Daisy: Yes, the world was a very different place after The Great War and the disastrous influenza pandemic that overlapped it. So many, many people lost loved ones that they’re happy to have me communicate with their dearly departed. So what if I have to pretend? My work honestly helps people, no matter what Billy and Sam think.
Now I understand you have a real honest to goodness babe who has hired you. Any chance you could fix her up with your new friend, Mitch Malone?
Daisy: Really, Mr. Malone! How terribly crude. Besides, Mrs. Pinkerton is much older than you. And she’s a married woman. I know *some* men wouldn’t find that a deterrent, but I must beg you not to bother Mrs. P. She’s my best and most faithful client. Even if she is a nitwit. Oh, dear. Please don’t tell her I said that.
Daisy: Yes, I am a spiritualist medium. Mind you I’m *not* a fortune-teller, although according to my husband, Billy, and his best friend, Sam Rotondo, there’s not any difference. But there is. As for what the spirits are advising me in GENTEEL SPIRITS . . . if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll admit to you that I’m a fraud. I can’t really communicate with dead people. However, there are lots and lots of people who would rather take advice from a phony spiritualist like me than from friends, neighbors, alienists or ministers, so I take their money and do my best. Unfortunately for me, my job in GENTEEL SPIRITS is that of personal spiritual advisor to a *very* temperamental and stupid silent-screen actress, Lola de la Monica, who claims to be from Spain. I’ve heard her when she wasn’t acting, though, and I can tell you she sounds awfully much like my Brooklyn-born party-line neighbor.
People pay you for that? Must be that World War I time period when people were different. I’m a man of sensitivity myself. Any chance you would want to advise me on some matters over a few drinks?
Daisy: Advise you over a few drinks? Really, Mr. Malone! Prohibition is the law of the land, and I don’t care how many people flaunt that law. I can’t afford to do anything so foolish. How many people do you think would hire me if they knew I drank? None. That’s how many. I have to protect my image, which is that of a pale-but-interesting, sober-clad spiritualist who’s an expert wafter. I tell you, I’m *good* at my job!
Oh, sorry, didn’t realize Prohibition was the law of your time and you're married. I don’t mess around with married women. I hear you have another story coming out in just a month or so called ANCIENT SPIRITS. What hare-brained, err adventure befalls you?
Daisy: Yes, indeed, I am married: to the love of my life, Billy Majesty. We had planned a long, happy and fruitful union, but the forever-damned Kaiser and his stinking mustard gas took care of that dream for us. Billy joined the army and went to France shortly after we were married. He wasn’t there for more than a month when he was gassed out of his foxhole and then shot when he tried to crawl to safety. He came back to me after months and months in various hospitals, a ruined man. Therefore, I have to earn a living for the both of us. Billy hates that he can’t work; worse, he hates that I have to. I’m afraid we live a rather fraught existence.
As for ANCIENT SPIRITS . . . well, you’ll just have to wait and find out, won’t you? Although I can tell you I get to ride a camel during the book. And a more evil-smelling, short-tempered beast I’ve never encountered.
Thank you Daisy. It’s been a blooming good time. Get it, Daisy, blooming? Oh, well maybe not so funny. Fine. We’ll just finish this up. For a strong read about a woman who is threatening me with a right hook, pick up GENTEEL SPIRITS or ANCIENT SPIRITS. Before I become ancient myself, check out http://www.aliceduncan.net for more information and where to find Daisy’s fascinating tale.
• GENTEEL SPIRITS (featuring Daisy Gumm Majesty, and set in Pasadena, CA, in 1922): http://tinyurl.com/3ndzcff
• PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL (featuring Annabelle Blue and set in Roswell, NM, in 1923): http://tinyurl.com/3uafvqg
• FALLEN ANGELS (featuring Mercedes Louise Allcutt and set in Los Angeles, CA, in 1926): http://tinyurl.com/3wh2a6t
Thanks for having me, Wendy! Clearly, the tiny URL buy links didn't work, dang it, so just check out the books on my web site if you're interested: www.aliceduncan.net. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you getting out a bit more. How much fun is it to live with Daisy looking over you shoulder when you write?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun interview! Love the bantering back and forth. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteMona! How lovely to see you here. Oddly enough, I discovered that spiritualism was alive and well in my family even before Daisy appeared in my brain (which is getting *really* crowded). My half-brother, Elbert, Jr., told me he was dragged to seances all the time when he was a kid, and whenever anything went bump in the night at his house, his grandmother would say, "Oh, don't worry about it. It's only Edna. Naturally, Edna had been dead for years.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann! It was fun to have Daisy interviewed by Mr. Malone :-)
ReplyDeleteOh that, Mitch! But Daisy handled him well... Such a fun post! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteMadeline
Interview Daisy. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the middle of her latest published adventure, the one where she's trying to deal with that 'idiot' actress while keeping the bane of her existence, Sam, from finding out what she's up to.
So she's going to Egypt next? Can't wait to read about it.
The sixth sense runs in my family, but unfortunately not in me. Or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint. It is fun to read about, though.
ReplyDeleteWendy: I'm having so much fun, blog hopping. Thank god it is friday night out here in India and I have plenty of time to get to learn all about the authors who have climbed aboard the mystery tour blog bus. I would have otherwise never come across so many writers.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Lubna
lukathewriter (at) gmail (dot) com
Great interview, great interview subject, and the blog tour is actually underway. Amazing what writers can do when they want to.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing book, Alice, and I love the cover. I can't wait to read it. Great review, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for stopping by. I'm late getting in on all the discussion. Black Friday Shopping had me stuck in check out lines. The Mystery We Write book tour has made a great start! Glad Daisy was able to handle Mitch.
ReplyDeleteI only wish I had some paranormal in my family but nothing, not even a ghost. Maybe Edna can come to visit?
Wendy
Alice, I loved the way Daisy stood up to Malone, but I have to admit, I kinda liked him, too. The premise of your Daisy books fascinates me. The protag in my novel Memory of a Murder is a Psychic, but he leaves talking to dead people to Mediums. Best regards to you, Daisy, Wendy and, yeah, Mitch Malone, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone! It was very much fun to have Mitch interview Daisy. I'd never had thought of having one of my characters interview somebody else's character. The sixth sense missed me, too, Stephanie. And thanks for popping in from India, Lubna! And, Earl, Daisy's a phony, really :-)
ReplyDeleteI loved GENTEEL SPRITS and highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, too.
There you are, Alice. No 6th sense for me, for some reason I missed this post entirely. How much fun it was to read. Mitch did a great job.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
the things i seen on the page was great nad thank you for having it ilove the book covers you have on them
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, glad you found the post. I wonder if that sixth sense works for figuring unworking links...
ReplyDeleteEarl, glad you mentioned Mitch, even if he was last. Wouldn't want him sulking with all the interviews he has over the next two weeks :)
Jackie: Thanks or stopping by. Can't wait to read Alice's book.
Desi: Thanks for stopping by. Check it out each day for the next two weeks.
Wendy
Thanks, Jackie! And thanks, Desi, too! I've been bless in the cover department. Thanks for having me, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThat was supposed to be BLESSED. I've been BLESSED in the cover department. Sigh.
ReplyDelete