Tea with Rhys Bowen

The Bookish Knitter’s Society has been so much fun! We’re halfway through our Volume 1 knit-along and I’m enjoying all of the chatter and progress that’s being shared in our Facebook group. Everyone has embraced this idea and made it even more enjoyable than I imagined!
For Volume 1 of the Society, we’re reading Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness, the first in the ongoing mystery series.

Recently I had the pleasure to chat with Rhys about writing the series, and I’m very pleased to share the interview with you today!

Do you have a favourite character to write in Her Royal Spyness?

That’s the same as asking a mother which child is her favourite, isn’t it? But I have to confess I love Georgie’s grandfather. He’s based on my own father—a self-educated, self-made man who was warm and kind. The opposite from my school principal, career-driven mother. And I also have a soft spot for Queenie, the world’s worst maid, as she is so truly awful and thus fun to write.

What kind of tea (or other beverage!) do you enjoy while you’re writing?

One aspect of our British upbringing is that we still require good tea. A cup every morning and every afternoon, and possibly in-between. We use loose leaf black tea that my husband blends: a mixture of Darjeeling, Assam, Chinese Keemun, and a fine leaf Indian to give it strength.

I am still of the old school belief that a cup of tea fixes everything!

What does your ideal writing day look like?

I write two books a year so my writing day is pretty much like a day in any other business. I get up early, check my emails and respond as necessary over my first cup of tea. Have breakfast and then go down to my office and start work between 8 and 9. If I am in the creating stage of the first draft I write until I have done five pages, or 1500 words before I can quit. That way I know I’ll get the draft done in time. In the afternoon I do all the annoying business bits of writing—blogs, rewrites, financial matters etc.

I should add that John brings me a cup of coffee mid-morning.

Some of the books in the series incorporate real people as characters. Is it challenging to include them?

I love including real characters, but I try to play fair with them. Especially when dealing with the royal family I only let them say things I know they have said or opinions they have expressed. I do read a lot of biographies ahead of time so that I get them right. (But Noel Coward is the most fun to write because everything he did was so outlandish.)

If you could be on one of Georgie’s adventures, which one would you choose?

The one that came to mind immediately was Naughty in Nice. Georgie meets Coco Chanel, is in a fashion show, stays with her mother at a gorgeous villa on the Med. Since Nice is one of my favourite places I’d be in heaven. (Oh, and there is a rather gorgeous Frenchman too!)

Thank you, Rhys, for taking the time to share a little glimpse into your world as an author with us today!

I hope you enjoyed today’s chat!
In case you’re new here, I’ve popped some Bookish Knitter’s Society links below.

Until next time, happy knitting!
Sarah

Would you like to join the Bookish Knitter’s Society? You still can via the Digital option, but only for another week or so!
If you missed this round come and join us in the Facebook group and sign up to the newsletter to find out about Volume 2 later this year.