This week: Mystery Author and Jockey Dick Francis Edited by: Ghostly Duchess Cruella ♥  
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Boo! You betcha, it's October and that means it's Halloween month, especially for all of you who love ghouls, goblins and witch's too! Unlike in years past, when I would theme the newsletter for the month, instead, we will look at successful British mystery author Dick Francis and his thrillers centered around horse racing. There's murder and intrigue, as usual, so let's take a look and enjoy this ride into adventure. |
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This month, we get to have spooky fun for the month of October and we learn about English author Dick Francis, gold dagger winner and three time recipient of the Mystery Writers association Edgar award for Best Novel, among others. Exciting stuff, exciting!
Dick Francis, a name synonymous with thrilling mysteries and the world of horse racing, was born in 1920 in Wales. In October 1945, he met Mary Margaret Brenchley (17 June 1924 – 30 September 2000) at a cousin's wedding. In most interviews, they commented that it was love at first sight. (Francis has some of his characters fall similarly in love within moments of meeting, as in the novels Flying Finish, Knockdown, and The Edge.)
Their families were not entirely happy with their engagement, but the couple married in June 1947 in London. She contracted polio while pregnant with their first child. (Francis drew from this in his novel Forfeit, which he named as one of his favorites.) They had two sons, Merrick and Felix (born 1953).]
He started his career as a jockey, achieving remarkable success and becoming a household name in the equestrian world. However, fate had a different path in store for him. After a severe fall during a race in 1957, Francis was forced to retire from his beloved sport. This life-altering event became a pivotal turning point, leading him to embrace a new and unexpected career: writing.
His first novel, "Dead Cert," published in 1962, quickly catapulted him to literary fame, establishing him as a master of suspense and a pioneer of the mystery thriller genre. Francis' novels captivated readers worldwide with their intricate plots, compelling characters, and captivating settings, making him one of the most celebrated and beloved authors of his time.
After leaving the RAF in 1946, Francis became a highly successful jockey, reaching celebrity status in the world of British National Hunt racing. He won over 350 races, becoming champion jockey in the 1953–54 season.
Shortly after becoming a professional, he was offered the prestigious job of first jockey to Vivian Smith, Lord Bicester.
From 1953 to 1957, Francis was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. His best remembered moment as a jockey came while riding the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, in the 1956 Grand National, when the horse inexplicably fell when close to winning the race. Decades later, Francis considered losing that race his greatest regret and called it "a disaster of massive proportions".
In 1957, after Francis suffered another serious fall, the Queen Mother's adviser, Lord Abergavenny, advised him that she wanted him to retire from racing for her. This had to be a terrible heartbreak for him but he chose to pour his knowledge of the racing track into his stories.
Francis' transition from the racetrack to the literary arena was nothing short of extraordinary. His firsthand experiences as a jockey provided him with a unique perspective and an authentic understanding of the equestrian world, which he skillfully incorporated into his writing.
This insider knowledge, coupled with his natural talent for storytelling, allowed him to create captivating mysteries that resonated deeply with readers. Francis' novels are renowned for their meticulous descriptions of horse racing, its intricacies, and the characters who inhabit this world. He delved into the world of breeding, training, and competing, providing readers with a glimpse into a world that was both exhilarating and treacherous.
Francis' writing is characterized by its signature blend of suspense, thrill, and the captivating world of horse racing. His novels often feature protagonists who are connected to the equestrian world in some way, whether they are jockeys, trainers, or owners. These characters find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger, as they navigate the dark underbelly of horse racing.
Francis' ability to weave suspenseful narratives around the thrilling backdrop of the racetrack is what makes his novels so compelling. He masterfully captures the adrenaline rush of a race, the tension of a close finish, and the ever-present danger that lurks beneath the surface.
Francis wrote more than 40 international best-sellers. His first book was his autobiography The Sport of Queens; he was offered the aid of a ghostwriter but rejected the idea. The book's success led to his becoming the racing correspondent for London's Sunday Express newspaper, and he continued in that job for 16 years.
He set his first thriller, Dead Cert, published in 1962, in the world of horse racing, establishing a specialized niche for his work. Subsequently, he regularly produced a novel a year for the next 38 years, missing only 1998 (during which he published a short-story collection).
Although all his books were set against a similar background, his male protagonists held a variety of jobs, including artist (In the Frame and To the Hilt), investigator for the Jockey Club (Slay-Ride and The Edge), pilot (Rat Race and Flying Finish), and wine merchant (Proof).
All the novels are narrated by the hero, who in the course of the story learns that he is more resourceful, brave, tricky, than he had thought, and usually finds a certain salvation for himself as well as bestowing it on others.
Details of other people's occupations fascinated Francis, and he explored the workings of such fields as photography, accountancy, the gemstone trade, and restaurant service on transcontinental trains—but always in the interest of the plot.
Dysfunctional families were a subject which he also exploited (Reflex, a baleful grandmother; Hot Money, a multi-millionaire father and serial ex-husband; Decider, the related co-owners of a racecourse).
Francis rarely re-used his lead characters.
Only two heroes were used more than once in his stories. An injured ex-jockey turned one-handed private investigator Sid Halley (Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, Under Orders, also in Refusal by Felix Francis after his father's death) and Kit Fielding (Break In and Bolt).
Francis is the only three-time recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for Best Novel, winning for Forfeit in 1970, Whip Hand in 1981, and Come To Grief in 1996.
Britain's Crime Writers Association awarded him its Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. He was granted another Lifetime Achievement Award. Tufts University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1991.
In 1996 he was given the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award, the highest honor bestowed by the MWA.
In 2000, he was granted the Malice Domestic Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983 and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000. He was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1966.
Francis' mysteries are not merely about the thrill of the race; they are intricate puzzles that keep readers on the edge of their seats. His protagonists are often complex and flawed individuals, driven by a sense of justice and a desire to uncover the truth.
They are typically individuals who have a strong connection to the world of horse racing, bringing their insider knowledge and expertise to bear as they unravel the mysteries that surround them. Francis' plots are meticulously crafted, filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end.
He masterfully builds suspense by introducing red herrings, misleading clues, and unexpected betrayals, ensuring that his readers are always kept on their toes.
Francis' legacy as a master of the mystery genre is undeniable. His novels have sold over 60 million copies worldwide, and his influence can be seen in the works of countless other authors who have followed in his footsteps.
He set the standard for crafting intricate and suspenseful mysteries, blending the thrill of horse racing with compelling characters and intriguing plots. Francis' enduring appeal lies in his ability to create worlds that are both familiar and mysterious, evoking a sense of adventure and intrigue in his readers. His work has inspired generations of writers, and his legacy continues to captivate readers today.
For nearly 30 years, Francis lived in Blewbury in Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire). In the 1980s, he and his wife moved to Florida in the United States. In 1992, they moved to the Cayman Islands, where Mary died of a heart attack in 2000; he died of natural causes on 14 February 2010.
Dick Francis' mystery thrillers continue to captivate readers decades after his passing. His unique blend of suspense, intrigue, and the captivating world of horse racing has created a lasting legacy that has influenced countless writers and captivated generations of readers.
His stories offer a thrilling escape, a journey into a world where danger lurks around every corner and the pursuit of truth is paramount. As we celebrate the timeless appeal of Dick Francis' work, we remember the master storyteller who brought us into his world and left us wanting more.
So, this wasn’t the usual Halloween mystery newsletter but it had some thrills and chills to make it an interesting read.
Till next month, Happy Halloween and keep on reading, dear readers! ♥ |
Here is this month's list of some new and interesting stories for your reading pleasure:
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A young boy needs his dog. Writer's Cramp Winning Entry
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There was a knock at the door. Should I open it and make my life more complicated?
#2327163 by Josh T. Alto  |
| | | The 23 Enigma (E)
Cramp Entry: Chelsea and Dillon await the news that he may receive a power untold.
#2303900 by Than Pence  |
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Here we are in the glorious month of October, Halloween month, and we have some readers who responded to the question in September's mystery newsletter. First, see who responded and post their responses below:
dragonwoman said : PD James was honored on 17 Feb. 1991 with her title. and
Frighten Ðead the Witch Warp  also submitted the following: On February 7, 1991, James was created a life peer as Baroness James of Holland Park, of Southwold in the County of Suffolk, and she was appointed to this position based on her many years of civil service and appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister.
P. D. James won the silver dagger award many times in her career.
Thank you so much.
{username:fictiondiva}
Thank you both wonderful readers of this newsletter! You have MBs coming. Please send me an email pls so I can get them out to you both.
Now, on to this month's newsletter question. What award was mystery author Dick Francis bestowed more times than anyone else from this writing organization?
The first five readers to answer the first question will receive a MB and as always, those who answer the bonus question (What two heroes were used more than once in his stories?) will receive another MB for their involvement.
Thanks so much for reading this month's newsletter. I'm raring to go for trick or treating this year! Wheee! October is here, blessed fall when the weather is cooler and the leaves change color, just love this time of year!
Here's to autumn nights, warm apple cider drinks when you're out trick or treating, Octoberfest nights this year and more wonderful mystery reading (and writing) for you. |
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Mystery: October 09, 2024 Issue [#12781]
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