Who else is super pumped about starting a new year?
I’m definitely in a positive mood. Here in Central Texas, we escaped more or less unscathed from the recent Coldmageddon. We didn’t get any snow. Just cold-cold-cold for about three days. Then right back up into the 60s and 70s, so I’m not complaining. The weather here is back to being absolutely gorgeous.
January 1 is my favorite holiday. Love that new calendar smell! When everything is clear and clean and organized and under control and filled with bright promise and hope - before the new year starts circling drain by about, oh, let’s say January 10.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s (aka ‘Dead Week’) has been blissfully calm around here. I’m making great progress on editing the second book in my YA series, and I published the Spanish language e-book of my biography of the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca.
Since it’s been so quiet, I’ve also had time to dart down a few rabbit holes and slake my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I enjoyed this great post about the spicy trials and tribulations of noir author Raymond Chandler. Booze, PTSD, and hooking up with his Army buddy’s step-mom. Oof. I told you it was spicy!
I’m a huge fan of detective stories, whether in book or film or series form. I love the puzzle, and I love the quirky but indomitable detective. It doesn’t have to be noir to get my attention, but the reverse is true: if it IS noir, it will definitely get my attention.
Some interesting things I learned while down the noir rabbit hole: it had been forever since I watched any original noir from the 1930s and 40s. I had forgotten that Humphrey Bogart’s iconic detective role consisted of TWO different characters: Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe (The Big Sleep) AND Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon). Quite remarkable, if you think about it. It would be as if Henry Cavill were hired to play both Superman AND Batman.
I did not realize, but it makes perfect sense, that many directors of early noir were refugees thanks to the Nazis and World War II. Makes sense that their films would have a dark feel, with powerful themes of paranoia and unease.
One of the many signatures of the noir genre is the cranky anti-hero, often referred to as a ‘gumshoe’. Such a visual word, isn’t it? (Although, in one of the films during the TCM Thin Man marathon on New Year’s Eve, I actually heard ‘gum heel’ also). Thankfully, its meaning is not literal. No gum has been harmed. It refers to the soft sole worn in this line of work, the better to go sneaking around in. Fun fact: the ‘thin man’ referred to in the original film is not in fact Nick Charles, but the character who is missing and everyone is looking for.
In the tradition of many successful writers in many different genres before and after them (Stephen King comes to mind - and me LOL!), Chandler, Hammett, and others got their start published in magazines. The Black Mask was a popular crime fiction mag back in the day. I was surprised to learn they often published female authors as well.
I haven’t watched TCM in forever. I had forgotten how handy their hosts are with sharing informative tidbits. During one of the film intros last night, Ben Mankiewicz mentioned the screenplay was written by a husband-and-wife team, Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich. When I noticed Frances got top billing over her hubs in the second film, that got me very curious about this power couple. Turns out they were the Edith Heads/Danny Elfmans of screenplays. Guaranteed success. They got their start when they were asked to write a screenplay for one of their plays. That soon lead to them working on the first Thin Man film, which was a huge success, and that was that. They also wrote the screenplay for It’s A Wonderful Life, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and The Diary of Anne Frank, which was based on their Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Talk about a Hollywood power couple!
I hope 2023 continues to be a treasure trove of learning for all of us. If you have any fascinating factoids to share, I look forward to hearing from you.
I will leave you with three things.
If you are planning on setting some New Year’s Resolutions for yourself, you might enjoy this newsletter from a writer friend of mine, K. S. Barton. Let’s just say the Vikings had a much harsher take on committing to personal improvements than I do.
I’ve recently discovered the most excellent Craft series of documentaries on PBS. I will never look at silverware in quite the same way.
If you are from the south, you know you dare not serve New Year’s Day dinner without some black-eyed peas for good luck in the coming year. I stumbled across this recipe many years ago. It really jazzes up what can be a somewhat bland side dish.
My latest book, Just Say Yes, is available now on Amazon. Brody Morgan grew up starring in commercials for his dad's mega food corporation. What will Brody do when he discovers what he's really been selling?
Hi Naomi! I saw on Twitter that you had some bad news about your friend recently. I'm sure that has something to do with your blah today, and understandably so. Self-care and cuddles with kitten today.
Happy New Year Lissa. Just getting to know your interests, I see you’re a huge detective and film noir fan. Congrats on your second book of a series and your Spanish audiobook. I wish I felt as energized as you about the new year. I’m feeling blah in my PJ’s this morning trying to muster the energy to write. More coffee!