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.

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.