Retrospect: The Mystery of the Moving Image

Welcome to the third retrospect post of the Snow & Winter series! If you missed the first two, you can find Nevermore and Curiosities at these links. This is my first complete, published series that has been with me from the beginning of my professional journey. I wanted to see Sebastian off properly after all the mysteries and murders we've been through together!

Moving Image was, in a sense, the easiest of the four books to write. I have a BFA in film production, with an emphasis on directing and sound recording. I worked freelance in the film and television world for a brief time, as well as at a rental house in the city. So film, both the history and practical, is my forte.

But having a degree and background in the topic surrounding Book Three's plot also made it a challenge. There were certain instances I had to rein myself in, lest the mystery turn into a non-fiction retelling of intriguing factoids. Especially when it comes to the likes of Buster Keaton films or correcting the general public on how little Edison was actually involved in the process of creating moving images.

Moving Image, like the previous titles, went through some re-writes. But unlike Nevermore, the characters were established and their relationships were no longer causing issue. And the artifact was exactly what I had planned from the beginning, so there was no trouble with that facet, like in Curiosities. The re-write actually had to do with the location. My original plan was to pull Sebastian and Calvin out of New York City (I know—what?) and put them in Vermont. It didn't work. I still love the concept, but it took too much focus off Sebastian, and this series is his to tell, so that became extremely problematic very quickly. And frankly, it was an issue getting the man around outside of a densely populated, urban environment!

Some of my favorite dialogue I added to the book were little opportunities to lovingly poke and prod at the film industry. I think, even without coming from that world, most folks can appreciate the jokes. I've shared a few excerpts below.

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“Truth is stranger than fiction,” I stated.
She nodded. “It’s a story perfect for a movie, don’t you think?”
“Which some screenwriter would inevitably destroy by inserting made-up drama or a romantic side plot that never existed,” I replied.
Greta laughed, deep and hearty. “Don’t I know it.”

“Did he rob you?”
“No. Well, yes, technically. I had a canister of film. He took that and wanted more movies.”
Neil stared blankly.
“That machine you were fingerprinting at the Emporium is a movie viewer.”
Neil took a hand from his pocket and held it up. “So this may have been the man who killed Dumpster John Doe?”
“He certainly wasn’t after my Buster Keaton collection,” I answered.

“You really want to go all the way to Queens?”
“That’s where the Museum of the Moving Image is.”
“You don’t have to take the train, though. I can drive you.”
“They don’t open until after ten,” I replied. “And I’ve no desire to wait around in the desolate, ass-end of Astoria with a bunch of overworked and undercaffeinated filmmakers..."

“Hundred-twenty-year-old movie,” Max said with an astonished tone. “It’s going to be either porn or cats.”

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Since Moving Image's release in 2018, it has been contracted into French with Reines-Beaux (no release date yet) and is also scheduled to be produced into audio! Moving Image recently won second place in adult mysteries with the Florida Authors & Publishers Association, which was a great honor. To celebrate the upcoming release of Bones, Moving Image's ebook is on sale for $2.99 across all third-party vendors.

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo |

You can add the book to your Goodreads shelf or find it on BookBub. Codas are also available for free at my website.

Make sure you check out the giveaway below. I'm offering one signed paperback of The Mystery of the Moving Image! Event ends September 16, 2019.

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Is everyone enjoying these retrospects? They've been a lot of fun to write—a bit of a trip to think back to the actual production and all those highs and lows. If you're new to the Snow & Winter series, I do hope these posts have tempted you into giving Sebastian and Calvin a go! Please join me next Monday for our final look back—rather forward— at The Mystery of the Bones! There will also be a final giveaway at that time.

Random fact: Steinway Bierhaus is based off of a real beer garden in the film neighborhood of Astoria. I also included the location in my novella, Lights. Camera. Murder.