The Easy Flirtations (James Dean)

My short story collection, Candescent Blooms,  was published by Salt Publishing recently.. 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 seventh character is James Dean.

1: the reason for the title of the story

I think this title just popped into my head. With rumours (only rumours, at the time) over James Dean, Tab Hunter, and Rock Hudson being homosexual, I had the idea of them playing in a band called The Easy Flirtations. It just seemed to set the right tone for the story.

2: why I chose that actor

Like Marilyn Monroe, it would have been impossible not to choose James Dean for this book. Although because it's an obvious choice doesn't make it an obvious story. Meanwhile, I'm sure everyone knows James died in a car crash at the age of 24.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

James played Cal Stark in East of Eden and Jim Trask in Rebel Without A Cause. Stark is an anagram of Trask. It plays into a fear of being typecast.

4: one thing I never knew about them

After James showed the actor, Alec Guinness, his new car, a Porsche 550 Spyder, Guinness warned him never to drive it, stating, If you do get into that car then by this time next week you’ll be dead.

5: an extract from the story

The audience would be non-judgmental. James would sit on a high-chair, the drums gripped by the inside of his knees, the taut skin hit by the knuckly part of his palms before letting his fingers bounce off the head. Between songs he would stand, put both an unlit cigarette and a flaming match into his mouth before then removing a burning cigarette. He’d draw on it, sucking the potentiality of so many ghosts into his lungs, before expelling into the audience, misting the crowd. Then Tab would start on the guitar and Rock would glance around and the three of them would merge once again in an intensity of sound belying the spin of the media that rotated the dulcet tones of his former and future lovers.

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

Similar to Olive Thomas, I wrote this story listening to the album, Gravity Pulls, by Echobelly on repeat.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

The Good Girl (Carole Lombard)

My short story collection, Candescent Blooms,  was published by Salt Publishing recently. 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 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 sixth character is Carole Lombard.

1: the reason for the title of the story

Unlike some of her contemporaries, Lombard's image was rarely tarnished by salacious gossip. I can't find the reference now, but I'm sure she was referred to somewhere as The Good Girl. I approach her life in this story from two angles, what was, and what might have been if she was a bad girl.

 

2: why I chose that actor

Unfortunately Carole Lombard died in a plane crash at the age of 33.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

In the film No Man Of Her Own, in which Carole starred with Clark Gable, Gable's character flips a coin to decide if he will marry her. He does. Seven years later, in real life, Carole and Clark do get married. On the evening of her death, she tosses a coin to determine whether she should travel by train or plane. She is hasty to return to Gable's side. The coin determines the plane.

4: one thing I never knew about them

Quite simply that she was married to Clark Gable.

5: an extract from the story

I paid for this flight with a single coin.

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

I wrote the entirety of this story whilst listening to the album "Sex O'Clock" by Anita Lane. It's a great piece of work. Unfortunately Anita died last year at the age of 61. Another candescent bloom.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

Candescent Blooms - available today!

For the past few weeks I've made posts about each individual character in my short story collection, Candescent Blooms, but I'm pausing this for the simple announcement that the book's official publication date is today!

Let's cut to the chase:

The book can be purchased from the Salt website here.

Or through Amazon here.

As well as the usual outlets where books tend to congregate.

Last weekend Candescent Blooms received an extensive 5 star review in the Telegraph which could be summarised as: Andrew Hook's book is a gothic treat. Marvelous. Click here for the full review (behind a paywall).

You can read my previous post about how Candescent Blooms came to be written here.

For those who don't know, my collection is one of six books being launched today by Salt through their new Modern Stories series. If my book doesn't grab you, why not try one of the others? Information on all six can be found here. The other writers are Brian Howell, Alison Moore, Giselle Leeb, Neil Campbell and Jane Fraser.

I hope everyone who buys this book enjoys it. If you do, please feel free to leave a review either on Amazon, or Goodreads, or your blog or any other place. If you don't enjoy it, I'm also interested in your opinion. Don't be shy!

Tonight Is Today (Jean Harlow)

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 fifth character is Jean Harlow.

1: the reason for the title of the story

Jean Harlow wrote a novel, Today Is Tonight. I liked the idea of reversing it. Sometimes these things seem to fit without thinking too much about them. It works for me.

2: why I chose that actor

Jean unfortunately died at the age of 26 of kidney failure.

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

Film producer Anthony Asquith's aristocratic mother, Margot, met Jean at a party. Without realising Margot rhymes with escargot, Jean repeatedly pronounced a hard t. Lady Asquith confirmed the letter to be silent, just as in Jean’s surname...This suggestion of Jean's loose morals runs as a motif throughout the story.

4: one thing I never knew about them

What immediately springs to mind is the novel Jean wrote, but I've mentioned that above, so I'll add that in Howard Hughes' film, "Hell's Angels", starring Jean, three stunt pilots and a mechanic died in accidents during filming.

5: an extract from the story

Other times she might be the actress Jean Harlow, wearing a white silk chiffon gown, standing on a white bearskin rug in front of a fireplace mantle decorated with candelabras and a clock, or perhaps the actress Jean Harlow, wearing a white silk chiffon gown, curled up on a white mink fur wrap draped over a damask wing chair, or maybe the actress Jean Harlow, wearing a white silk chiffon gown, striding through the forest with a brace of white possum pelts over one shoulder. Always chiffon, always white.

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

I wrote the entirety of this story listening to one song on repeat: "I Wish You Were Fun" by Sparks. There's humour in this song that I think Jean might appreciate.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.

The Ice-Cream Blonde (Thelma Todd)

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 fourth character is Thelma Todd.

1: the reason for the title of the story

Thelma was often referred to by the nicknames "The Ice-Cream Blonde" and "Hot Toddy", the former sounding much better as a story title than the latter!

 

2: why I chose that actor

Thelma's death of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst sleeping in her car was open to a lot of speculation. Was it suicide, accidental, or arranged? She did have links with the mob. So there was a lot of material here, but ultimately I wanted to write about Thelma because of her films with Laurel & Hardy. I adore the exchange she has with Laurel (who is dressed as a maid) in "Another Fine Mess".

3: one 'gift' that enhanced the story

The speculation around the circumstances of her death and those who contributed - whether by doing something or by doing nothing - lent the story to be told from multiple viewpoints. The overall feeling is of a crime story, and allowing witnesses to speak and then to undermine their statements - as you will find when reading the story - reinforces the idea that we are all unreliable witnesses.

4: one thing I never knew about them

Thelma Todd was an astute businesswoman and ran The Sidewalk Cafe, an establishment that attracted a diverse clientele of Hollywood celebrities and many tourists.

5: an extract from the story

Before I sleep, tell me something. Why are you conducting my interview in this vehicle? You say it’s not for Photoplay? You say it’s research for Carbon Monoxide Monthly on the devastating effects of colorless, odorless, tasteless gas? That this isn’t some kind of joke?

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

I wrote this story whilst listening to the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album, Push The Sky Away. I don't often write to Cave, because usually his forthright vocal style and storytelling lyrics intrude on the story that I want to tell, but when I do so it is always to this album. There's something about it that I find gentle and evocative.

Buy Candescent Blooms here.