John Robie’s Villa, Walking Like a Model, My Book Cover, and Aperol Spritzes

Readers & Friends:

Here’s my August, 2024 posting. 

And the best news of all -- my book is available for preorder. 

I hope you enjoy the content below. I had a lot of fun writing it. 

John Robie’s World

In the original book and film, John Robie lived in a magnificent French villa he named Villa Bijoux -- the House of Jewels; fitting because he bought the home using proceeds from his burglaries. 

The Hitchcock film won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, and was also nominated for Best Set Decoration, thanks in part to the inclusion of this amazing stone estate. I fell in love with the archways and the stunning views, and imagined what life would be like for a former thief living there. 

The villa recently went on sale (click here). I could never afford the asking price -- it’s waaaaaay beyond my price range -- but I do know this; whoever bought it is living a dream. 

In my research travels, I came across a guy named Dirk Dominic. He’s a Rennaissance Man -- an expert on the French Riviera, an author, and an entrepreneur with a cool business. He told me that finding the real villa used in the film was harder than he thought. Still, he found it. There’s new development in the area, but the villa and the road it’s on look unchanged. Dirk said the roofline is unmistakable, and it’s easy to imagine John Robie perched up there as his housekeeper leads the police away. 

Dirk’s a great detective as well. In his book, Following in Hitchcock’s Footsteps, he sought out the location of several famous scenes from the film, including one of my favorites, Bertani’s Restaurant. I’m not going to spoil it for you, but if you love To Catch a Thief like I do, give it a shot; it’s a great read. 

And if I ever make it to the Riviera, I’m definitely signing up for one of Dirk’s tours. 

Final point -- as you can tell, I’m a little obsessed with Villa Bijoux, and I’ve made sure it’s well-represented in my novel. 

Francie Stevens’ World

In my book, I wanted to evolve the Francie Stevens character in a way that was true to the original novel and believable. 

Francie was very attractive and had an unreal sense of poise. She shied away from jewelry but wore stylish apparel, so I envisioned her becoming a fashion model. 

Saying you’re a model is one thing, but actually being a model is another. And a key skill models must have is walking a runway. I didn’t realize how involved this was until I read about it. It’s an artform, involving pace, posture, and presence. The principles are universal; just seeing this made me try to improve my posture.

As a socialite, I imagined Francie knew all types of people. One particular acquaintance of hers could have been Sunny Harnett, a real-life 1950s model. 

Sunny led a fascinating and sorrowful life. She was a favorite of photographer Richard Avedon, who took an iconic picture of Sunny in a casino.

She also appeared in the 1957 movie, Funny Face. Interestingly, Avedon was the inspiration for the Fred Astaire character, Dick Avery, in that same film.

Sunny was also hospitalized for mental illness, and died tragically from injuries sustained in a fire at a home for the aged in 1987. 

After learning about Sunny’s sad but wonderful life, I had to mention her in the book. And I had to have Francie walk a runway.

At least one. 

Riviera Life

What cocktail did folks enjoy in the French Riviera in the 1950s? Probably several, is my guess. And one of them had to be the Aperol Spritz.

What is aperol? Back in the early 1900s, the two Barbieri brothers, after 7 years of experimentation, created Aperol. The secret recipe, still in use today, includes bitter & sweet oranges and rhubarb. The ‘spritz’ cocktail, which includes prosecco and a splash of water, came about in the 50s, and was very popular in Italy. 

Some consider the Aperol Spritz to be the perfect summer cocktail. Others don’t like anything bitter, which is why it’s polarizing.

Bitter drinks in general aid digestion, enhance appetite, and bring out subtle flavors from other ingredients. Most of all, they are refreshing, which is great for hot climates like the Riviera. 

What first drew me to the Aperol Spritz was its unique burnt-orange color. I tried a basic recipe from Town & Country, and my family liked it. Quite a bit, actually (see the smiles below). Give it a try on a hot day.

Chris, Alicia & John with their Aperol Spritzes

Donna & Alicia up top, Kactus Kevin & Nancy on the bottom

My World

Some news about my book…

First, the publication date is April 1, 2025. It’s happening! 

Also, last month I wrote about seeing my book cover for the first time. It was a milestone moment for me, and since then, my publisher has given me permission to share it, so here it is…

I absolutely love it!. I know I’m biased, but what a great job they did. The process was impressive, too. They used comparables of other books (all bestsellers), and were very thoughtful about design elements. 

It’s often been said that the original story had 3 stars -- John Robie, Francie Stevens, and the French Riviera. All 3 are represented on the cover, which thrilled me. 

But the best news of all -- you can order it now! Check it out…