Buckle Up (Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle)

On the 15th October 2022 my short story collection, Candescent Blooms, is being published by Salt Publishing. I've previously posted here with regards to the background to the collection, and the fact that twelve Hollywood actors whose lives ended prematurely are the main characters in each of the twelve stories. As stated in that post, the intention in the run-up to publication is to focus on each actor with some snippets of information (both about them and the writing of their stories). These posts will follow the same format for each. Our third character is Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

1: the reason for the title of the story

Roscoe had what might be considered to be a bumpy career. Playing on his surname, "Buckle Up" seemed a good descriptive.

2: why I chose that actor

Roscoe was one of the highest paid movie stars of his generation until scandal wrecked his career. Whilst he was completely exonerated after three trials, his career never completely recovered. Arbuckle died of a heart attack in 1933 just as a new contract suggested his star might regain ascendance.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

His three trials with three main witnesses in those trials gave me the idea of telling each story simultaneously (twice within the story the text is split into three columns). This enabled me to present all sides at once - without myself forcing an opinion. The reader becomes the jury.

4: one thing I never knew about them

Despite his physical size, Arbuckle was remarkably agile and acrobatic. Mack Sennett, when recounting his first meeting with Arbuckle, noted that he "skipped up the stairs as lightly as Fred Astaire" and that he "without warning went into a feather light step, clapped his hands and did a backward somersault as graceful as a girl tumbler". 

5: an extract from the story

The air is so thick you could swim in it. Roscoe holds another drink, the contents warming in his hand. These are peripheral people, he thinks, surveying the room. Few of them will amount to much. He wonders how they were chosen – for we are all chosen, in some way, to play a part. He watches himself from the other side of the room, a mirrored duplication. It as if he is watching a movie, the gilded frame representing film sprockets. 

6: what music I listened to whilst I wrote it.

Normally I keep an obvious note of the music I write to, however here my note is simply: "Jazz Thing". From memory, my father gave me a triple CD of something he didn't want. I'm not a fan of jazz, and so I subsequently passed it on. I'm expecting it was from that CD that I listened to as I wrote this story, but who or what exactly will now remain a mystery.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

Honeypot (Rudolph Valentino)

On the 15th October 2022 my short story collection, Candescent Blooms, is being published by Salt Publishing. I've previously posted here with regards to the background to the collection, and the fact that twelve Hollywood actors whose lives ended prematurely are the main characters in each of the twelve stories. As stated in that post, the intention in the run-up to publication is to focus on each actor with some snippets of information (both about them and the writing of their stories). These posts will follow the same format for each. Our second character is Rudolph Valentino.

1: the reason for the title of the story

I can't quite remember which came first, the story title or knowing I would be writing about Valentino. Whichever it was, at one point these two factors gelled and I knew this would be my Valentino title. I can't write without a title, so they are always important to me. A definition of honeypot being "presenting romantic or sexual opportunity, as bait or as continuing motivation" seemed to fit his lothario image.

2: why I chose that actor

Interestingly I found it harder to find male actors who had died unexpectedly early than I did female actors. I think if I were writing about more recent actors then that gender situation would be reversed (think Brandon Crow, think River Phoenix, think Heath Ledger, think Philip Seymour Hoffman just off the top of my head). Yet even considering the paucity of males, Valentino's colourful life was crucial to my decision. Even the ailment which contributed to his death at the age of 31 eventually bore his name: "Valentino's syndrome'.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

There is a tradition of a "woman in black" carrying a red rose who comes to mourn at Valentino's crypt, usually on the anniversary of his death

4: one thing I never knew about them

One hundred thousand people lined the streets of Manhattan for his funeral procession.

5: an extract from the story

I penetrate Rambova and her head shoots back, mouth gapes silent. I stab repeatedly, my hands blemishing her skin. She bucks, forearms collapsing. Further inside, I distend. I am unremitting. She receives me with a little death. The sound excites the crowd. I grip her ankles as she suffocates. Our movements no longer base, but performance art. She submits. My sword, blood slick. I lose count of her wounds and in her final perfect struggle the motion triggers.

From their vantage point the women throw roses.

6: what music I listened to whilst I wrote it.

I alternated between two songs by Marina & The Diamonds: Jealousy followed by Perfect Stranger. Marina can be hit and miss, but these two songs worked the vibe I wanted. Especially Perfect Stranger with its simple voice and piano.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

Memories of Olive (Olive Thomas)

On the 15th October 2022 my short story collection, Candescent Blooms, is being published by Salt Publishing. I've previously posted here with regards to the background to the collection, and the fact that twelve Hollywood actors whose lives ended prematurely are the main characters in each of the twelve stories. As stated in that post, the intention in the run-up to publication is to focus on each actor with some snippets of information (both about them and the writing of their stories). These posts will follow the same format for each. Our first character is Olive Thomas.

1: the reason for the title of the story

"Memories of Olive" is the title of a painting of Olive Thomas by Alberto Vargas. It's referenced in her story, and can be viewed below.

2: why I chose that actor

Unfortunately, Olive Thomas accidentally poisoned herself after ingesting her husband's syphilis medication, mercury dichloride in a Paris hotel room. Speculation over the circumstances and media sensationalism led to this being one of the first scandals to sweep the nation which was related to a major Hollywood star.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

Olive is purported to have cried out "Oh, my God!" after realising she had drank the medication. I use the same phrase to punctuate each aspect of her life, so that it represents both joy and sorrow.

4: one thing I never knew about them

The ghost of Olive Thomas is reported to haunt the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.

5: an extract from the story

Jack pulls me backwards into the bedroom. He reaches for the telephone and calls for a doctor. Back in the bathroom Jack fills glass after glass with water. He separates egg whites from yolk and forces the mixture down my throat. He jams his fist in my mouth. Olive. I love. Olive. I love.

6: what music I listened to whilst I wrote it.

I wrote "Memories of Olive" whilst listening to the album, "Gravity Pulls", by Echobelly on repeat. This is a favourite album of mine to write to. It's perfect for setting a scene.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

H is for Hollywoodland (Peg Entwistle)

On the 15th October 2022 my short story collection, Candescent Blooms, is being published by Salt Publishing. I've previously posted here with regards to the background to the collection, and the fact that twelve Hollywood actors whose lives ended prematurely are the main characters in each of the twelve stories. As stated in that post, the intention in the run-up to publication is to focus on each actor with some snippets of information (both about them and the writing of their stories). These posts will follow the same format for each. To begin with, though, our first character is actually the thirteenth. After the twelve stories were written, I decided to include a short introduction. This is provided by Peg Entwistle.

1: the reason for the title of the story

In 1932 Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler had decided to invest in an upscale real-estate development called Hollywoodland, which capitalized on the growing recognition of Hollywood as a movie-industry mecca. The sign wasn't shortened to Hollywood until 1949, when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce took over ownership and decided to use it more for tourism than selling real-estate. Having previously written a book titled O For Obscurity I think the (slight) alliteration was on my mind. It also echoes the popular song Hooray For Hollywood, and of course it sets out a stall for the contents of the book.

2: why I chose this actor

Tragically, Peg Entwistle leaped to her death from the H in the Hollywood Land sign in 1932. She was twenty-four years old.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

There are thirteen letters in Hollywoodland and thirteen central actors in the stories in this book. 

4: one thing I never knew about Peg

Unfortunately, I never knew she had existed until researching this book.

5: an extract from the story

The evening forms a cool September, nothing yet to bite. My jacket hangs loosely over both shoulders. My knees, bent in this position of departure, remember those stepladder rungs, the indentations in my soles. Nine months previously, the first official snowfall had been recorded in the United States Weather Bureau’s fifty-four year existence in Los Angeles. The snowstorm had begun at 5 a.m. and continued for over two hours.

Today it is I who shall fall.

6: what music I listened to whilst I wrote this story.

Whilst I normally write stories whilst listening to music, my concentration for this one (which incorporates elements of all the other stories in just 1202 words) demanded greater attention. Therefore Peg had no musical accompaniment.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.