Dear Reader,
S.C. Perkins, today's guest author, is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up hearing fascinating stories of her ancestry, and eating lots of great Tex-Mex. Her first book, Murder Once Removed, was the winner of the 2017 Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery competition, and is an Agatha Award Nominee. S.C. resides in Houston and when she's not writing, she's likely outside in the sun or on the beach.
S.C. Perkins has a copy of her new book, Lineage Most Lethal to send to a lucky reader. To enter the drawing, please email: [email protected]
My Love of Television and Cinematic Past
by S.C. Perkins
If there's anything I will happily blame my mother for, it's my love of English period pieces, Hollywood movie musicals, and any romantic comedy set in the 1960s or earlier. Of course, I like modern television and programs, too, but the classic ones I grew up on thanks to my mother's enthusiasm for them continue to be favorites and have influenced my life in small, but measurable ways.
I was born in the same year that PBS' Masterpiece Theatre began, and my mother was an instant devotee. Once a week, I was lulled to sleep by the likes of Upstairs, Downstairs and other English period dramas, and the original Masterpiece Theatre theme song (Fanfare-Rondeau by Jean-Joseph Mouret, if you're wondering) is likely as much the soundtrack of my childhood as any children's song. Through these period dramas, the history-loving side of me was firmly cemented and, as we all know, a knowledge of history, even if dramatized, helps to better understand the present.
Speaking of songs, movie musicals were and still are one of my mother's biggest loves, and I watched them almost as often as programs like Sesame Street. To this day, Singin' in the Rain remains my all-time favorite, and it wasn't unheard of for me to sing a pop hit of the day followed by a song like Good Mornin'. (It's still not unheard of me to do that, to be honest.) I'm no performer--and I definitely did not inherit my mother's lovely singing voice--but I did inherit her penchant for busting out into song without a lick of shame. And, since music engages the left side of your brain, these musicals no doubt gave my creative side an extra boost.
Oh, and the romantic comedies! You name one and I probably love it, as does my mom. These movies brought more smiles and happily-ever-afters into my already wonderful childhood--not to mention the most fabulous fashion--and I'm still in love with them to this day. If one of them comes on television, I stop and watch it, and I believe these movies helped reinforce my naturally positive personality.
While the Masterpiece theme song is different these days and very few people would be able to name the romantic comedy if I quoted it, I still think my childhood, my creativity, and my outlook on life was made even better for having been a fan of them--and I have my mom to thank for all of it (and more)!
I'm giving away a copy of my new book, Lineage Most Lethal. Email: [email protected]
-- S.C. Perkins
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
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PENGUIN CLASSICS this month features the book The Posthumous Memoirs Of Bras Cubas, by Machado de Assis. I have a copy of the book to share, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.
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