I have always loved reading mystery books, ever since I was a child reading Nancy Drew and even the Hardy Boys. And that love didn’t change when I got older. I have always liked to read an author’s whole catalogue and when I discovered the Dick Francis books, I realized they combined several things that I love: mysteries, horse racing and England. Dick Francis was the Queen Mother’s steeplechase jockey and retired from racing to write books. He has since died, but his son Felix, who had helped him with the books, took over, writing as Dick Francis.
Felix is in Baltimore for a few days, and my friends at Halcyon House Antiques held an English Drinks Party and Book Signing for Felix, which I was pleased to be invited to join. Dick Francis’s DAMAGE, by Felix Francis has just been released today, so it was extra special to be able to get the book on its release date! It’s also the 50th book that the Francis’s have written, so that’s quite an accomplishment.
Felix brought along copies of the covers of all 50 books, which have been done and redone over time, moving from very modern graphics, to the more realistic cover of his newest book. If you look closely below, you can see several of the older titles arranged on the mantel and the newest book on the desk.
Since this was an English drinks party, we had a pitcher full of Pims and some noshes for everyone!
Felix was charming and gave a nice background chat to the crowd and then spent the next hour or more signing books for everyone… and several books for a number of the guests!
He was also very kind about posing with the guests, many of whom were from the local hunts, or were riders themselves.
As usual, the flowers at Halcyon House Antiques were gorgeous and from the gardens that I’ve written about several times previously.
It was such fun to meet Felix and have the chance to tell him how much pleasure these books have brought to me, and many others, over so many years! He’s on a cross-country tour now, so check his Facebook page to see where he’ll be next. And if you’re looking for a great Christmas present, Halcyon House has a dozen or so signed copies of DAMAGE for sale.
Lovely. He must have felt right at home at Halcyon House.
ReplyDeleteI think he did, and his wife LOVED the shop!
DeleteMeg what a treat. As you said, the combination of mystery, The British, and Horseracing always had me in his Father's books for years!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karen
The Arts by Karena
I am looking forward to reading the new one!
DeleteI'd love a good Pimm's Cup recipe. I've been using Trader Joe's fizzy lemonade. I think I've read every Dick Francis book. Love them.
ReplyDeleteBooker, our bartender last night, made them with Pimms, club soda, a good lemonade and cucumber and lemon slices for garnish. it was delish!
DeleteWonderful writeup! I'm sharing this, it does such a great job encapsulating the evening. So happy to have discovered Halcyon House as a bonus to such a grand book launch party, too.
ReplyDeleteWe were so pleased you all could join us!
Deletehave loved his books + now his son's books + need a gift. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteI've been reading him since a friend introduced me to his books back in the 1980s. I own a copy of Reflex and can not count how many times I've read it. They are great reads all!
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