina, that story about your daughter dressing up as you is so funny. I'm often found in my pajamas if I don't have to go out that day, but I've had the leisure of being the only one home for some time, with my husband working and living in another city. When he retires this summer, I'm wondering if I'll be guilt shamed into dressing each day.
ReplyDeleteI was chatting with Ingrid in an earlier post about enclothed cognition, how your brain responds to what you're wearing. My brain kicks into gear when I'm in comfy, stay-at-home clothes (I suppose I trained it to do so, since for a while my writing time came at either the very beginning or very end of the day when I was not doing my teaching work). It's like Pavlov's dog, my brain. I hope you and your brain and your closet find a happy middle ground to occupy. And thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSo what should he wear to be a best-selling author?
DeleteHi Tina! Congrats on your latest--just got the first two books in the series--added to my TBR pile. I work at home--in the most comfortable clothes I can find--but it's dangerous. That TBR pile is always beckoning me--'just read a few pages....come on, you know you want to....'
ReplyDeleteOh, that TBR pile -- I am so honored that two of mine are in it now! My own has turned into piles, like a miniature cityscape, each one topped with a book I'm trying to finish. And on the coffee table is the one that came today, and yes, it beckons. Thanks for stopping by! And PS: four of my short stories are free today on Amazon Kindle -- visit my author page and you'll see them in the listing. They're short, see, and won't wreck your whole work schedule :)
DeleteOh boy! Free short stories! Love this!
DeleteWait wait, who has the schedule?
DeleteThanks so much for having me, Hank, and for making the time to hang out despite a day of chaos and cold (tell Flo and Eddy about time!). And thanks to the rest of the Jungle Red writers for contributing such insightful (and often hilarious) commentary, and for giving me such a grand welcome here today. I appreciate everyone who stopped by -- I had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteYou are SUCH a rock star--and such a perfect guest. Come back, any time! And thank you for everything. Pick a winner, and email me. Love you beyond all love. See you at Malice?
DeleteNo, YOU'RE a rock star! And I am always happy to drop by. I'll get the winner to you this afternoon. I won't be at Malice, alas, but I will be at Bouchercon in the fall, so I look forward to seeing you then. Love you bunches!
DeleteI take my dogs for walks in my pajama pants and have been known to forget to change out of my slippers when I go to the grocery store. I do wear real clother for church ~
ReplyDeleteSlippers are so comfy! I have the fleece-lined ones that surely count as shoes.
DeleteLast year I helped take (I won't say chaperone, but I could) a group of older adults to Savannah. On the bus ride we watched in the Garden of Good and Evil. We also toured Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah while there. It was an interesting trip on many levels.
ReplyDeleteThanks to my dog, I don't spend my writing days in my pajamas. But I love to wear T-shirts and shorts.
I wrote a novella about Bonaventure with the exact set-up that you describe! Of course my girl Tai eventually had to deal with a wayward corpse (I hope you didn't). May your writing days always be fulled with comfortable clothes and good dogs. Thanks for visiting me here!
DeleteHi, everyone... Tina, your books sound right up my alley and I’m always looking for new-to-me authors. Can’t wait to dig in. I’m going to download your short stories as soon as I finish here. You mentioned two types of readers earlier... The Who-done- it and those that get into the characters... I’m definitely the latter type. I would be perfectly happy to be friends with many of my favorite authors’ characters - like Rhys’ Georgie & Darcy.
ReplyDeleteMy choice of not leaving the house clothes are big flannel nightgowns. It’s funny though, since I’ve retired, I tend to dress better than I did when I was working full time. I worked as a designer and technician in the entertainment industry and jeans and a clean shirt were the uniform. Nothing you ever had to worry about keeping clean or tearing. I’ve not worn a pair of jeans in almost 10 years now!
I’m also hoping your books will get me over my dislike of Atlantans that is based an a roommate I had the one summer I was a camp counselor. She was one of the social climbing Southern types that lived on the fringes of Old Money and so very badly wanted to be part of it. I come from an Old Texas family and we just did NOT get along.
Looking forward to your books, and I’d love to be entered for the first one....Thanks for offering the giveaway!
Hi there! I hope you enjoy those stories better than you did your roommate (who would not have impressed my protagonist, not even a little bit). Thanks for dropping by!
Delete