Resolutions for a Writer’s Retreat by Joanne Walsh

I am feeling so excited—and lucky!  Next weekend, I leave for a mini-retreat in Portugal with the writing group I belong to.  Four of us will spend a week in a villa by the Atlantic Ocean with the intention of write, write, writing.  For me, it’s a key event, because I’ll be starting work on my next novel for Tule Publishing, the first in a trilogy about three Greek millionaires (titles to be decided).

While this is definitely a welcome break from everyday routines, a chance to focus without the usual interruptions, I am mindful that being in such a lovely location could bring distractions of its own! As Brits who live with a fair bit of rain and grey skies, just being in the sunshine will cause us to go slightly crazy and just want to sit (or lie) and soak it up.  Then there is the food, the wine, the pretty places nearby to visit and walks on the beach…

So, the group has agreed that each morning over breakfast we will discuss a daily timetable, where some downtime is allowed, but our novels will take priority.  I know we will also spend time talking about writing too, which personally I find really stimulating; it’ll be great to have other heads on hand to help brainstorm plot and character directions.  But I shan’t forget to raise a glass of Vinho Verde to you all while I’m there!

Writers Who Lunch

  
   Writing can be an isolated profession. Most of what we need to do happens somewhere between our heads and our fingers and most of the talking we do is with the characters who inhabit our heads and our stories.We can spend hours, days, even weeks in our writing spaces creating our works and never actually speaking to another human being. Sometimes, when we do interact, it's hard to remember we must speak our words to them and not just think them! LOL! 

   To combat this separation from reality and people, many writers I know have little support groups, or even critique groups with whom they can talk - about writing or stories or just about life. Since most people in real life don't understand the emotional process of creativity, sometimes it's just nice to have peeps who do. 

  I'm part of a little group that we call simply 'Writers Who Lunch'. We meet up - some or all of us - monthly and have a nice visit -- talking about writings, publishing, editing, children, grandchildren and lots of other things. But, for us the focus is on writing and the issues of a writer's life and work. It is so great to breathe the same air as the wonderfully talented authors in my little group. Oh, we're a mixed bunch - from actively published authors to former writers to indie authors and all in between. The common ground, it turns out, is not the writing, but the struggle to continue to write and create among all of our other worldly challenges and commitments. 

I know we're not alone in this need. I know hundreds of other authors who do the same kind of thing. But I also know there are lots of these little groups in every walk of life -- my coworker's husband has a group called the ROMEOs -- retired old men eating out! It may sound silly but those men are each facing the same challenges of dealing with the changes in their lives because they've retired. So, I understand how these 'eating out' men are getting more out of their encounters than just food.

 I've heard of crocheting/knitting groups, women CEO groups, mothers-of-twins groups and more. How about you? Do you have a 'writers-who-lunch' group in your life? Who's in it? And, more importantly, what do you get from it?  Please share it with me -- and I've got a little trinket/giftie from my trip to Ireland for one commentor! 

Terri is currently working on book 3 - BLAZING EARTH - in her new Novels of the Stone Circles series from Signet. She'll be doing some events and signings to celebrate book 2's - RAGING SEA - release in October. Stop by her website for lots of info! Or friend her on FB or her FB page to keep up-to-date!
 

So Long, Farewell!

by Anna Campbell

I've put up a picture of my first historical romance CLAIMING THE COURTESAN here because not long after Avon accepted me as one of their authors back in 2006, lovely Lee Hyat who runs this blog asked me to be a contributor to Tote Bags 'n' Blogs. It was the first time anyone had asked me to blog - in fact, back in 2006, even blogging itself had a lovely new shine.

Fast forward to over eight years later. It's 2014 and after many happy years of being a dedicated contributor every month to this wonderful blog, I'm moving on to new pastures.

Next year holds a lot of changes for me. Hopefully a new house in a new city.  A long trip to the U.K. Some new stories (always new stories in the life of a writer!). And a cutting down of some of my commitments outside my writing.So sadly after my many years here, I'm hanging up my tote bag!

We've talked about so many interesting things over my years here at Tote Bags. All my new releases and the inspirations behind them, life in Australia, other books I've read and enjoyed, travel, silly daily stuff like my love affair with a new appliance or a new piece of office equipment (my scanner still occupies a niche in my heart, you'll be glad to know!).

Thank you to everyone who has read my columns over the years and thank you especially to those wonderful people who have taken the time and trouble to leave me a comment. I've so enjoyed our conversations over my time here.

I love how the blogoverse has allowed me to find so much stimulation, discover so many likeminded people and also make so many friends. You've enriched my life immeasurably so please take a bow.

I'd also like to offer my deep gratitude to Lee, firstly for inviting me onto the blog (such a thrill for a new author!) and also for letting me meander through whatever my current preoccupations were over the last eight years. I hope one day, Lee, you and I can meet face to face and I can say thank you in person.

I'm not abandoning social media. I'll still be blogging a couple of times a month with the Romance Bandits and I update my website (www.annacampbell.info) at the beginning of each month with latest news. And of course I'll still be active on Facebook and on Twitter so I'd love to see you there if you don't already follow me.

So given I'm looking backwards and forwards in the spirit of yesterday, today and tomorrow, I thought I'd put up the cover for A SCOUNDREL BY MOONLIGHT, my next Sons of Sin book which is out at the end of April 2015. And also the cover for my current release, my Christmas novella, HER CHRISTMAS EARL (only 99 cents), which hit the shelves 21st October.

I wish you all a very happy festive season and the best in 2015. With lots of happiness, health and great books! 

Goodbye and good luck! Here's a red rose from my garden for luck - and for romance!

My Favorite Writing Books!

by Anna Campbell

In the second half of 2014, I'm running a course called Express Year of the Novel for the Queensland Writers Centre down in Brisbane, the capital city of the state in Australia where I live.  For five full days between now and December, I'm working with a bunch of enthusiastic aspiring novelists to help them develop the skills to write a saleable longer piece of fiction.

Putting together the course has had its challenges - five full days is a longish time, but not when you're covering everything a person needs to learn for writing a novel! One of the things I realized as I was designing the program was that I should brush up on some of my writing textbooks, especially when it came to complex subjects like the hero's journey.

Among the resources I've put together for the group is a list of recommended writing books. I'm a bit of a how-to book fan so I've read lots and lots of writing books. Looking at the list, it was apparent to me that a couple of books have given me help and advice that has stayed with me over a long time. In preparation for running the Express YOTN course, I've re-read some of them and they're still as useful as they ever were.

So here are my four favorite writing books.

The first is an absolute classic. Dorothea Brande's BECOMING A WRITER has been in print since 1934. I've read it a few times - it's quite short and you can knock it over in a couple of hours. And it never fails to help me with my writing life. It's not a book about the nuts and bolts of writing, it's about how to find motivation and inspiration and how to persist in this odd occupation we've set ourselves to mastering.

The second book is a more recent classic - Anne Lamott's BIRD BY BIRD: SOME INSTRUCTIONS ON WRITING AND LIFE. This one is great when it comes to needing that push to get words down on the page and when you have to overcome the fear factor. The title comes from a story Lamott tells about her brother doing a school project about the birds of America. Like a lot of kids, he left it to the last minute and then floundered around in a panic. Lamott's father sat down with him calmly and said, "The only way we can do this is bird by bird." When you write a book, it's word by word. I've heard this approach also called 'baby steps' and it's amazingly wise. My critique partner and I often just say "bird by bird" to each other when we're starting to get into a flap and those three words alone settle us down.

The third book is New York agent Donald Maass's WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL: WINNING ADVICE FROM A TOP AGENT AND HIS BESTSELLING CLIENT. I was lucky enough a few years ago to attend a full day workshop with Donald Maass and I still use a lot of the tips that he gave to the room full of aspiring writers. This book is wonderful for turning a good manuscript into a great manuscript. He's fantastic on how to lift tension and pacing and how taking risks can pay off when you write. If you're not sure why your story isn't hitting the high points, I highly recommend this book.

The last of my great quartet is Christopher Vogler's THE WRITER'S JOURNEY: MYTHIC STRUCTURE FOR WRITERS. This is a great introduction to how the work of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung can help strengthen the structure of your novel and give your story a universal appeal. And there are fascinating analyses of popular films like THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS and THE WIZARD OF OZ, drawing on the mythic superstructure that has made these movies into timeless classics.

There are some wonderful books on writing on that list of resources I gave the YOTN class, but if the crunch came, these are the four I'd save from the burning building. If you haven't read them and you're interested in writing either as a writer yourself or as a dedicated reader, give them a go!

If you're a writer, do you have any favorite books that have helped you with your craft? If you're a reader, do you ever read books about writing to give you an insight into the writing process?

My Latest Crush

by Anna Campbell

I think this might be a companion piece for my May column about how much I love stationery. Sort of the horror version of the story! Well, horror for any paper product within reach, anyway!

I'm currently clearing out years and years of junk/treasures as I prepare the house to go on the market at the end of the year. Last month I shared a gorgeous childhood book I found. I suspect there will be more than one blog here about the joys of packing up after years in one place! And I use "joys" ironically.

Paperwork has proliferated in this process. I was ripping it up as I found it, but I have to say that got old VERY quickly. So I went on the hunt to buy a shredder. After a few hiccups, I picked up a Lowell that has become my latest crush (bet you thought I was going to talk about George Clooney or Richard Armitage when you saw that title!).

I'd never used a shredder before and I have to say in my naivety, I imagined I was getting something whose joys would be purely practical. But I've since discovered that there's something mind-bogglingly satisfying about munching up the detritus of years (and it is years - I've got electricity bills here in Mum and Dad's paperwork that I swear go back to before they invented electricity!). It's a fabulous stress release, works out any aggression, and leaves you with a wonderful sigh of satisfaction to rival the end of a great romance novel.

The fruits of my labors - boxes of shredding ready for the recycling!

What's not to love?

Well, the machinery is rather noisy but that's part of the fun. And it heats up fairly quickly so I have to be careful not to love my darling to death.

And oh, my goodness, is my house covered in a mixture of paper dust and little curly white worms of paper. The vacuum cleaner has been out a LOT lately.

Danger! Danger! Shredding in process!

Still, nothing can take away from the fun of seeing one's history become piles of little pieces of paper. It's so cathartic!

Do you own a shredder? Do you have fun with any of your office equipment? Should I seek counselling over my new obsession? 

Stationary Stationery

by Anna Campbell

When I was a little kid - I'm going back to primary school here - I thought the most boring presents in the world were toiletries and stationery. Which was a pity because the relatives used to give me toiletries and stationery in droves.

Switch forward um, 20 years or so (please, humor me!), and two of my favorite things to receive as gifts are, you guessed it, toiletries and stationery!

I must admit to being a bit of a stationery nut anyway. A real treat for me is a visit to OfficeWorks, our local warehouse office supplies company. Amazing what interesting little doodads you can find in those long corridors smelling deliciously of paper. Little doodads you had no idea you wanted until you saw them in front of you begging to be bought. 

I thought today I might share some of the pretty stationery in the stationery cupboard. This year, I've made a concerted effort to write more actual letters. There's a reason the universe is showering me with all these pretty notecards.

Actually I really enjoy writing letters, but it's something that requires a bit of a mental shift, doesn't it? It's so much easier just to shoot off an email. But I think people love getting actual mail in the post - I know I do. And I'll keep letters, whereas it's just so easy to hit the delete button when it's electronic. 

I also love buying pretty stationery for people - clearly so did all those aunties and cousins when I was a wee gel! There's something really pleasurable about looking at gorgeous printed cards and thick creamy sheets of paper and wrapping them up as a present.

Luckily, my critique partners love buying people (me!) stationery, often as souvenirs of their wonderful overseas trips. Both the New York and the two Rijskmuseum sets in this blog came as booty from my friends having exciting times far away from me.

Hold on, that didn't come out quite right!

The Liberty set was a birthday present this year from a fellow historical romance writer who understands my taste to a T.

And the beautiful romantic Victorian set of notelets, a very welcome Christmas present, came from another romance writer who I know has a wonderful time picking out nice stationery as the perfect gift. We've both admitted that we tend to buy what we'd like someone else to buy for us as presents! Often those are the best gifts, aren't they?

So do you write letters still? Or have you gone completely e in your communications? Do you like stationery? Do you have a favorite style of stationery?

Anna Campbell: Literati Was Lovely!

by Anna Campbell

One of the really fun parts of being a writer is getting out and about to meet readers and other writers. On the weekend of the 17th and 18th May, I headed a couple of hours south to the Literati Festival which is put on every year by the wonderful folk at Gold Coast Libraries.


In 2013, there was a huge romance presence at Literati which was held at the brand new Upper Coomera Library. Apart from me, we had queen of romantic suspense Helene Young, New York Times Bestseller Keri Arthur, and author of clever, funny contemporary women's fiction Lisa Walker. There were 14 authors altogether, including thriller writer L.A. Larkin and Y.A. writer Paula Weston.

I was invited to take part in two panels. The first was called A Recipe for Romance and was designed for people writing romance (or at least contemplating it!).  Here's a photo of me with the moderator Louise Pieper of Gold Coast Libraries and Helene Young who looks elegant as always! We had a small but very enthusiastic group of participants, including Destiny author Jennifer St. George who added the perspective of someone published in category romance. There's a photo of Helene and me with Jen below the dawn shot.

The kind folk at Literati had put all the authors up at the very swish Watermark Hotel in roadwork-plagued Surfers Paradise and we all congregated there for a wonderful dinner. It was lovely to have a chance to catch up with everyone in such an informal setting - although my attention focused mostly on the spectacular dessert buffet!

Slightly the worse for wear, I was up early the next morning and managed to walk the couple of blocks to the beach. Isn't this shot of dawn at Surfers Paradise gorgeous? It was a perfect, although chilly day to come.

Following a very giggly breakfast with two lovely people I don't see nearly enough of, Keri Arthur and Helene Young, we all trundled off for the 9am panel at Upper Coomera Library. To my surprise at such an hour on such a cold morning, we had a room full of people there to hear about the Course of True Love.

Moderator Louise Pieper ran a really fun session with me, Helene, Keri and Australian women's fiction author Lisa Walker whose books include the wonderfully named LIAR BIRD. This panel was mainly designed for readers, so we covered things like our writing journey, our daily lives, and where we get our inspiration.

My last photo is from this panel. From left to right, Keri Arthur, Anna Campbell, Helene Young and Lisa Walker. Don't we all look jolly?

As you can probably tell from the photos, Literati was huge fun. I think it's such a great thing that Gold Coast Libraries make such events available to their locals - not to mention everything was free!

So have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, please tell us about what happened. If not, who would you like to meet? And why?

No rest for the writer - Kandy Shepherd

A writer never really has a holiday. No matter where we go, what we do, our stories and characters are always with us. Even on an indolent tropical vacation, those characters in our heads are always poking their noses in and suggesting ways the location might affect them and the way they behave on the pages of our books. If we’re away with another writer that’s even worse, as we talk incessantly about our stories and the way they’re shaping up!

Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to take two mini-breaks in Australian locations utterly different from each other.One to a resort in tropical far north Queensland where it’s always summer, the other to the Southern Highlands south-west of Sydney where it’s autumn right now.

The bliss of a lagoon pool in a funky, tropical resort

The relaxing beauty of change of season

One resort was funky, upbeat, with a lagoon pool, palm trees and a party atmosphere.

The sign says it all!

The other was traditional, elegant, reminiscent of a Scottish manor house complete with baronial hall. I loved each of them for very different reasons. (Oh, and they both had amazing food!)

Even the adjoining golf club house was traditional

While I swam in Port Douglas, Queensland, walked country roads in Sutton Forrest, New South Wales, my mind was ticking over with ideas for various new stories and the characters who will drive them.

Could my character work in a place like this? Or own it?

Which romance hero or heroine could live behind these gates?

I came up with the perfect “back story” for one heroine, in this case where she met the man who done her wrong and affected her future relationships. And all sorts of scenarios are ticking over for other stories.

The traditional hotel was once a private home and comes complete with ghosts

 

Fun and funky in the tropics -- appealing in a different way

When I’m away from the everyday, relaxed and enjoying good company, the creative side of my brain kicks into overdrive. (It certainly helps not having to cook, clean, or do laundry, too!)

When people ask me did I have a nice, relaxing break, I of course say “yes”, but a writer never really takes a break and with my creative batteries recharged, I’m keen to get back to my stories.

I’ve used Port Douglas briefly in my latest release Reinventing Rose, not as an actual location but as somewhere the characters talk about visiting. (To say any more would become a spoiler!)

BTW, the hotels I visited were the QT at Port Douglas and Peppers Manor House.

What about you? Do you have a favorite vacation destination? What do you like most about taking that so-needed break from routine? Do you enjoy exotic destinations in the novels you read? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment for a chance to win a free download of Reinventing Rose.

Don’t forget to include your email address if you want to be in the draw.

Kandy Shepherd writes fun, feel-good fiction.

Her new contemporary womens fiction e-book, Reinventing Rose, is available now at  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, and other e-book retailers.

Kandy’s romances include the Amazon bestseller The Castaway Bride, Something About Joe, and the award-winners Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Is That the Doorbell?

by Anna Campbell

I can hardly believe it's April already.

By the way, thank you to everyone who swung by my March post. I'm so sorry that it was a complete frost because of my ongoing internet/phone troubles. Fingers crossed, they're all sorted out now.

Apologies also to people who tried to click over to buy my latest release THESE HAUNTED HEARTS. We had major conniptions getting this one up and running and of course it had to be when I was completely incommunicado.

The good news is that THESE HAUNTED HEARTS: A REGENCY GHOST ROMANCE is now up and ready to entertain you for a mere $1.99!

Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/These-Haunted-Hearts-Regency-ebook/dp/B00BSJR0HI/ref=la_B002NKV1HQ_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364250162&sr=1-15

You can read the blurb and an excerpt here: http://annacampbell.info/hauntedhearts.html

Perhaps this year has gone by so fast because I've been busy putting the final touches to a couple of projects. Book 2 in the Sons of Sin series is now ready to go so look out for A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS in September. And I've done the editorial revisions on a Sons of Sin novella called DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES which will be out in August. Not to mention getting THH ready for you!

As a result, I was so tied to my computer that I was starting to feel like the horrible hermit of Hermitsville!

But then April arrived and clearly a completely different cycle! This month, I've had a lovely time out and about or at my place with lots of visitors, many of whom are people I only get to see once in a blue moon. Lovely!

The DRIVING MISS DAISY poster is a bit of a ring-in because I went to that in late February but that meant catching up with my ex-boss who flew up from Sydney to see these theatrical legends. Wonderful to see an old friend after years apart and it feels like you only met yesterday.

Such a privilege to see Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones creating magic together. Although I was a little disappointed that he never told her to "Come over to the dark side, Daisy!"

Another lovely thing about visitors is that they often come bringing wonderful gifts. For example, the spectacular lilies at the top of this post. Nothing nicer than the unexpected arrival of an old friend (especially if I've cleaned the house - this particular friend timed it well!) bearing a bunch of flowers.

Another friend arrived from Stanthorpe hauling a car full of freshly picked Delicious apples. These have tasted like heaven and I've been eating them like they're going out of style. In fact, if you were looking at a picture of me right now, I'd look more like a delicious apple than the girl in front of the DMD poster.

Love a good apple!


All these lovely visitors means that I've got back into something I haven't done for ages but which I always really enjoy. Baking!

Such a wonderful stress release to pound that dough. Not to mention the wonderful smells that infiltrate the house when you've got a batch or two of cookies in the oven. Something I love about baking is that unlike writing a book, it's pretty much instant gratification. You mix, you bake, you eat! You can do it in a day!

I think these cherry nut biscuits are just so pretty. Almost too good to eat - which didn't stop my guests from attacking them like starving loons!

And now a couple of photos of some writer friends to end this ode to visitors, expected and unexpected.

Over Easter, I had a lovely night out with a couple of local writers at Tides Restaurant in Caloundra, including zombie maven Kylie Scott. You really must check out SKIN and FLESH. And not just from the meat section of the menu!

I love this photo of Harlequin Presents Queen Annie West who came up to stay for a few days to enjoy the start of autumn here. This was taken at the very nice Moorings Cafe on the front at Golden Beach.

Doesn't she look glam in those sunglasses? She'd forgotten hers so I dug up an old pair to lend her. They look much better on Annie than they ever did on me!

So what nice things have you been up to in April? And do you have a go-to recipe to whip up something when visitors turn up at the door?

Because last month was such a mess, I'm giving away a download of THESE HAUNTED HEARTS: A REGENCY GHOST ROMANCE today to someone who comments today to thank you for your patience!

Chocoholics Unite!

by Anna Campbell

It always surprises me what gets a strong reaction on social media.

Sometimes I'll post something I think people will find really interesting - and the punters kinda shrug their shoulders and go on with their business. Then I'll put up something that I think is either silly or dull or of interest basically only to me, and I get a really strong response with lots of people weighing in to share an opinion.

Oh, well, the world would be a dull place if it was always predictable, wouldn't it?

Just before Christmas, I posted a comment on my Facebook page about eating chocolate for breakfast and was it wrong. Now, I don't think this is a world-shaking issue (although I was feeling rather guilty for attacking the Ferrero Rochers at 7am!). Over 80 comments and a whole stack of people liking the comment.

I have no idea why people enjoyed talking about this - although I have to say I had fun confessing to my self-indulgence. By the way, just to let you know, EVERYBODY said there was absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of chocolate noshing at that hour, especially considering the time of year.

Perhaps it's the magic word 'chocolate'!

I know a lot of my writer friends fuel their creativity on chocolate. I'm not quite that bad but when I'm having a rotten time with the writing, I tend to raid the pantry for those little bits of luscious goodness. My next book A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS was fueled by some lovely Toblerone that my critique partner Annie West sent to speed me on my way. There's definitely a blog in that.

All this got me thinking about preferences in chocolate. I have to say my current favorites are Toblerones and Ferrero Rochers although there's an Aussie company called Haigh's that makes the most beautiful high quality chocolate, well worth checking out if it's available near you.

I'm also partial to a KitKat. Do they have them in America? They're a wafer biscuit coated in chocolate (I like the wafer in the Ferrero Rochers too)and they're popular here and in the U.K. where I used to have one as a treat when I worked at Covent Garden Markets in London now and again.

Given how close we are to Valentine's Day, it's a great time to be talking about chocolates. I imagine tons of the stuff will be sold in the next week.

So Happy Valentine's Day! What's your favorite chocolate? Or can't you stand the stuff? Bleuch or nom, nom, nom? 

Grant Me One Favor!

by Anna Campbell

Last month, I was totally self-indulgent and put up some gorgeous fashion photos of the first real supermodel Lisa Fonssagrives (check out the pics here if you missed it, they really are beautiful: http://authorsoundrelations.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/gorgeous-fashion-photos.html).

Very kindly, a lot of you said how much you enjoyed the post so I thought I'd be self-indulgent again and talk about one of my favorite movie stars as a tribute to my late mother.

Part of the reason for this is that yesterday would have been her 84th birthday. So happy birthday, Mum! Here's Cary, just for you! A list of six of the best!

He played with all the great leading ladies and often more than once. I had to start with the wonderful pairing from AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957) with Deborah Kerr. This was my mother's favorite movie. I can't tell you how many times she watched it. It's lush and romantic and witty and elegant and altogether one of the best love stories ever on film. I dare you not to cry!

Alfred Hitchcock loved working with Cary Grant who starred for the master all through his career from SUSPICION in 1941 through to NORTH BY NORTHWEST in 1959. One of the sexiest of those films features a very distinguished, older Cary Grant romancing a smart-mouthed and beautiful Grace Kelly, TO CATCH A THIEF (1955). The scene where Grace scares the life out of him driving like a maniac along the Grande Corniche cliff tops is particularly memorable. Look at that picture. Can't you just feel the chemistry sizzling between them? Just as an aside, my mother couldn't stand Grace Kelly! Thought she was a cold fish.

The next photo down is from my favorite film that Hitchcock did with CG and one of my favorite films ever, the sexy, romantic and passionate NOTORIOUS (1946).There's an amazing kiss scene towards the beginning where because censorship codes forbade kisses lasting more than a few seconds, CG and a luminous Ingrid Bergman kiss each other multiple times for 2.5 minutes, each kiss only lasting a few seconds. Phew! It's a very hot 2.5 minutes! If you haven't seen this film, get it. It's one of the best.

Another pairing of Cary Grant with a much younger actress that created cinematic fireworks is CHARADE (1963) where CG's costar is the radiant Audrey Hepburn. It's a really clever script with everybody doublecrossing everybody else and features some of the wittiest dialogue I've ever heard.

All of these films so far feature Cary in his suave man of the world persona. But one of the many things I love about Cary Grant is that he could play broad comedy better than nearly anyone else I can think of. Earlier in his career, in particular, he displayed his faultless timing and willingness to set himself up for a prat fall in a number of sparkling, uproarious comedies.

I couldn't do a piece on CG and not include BRINGING UP BABY (1938). He was the perfect bumbling, other-worldly, charmingly naive archeologist to Katharine Hepburn's madcap heiress who has a pet leopard, the Baby of the title. Classic slapstick!

I was torn for a last film between THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, HOUSEBOAT, THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER and MY FAVORITE WIFE. I ended up choosing MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940) partly because Cary plays a man who finds the shenanigans of the women in his life completely bewildering in so many films, and this picture encapsulates his reactions perfectly.

Cary Grant is about to remarry after having lost his wife seven years earlier in a plane crash. Mayhem ensues when said wife, Irene Dunne, turns up out of the blue, alive. It emerges that she's been stuck on a tropical island with the very dishy Randolph Scott. Brilliantly clever script where every step the characters takes just digs them deeper into the holes they're in. They don't write films like that anymore!

So let's talk old movies. Do you like Cary Grant?
What's your favorite Cary Grant movie? Do you have another favorite male lead from the Golden Years of Hollywood?   

I'm actually going to be off the internet for a little while because I'm attending my oldest friend's birthday party.  I will however swing back to respond to comments late tonight, U.S. time. I'd love to hear your thoughts.