Grace Meets the Prince, Golfing at the Riviera, and Seeing My Book Cover

Readers & Friends:

Here’s my July 2024 posting. 

Enjoy!

John Robie’s World

When I was learning how to write, I was also learning how to play golf, and I love both pursuits. Golf is so satisfying -- you’re outside, competing against yourself, and enjoying the company of friends. It’s a never-ending pursuit of excellence, and I was able to weave it into my book as an activity John Robie enjoys. 

Writing is equally addictive. I look forward to it every day, and I once described writing as being solitary but not lonely. I feel the same about golf. You hit your shot, but you’re playing with others who are doing the same -- solitary but not lonely. 

Since I was learning both disciplines -- golf and writing -- at the same time, I started to see similarities between the two. First, both are very technical. Having a shoulder just a little off line on a golf swing is like having a single sentence that doesn’t ring true. It might move you in the general direction, but it won’t be efficient. 

Also, both golf and writing demand extreme and opposite measures, often in very short time frames. You have to smash a drive in golf, then follow it with a soft chip shot and a gentle putt. Similarly, you might write a wild action scene full of fighting and chases, then follow it with a peaceful, reflective chapter. 

Recently, I’ve been asking myself which is harder -- golfing or writing? It’s really close, almost too close to call. I’ve gotten my golf handicap down to a 14, but it’s taken years. And although I call myself a writer, I don’t have a book out yet; it’s coming in April, but it’s not on shelves. 

But one thing makes me think golf is harder -- in writing, you can go back and make something better. I’ve got a year to do that, since that’s about what it takes me to write a book (give or take). But you can’t do that in golf. You can’t go back and replay a hole. 

But imagine if you could…

Francie Stevens’ World

Many folks believe Grace Kelly met the Prince of Monaco while filming To Catch a Thief. Actually, that’s not true. That Hitchcock classic was filmed in 1954, but Grace and the Prince met in May of 1955, during the Cannes Film Festival. 

Grace took a train from Paris to the festival, and while boarding she met Olivia de Havilland (from Gone With the Wind) and her husband Pierre Galante, who had the idea to introduce Grace to the Prince. 

The consummate professional, Grace insisted on clearing the meeting with her studio beforehand. MGM agreed, but there were lots of complications (see here), which started when her hotel lost power due to a strike, which Kelly found out about after she’d washed her hair. 

With no iron and no hair dryer, she had to improvise. She wore a wrinkle-free dress and kept her hair up, adorned with flowers, which you can see in the famous photo. 

That’s when the romance started, and the couple kept it secret until December of that same year, when the Prince traveled to the US and proposed. They were married in April of 1956, less than a year after they’d first met. Her co-star in To Catch a Thief, Cary Grant, attended the wedding, along with countless celebrities and world leaders. Also, 30 million viewers watched the ceremony on TV. Their marriage literally captured hearts from around the world. 

The impact of their marriage was significant. Grace Kelly’s glamor and charm went a long way toward establishing Monaco as perhaps the premier resort destination on the planet. 

I’d love it if Francie Stevens met up with the Prince in my sequel.

Wouldn’t that be fun?

Riviera Life

Earlier I wrote about golf, and how John Robie enjoys the game. None of that’s possible unless the French Rivieira, in the 1950s, had a golf course. So I did some research, and I found a course that’s been called a “Jewel of the Riviera” (interesting pun) for good reason.

The Cannes-Mougins Golf Country Club was founded in 1923. It’s located near Nice, France, in the middle of a forest and close to the Mediterranean Sea.

The course was designed by Harry Colt, who left his career as a lawyer to become a golf course architect (who can blame him). Harry went on to design 300 courses on 6 continents, which feels like 1 too many continents. 

But I digress. Check out the stone structures on that course (my favorite being the alfresco patio) and the picturesque holes. It’s amazing, and it’s got a rich history, with some of the most famous golfers in the world playing in their tournaments. 

If I’m ever in the South of France, I’m definitely playing at that course.  I’d have to befriend a member to get on, but stranger things have happened.

And if I can’t get on, I can still dream about it.   

My World

I recently had my best moment as a writer, and it surprised me. 

Two weeks ago, I got to see the cover art for my book. I can’t share it yet, but I was blown away by how incredible it is. The design folks at the publisher did such an impressive job, and I’ve never met nor corresponded with any of them, so I couldn’t thank them directly. But I was thrilled with what they’d done. 

In my previous job, I reviewed a lot of creative concepts, and I knew my limitations. So I never questioned the actual design elements, I always went big picture -- who is the target audience, what tone do you want to convey, and what is the single thought you want people to have after seeing this? And I could tell immediately that they thought through all of that, then executed to perfection. I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep that night.

But the big surprise for me was seeing my name on it. That, more than anything, made it tangible. It’s really happening. 

And that was terrifying for me! Readers will associate me with the book, and while that’s very intoxicating, it’s also sobering. Overall, it was an amazing and frightening experience, and I’m so lucky to have moments like that. 

I can’t wait to share it with you.