Talk, talk: The Interviews

 

The post-release publicity and promotion for The Myrtle Wand has resulted in lots of interviews--via podcast, on blogs, and in print. 

My dog Dot provides support as I prepare to record a podcast interview

Here are some links:

Paris Underground Radio: Storytime in Paris podcast interview

The Read Local podcast interview

Historical Novel Society interview

The Authors Guild Spotlight

The Myrtle Wand at A Writer of History

Newspaper Interview

My thanks to all the interviewers for inviting me to share the process of writing The Myrtle Wand, and other aspects of my writing life!

"Take Two" Blogathon: Waterloo Bridge, 1940

 

Waterloo Bridge movie poster

How it Started

The story originated as a 1930 stage play by Robert Sherwood, which he based on his wartime experience with an English chorus girl. His main character, American chorine Myra Deauville, is unable to perform in London during World War I and turns to prostitution, meeting servicemen on Waterloo Bridge. Her boyfriend is Canadian soldier Roy Cronin, who doesn't realize she's dwelling in a brothel. Her comrade Kitty advises him to marry her. The landlady sees it as a chance to get money she's owed, but eventually informs Roy that Myra is a harlot. Nonetheless, he makes her the beneficiary of his life insurance, should he be killed in action. But Myra is the one who dies--on the bridge--during a German bombing raid.

The original Pre-Code film version, directed by James Whale, starred Mae Clark as Myra and Ken Douglass as Roy. In one of her earliest performances, Bette Davis appears as Roy's sister. The set-up tracks closely with the play, with the addition of Roy's mother, to whom Myra confesses the truth about herself. She runs off to London, Roy follows and proposes, the landlady reveals that Myra is a prostitute, but Roy hunts her down and on Waterloo Bridge asks her to marry him anyway. Before he's taken back to the army by military police, she agrees. An air raid begins, and she's killed on her way to a bomb shelter.

 Background to the Remake

David Selznick of his eponymous production company purchased the rights to the play, and MGM subsequently obtained them. To repay his father-in-law's studio for assistance in making Gone with the Wind, Selznick loaned out Vivien Leigh, who expected her co-star to be her lover Laurence Olivier, but he was unavailable. Robert Taylor was cast, much to her disappointment. They had worked together a couple of years previously, in A Yank at Oxford, filmed in Denham England at MGM's studio there and released in 1938. (Thus, "They're back again" on the movie poster pictured above.) Mervyn Leroy directed. Ultimately both Leigh and Taylor, who got on well, regarded Waterloo Bridge as their favourite film.

Joseph Breen of the Hays Office, upholder of the Production Code, was adamant that aspects of prostitution be eliminated. Filming took place in the first quarter of 1940, and the picture was released in mid-May. 

Leigh and Olivier needed the money from their respective film projects to fund their ambitious full-length stage production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which they would open in New York before touring nationally. Vivien's repertoire of tragic and often suicidal heroines had begun with Hamlet's Ophelia, followed by Myra Lester of Waterloo Bridge, and soon thereafter, Juliet. In future, she would depict Cleopatra in George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (on film and on stage), and in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra (on the stage). And she would garner her second Academy Award as the troubled and unstable Blanche duBois in Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

In 1956, a happy-ending version of Waterloo Bridge was released: Gaby, starring Leslie Caron. The action of the story was shifted from World War I to World War II.

The 1940 Waterloo Bridge

On September 3, 1939. Britain has declared war on Germany, and a loudspeaker instructs the crowd about about what to do during an air raid: blackouts, shelters, gas masks, thermoses, care of children, pets, evacuations.

On the way to Waterloo Station, to embark for battle in France, Colonel Roy Cronin asks his driver to take him first to Waterloo Bridge. Gazing on the river, he pulls out a small Asian ivory charm, and reflects on his past during the prior war....

During World War I, Roy encounters Myra Lester and a troupe of ballet dancers on Waterloo Bridge during an air raid. On their way to the shelter, Myra drops her purse and dives to grab her luck charm, nearly being hit by a vehicle. While sheltering, she and Roy chat and are mutually attracted but exchange first names only.

Publicity still, Leigh & Taylor costumed for their first meeting

Later that evening, Roy attends Myra's ballet performance.

Myra and bestie Kitty (Virginia Field) in the ballet

Publicity still of Taylor and Leigh

Publicity still, Myra as dancer

Roy gets two days leave, returns, asks Myra to marry him--he also has to ask for her surname. He informs his stuffy regimental officer of his intentions. The older man insists that Roy get permission from his commander-in-chief (a duke, who also happens to be Roy's cousin), and is reminded that he's heading to the front in two days. The duke, even more class conscious, is appalled to learn that Myra hails from Birmingham and is a dancer--in his day, dancers were for dalliance, not marriage. The couple hasten to the church only to learn that nuptials are prohibited at that hour, and the vicar advises them to return the next day.

Myra hurries to the dancers' boarding house to pack all the items she has purchased for her trousseau. She tells her chum Kitty she's being married tomorrow. Roy telephones to say his leave is cancelled and he departs in twenty-five minutes. In order to say goodbye, Myra will have to skip her performance.

Lobby card: Madame (Marie Ouspenskaya) upbraids defiant Myra

Madame, outraged by Myra's truancy, fires her--and Kitty, before the troupe departs for America. Both girls try for any job they can find--dress shop, tea shop--with no luck. Kitty says Myra should let Roy know about the dire straits she's in, he could help. Kitty is fearful, but Myra is too proud to ask for help. 

Roy sends flowers via a friend, with a letter saying his mother is bound for London and wants to see Myra. She decides to meet Lady Margaret Cronin at an upscale teashop. While waiting, Myra glances at a newspaper list of war dead--Roy's name is on it. She faints from the shock, but recovers consciousness. Lady Margaret arrives, apologises for being late, and expresses how much she's wanted to make Myra's acquaintance. A shaken Myra conceals her discovery, unable to bring herself to inform the older woman that her son has been killed. Her odd behaviour leads Lady Margaret to think she doesn't want to be friends yet, and she departs. Myra faints again.

Without employment as a dancer, or anything else, and no Roy, from desperation she follows her friend Kitty's example and becomes a streetwalker.

A long time later, on her regular evening rounds, she crosses Waterloo Bridge and heads inside the train station in search of a customer among the returning soldiers.

Myra the prostitute at Waterloo Station as soldiers return

Unexpected reunion with Roy

Because Roy lost touch with Myra, he's startled that she knew he was returning that day.

The face of shame, but she can't let on why

He takes her to a place to get some tea and catch up. While Myra weeps, he explains he lost his identification when wounded, and was in a German prison camp for the better part of a year. His mother came to Switzerland to retrieve him on his release and admitted she's lost contact with Myra. 

The face of guilt

Myra covers her purpose for being at the railway station by saying she was there to meet a friend--a girl. He wants to know if she's got a job--not that it matters, she has to quit so they can marry. He will never leave again and make her life easy from now on. And he rushes to the nearest phone to tell his mother they'll be traveling to Scotland on the next train that night. While he's away, she rubs off her makeup.

The face of uncertainty

Myra feels she has to confess what she's done to survive. She tries to tell him she can't go to Scotland with him. He assumes there's another man in her life, but she denies it and professes her abiding love. That's enough to satisfy him. She decides to accept her good luck and let him take her shopping, and to Scotland to join his mother.

When Kitty leans what has happened, she wonders if Myra can "get away with it"--not telling Roy that she prostituted herself during his long absence. Kitty advises Myra to go with him.

Roy's estate Scotland is palatial. Lady Margaret is thrilled to see her son, and warmly greets Myra. The neighbours attend an evening party to meet the bride-to-be and welcome the hero home from the war. The wellborn girls, wallflowers all, look down on Myra for being a dancer. Roy and Myra waltz together in a haze of happiness and passionately kiss in the garden. Myra declares she is happy, but Roy believes he sometimes sees fear in her eyes--believing it is because of whatever she endured during her solitary year on her own.

His cousin the duke is there and is entirely enchanted by Myra, inviting her to dance with him. She knows why he's so attentive: to clear her way with the condescending locals. He tells her they all think dancers are "racy"--which of course makes her painfully aware that a former streetwalker is an even racier and more shocking choice of bride. 

At Roy's ancestral home with his mother (Lucille Watson)

After the party, alone in her bedroom, she is torn about by guilt at her deception. Lady Margaret appears, wanting to clear the air about their London meeting. Her ladyship regrets not being kinder that day, and confesses she later realized that Myra had already known Roy was dead. After receiving a friendly kiss and being called daughter, Myra breaks down and declares that she can't marry Roy. She has to go away and never seen him again. Lady Margaret probes into what could be so terrible, before the awful realization dawns. And yet she blames herself for not finding Myra and helping her. She promises she'll never tell Roy about Myra's past.

On the way back to her bedroom, Myra encounters Roy, who returns the good luck charm she gave him in the air raid shelter on the night they met.

By morning she's gone, having left behind a farewell note. Roy races to London to find her. At the boarding house, he finds only Kitty, who hasn't seen Myra at all. He demands an explanation about what troubles Myra. After some protests, she takes Roy on a tour of her missing friend's usual haunts--bars, dance halls. Waterloo Station. No one has seen her. And by now Roy understands all too well. But he will always search for her, until he finds her.

Myra is on Waterloo Bridge, staring down at the river. An encounter with an aged streetwalker proves to her that she has no prospects of happiness, ever. She throws herself in front of a convoy of medical vehicles. Her good luck charm lands on the pavement.

In 1939, the older Roy clutches it--proof that he's aware of her tragic fate--in remembrance of his great lost love.

Reception

The film was hugely popular with the public and made a profit of nearly half a million dollars, receiving Academy Award nominations for Cinematography and Original Score. 

Vivien Leigh's performance was widely regarded as an admirable follow-up to her spirited performance in Gone with the Wind. As Myra, she exhibited an even wider range of emotion than she had as the stubborn, determined, ambitious, and hard-edged Scarlett. Her character was a softer creature, one who called for a demonstration of humour, charm, charm, hopefulness, joy, grief, desperation, guilt, and self-sacrifice. Robert Taylor received by far the most positive notices of his career.

New York Times: "...the remarkable Miss Leigh ...as fine an actress as we have on the screen today. Maybe even the finest." 

Los Angeles Times: "A woman's tragedy that is brilliantly delineated, with Vivien Leigh, of Scarlet fame, as interpreter, and Robert Taylor doing his best picture performance...Should appeal to a very wide audience." 

The Minneapolis Star: "A love story which demanded tenderness, sincerity, and deft acting. Miss Leigh delivers beautifully in all departments...Robert Taylor...may somewhat be overshadowed by his co-star, but that won't hide the fact that his is perhaps the best performance of his career."

Follow other blogathon entries at "Take Two" Blogathon 2022.

The Myrtle Wand: Publication Day!

 

I'm delighted to announce the publication of The Myrtle Wand, my 15th historical novel. It was inspired by Giselle, the classic ballet-- reimagined, continued, and set in 17th century France at the court of Louis XIV.

“Audiences familiar with the general outline of Giselle will find Porter’s narrative naturally engaging, but she’s taken care to keep other readers involved as well . . . An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” Kirkus Reviews

“Readers absorb the backdrop of the times against the friendship between three very different young women who each reflect diverse choices, directions, and their rapidly changing times. A powerful story, highly recommended for its realistic quandaries and strong female characters.” Midwest Book Review

“Lushly atmospheric . . . rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King. Betrayal and redemption, magic and religion all cross paths in dangerous pas de deux—and Princess Bathilde finally gets her opportunity to take center stage.” Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances: Titillating Tales of Passion and Power in the Palaces of Europe

“As a retelling of Giselle this story gets top marks. Not only does the storyline move effortlessly between the chapters, but the characters come alive. There’s plenty of history built in to accurately depict the time period and royal politics.” Novels Alive

“A book to be savored with its gorgeous descriptions, compelling characters, and gripping narrative. An intriguing histfic reimagining of the beloved ballet, Giselle, it gracefully draws the reader into the early reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King." Literary Redhead

Here's my interview at the Historical Novel Society website about the writing of the novel: Margaret Porter's The Myrtle Wand

There's a The Myrtle Wand Blog Tour.

And purchase information: 

Order the paperback from: Bookshop.org, Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble.

Order the ebook from: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, B&N Nook, Kobo.

Purchase the paperback from a local independent bookstore via Indiebound.org.

Advance Reader Copy Giveaway on Goodreads!

 

Five Advance Reader Copies are available in The Myrtle Wand Goodreads Giveaway. 

(By GR rules, only open to US members--sorry.)

Best of luck to all who enter!

The Myrtle Wand--Coming Soon!

I'm not sure how summer suddenly turned into September, but here we are. And equally suddenly, the release date for The Myrtle Wand, my fifteenth novel, is very slightly less than six weeks away. I'm counting the days until 11 October!

      The Myrtle Wand, a retelling and a continuation of the classic ballet Giselle, restores original story elements to transform a tale of blighted romances and betrayals into a quest for redemption and restorative love.

     Princess Bathilde de Sevreau, unlike her school friend Myrte and the peasant Giselle, doubts the existence of legendary vilis, ghostly maidens who rise from their graves by night to roam the forest to take revenge on faithless lovers. Until she, too, has cause to fear being ensnared by that spectral sisterhood . . .
     Destined for a marriage of convenience with Albin, Duc de Rozel, Bathilde leaves her ancestral château for the Sun King’s sophisticated and scandalous court. As participants in royal ceremonies and entertainments, the princess and the soldier gradually recognize deep feelings for each other and mutual hopes for marital contentment.
        But the tragic consequences of Albin’s brief masquerade as a commoner and the amorous Louis XIV’s hunt for a mistress divide the lovers. Together and separately, they must overcome conflicting duties and unexpected dangers to determine their fate.

“Audiences familiar with the general outline of Giselle will find Porter’s narrative naturally engaging, but she’s taken care to keep other readers involved as well . . . An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” Kirkus Reviews

“Readers absorb the backdrop of the times against the friendship between three very different young women who each reflect diverse choices, directions, and their rapidly changing times. A powerful story, highly recommended for its realistic quandaries and strong female characters.” Midwest Book Review

“Lushly atmospheric . . . rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King. Betrayal and redemption, magic and religion all cross paths in dangerous pas de deux—and Princess Bathilde finally gets her opportunity to take center stage.” Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances: Titillating Tales of Passion and Power in the Palaces of Europe

        

The book is available for pre-order now, as paperback and ebook.

My dog Dot is a minor (much to her dismay) character in the book. This promo features her performing as Blisse, Princess Bathilde's canine companion:

Much more information will soon be available, including historical background, a major giveaway, book trailer, blog tour schedule, and Facebook Launch Party invitation.

Summer Garden Party

 

Every year, in the third week of June, my rose and perennials gardens reach the peak bloom time, and we invite neighbours and friends to a Garden Party/Open Garden. The refreshments are lemony--a punchbowl filled with French 75 cocktail, lemonade, and lemon cookies. But my attire is as rosy as I can make it--and this year, I appeared in what seems to be the rosy-est dress in existence! Our guests also wear summery florals, and many come in summer hats.

My gardens contain 185 rose bushes of various types, many ancient and historic varieties as well as modern hybrids by David Austin's company and other breeders. Only a few haven't yet blossomed. 

On the day of the party, the weather was perfect and the flowers spectacular:

A refreshments table--with rosy cloth, of course!

I made an ice ring for the punchbowl with lemon slices and violas.

This is Tuscany, or the 'Old Velvet' rose, dating from about 1580.

And Rosa Mundi is also a 16th century variety.

A lovely 17th century centifolia rose

The peonies bloomed simultaneously with the roses this year.

A bright and festive afternoon was a very pleasant break from authorly and volunteer activities.

Celebrating Women's Fiction Day: Multi-item Giveaway

 

Congratulations, Tara B.!

The randomly selected contest winner will receive, in addition to an Autographed copy of The Limits of Limelight, the The Limits of Limelight pillow, a bottle of the iconic and historic Sortilège perfume (worn by real-life heroine  Phyllis Fraser in the novel), an elegant white silk scarf like the ones Fred Astaire wore in films with Phyllis's first cousin Ginger Rogers, a Limits of Limelight acrylic 16-oz sippy “go” cup with straw, a spiral Garden of Allah hotel notebook (Phyllis and Ginger and Ginger's mother lived there in the early 1930s), a Garden of Allah shot glass, and miscellaneous book swag.

Thanks to everyone who entered by

subscribing to my newsletter 

or

following Author Margaret Porter on Instagram

or

emailing an answer to this question: Have you ever watched a Ginger Rogers-Fred Astaire movie? (be sure to include your name and email address. You won't be added to the mailing list but will only be contacted if you're the giveaway winner.)

or

Doing all three to be be entered twice!

Deadline for entry was: 

Saturday, June 11

What should I know about The Limits of Limelight?

     

It's my 14th novel, available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Finalist, 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards

BookTrib Selection, Women's History Month

     

     Pretty Oklahoma teenager Helen Nichols accepts an invitation from her cousin, rising movie actress Ginger Rogers, and her Aunt Lela, to try her luck in motion pictures. Her relatives, convinced that her looks and personality will ensure success, provide her with a new name and help her land a contract with RKO. As Phyllis Fraser, she swiftly discovers that Depression-era Hollywood’s surface glamor and glitter obscure the ceaseless struggle of the hopeful starlet.

     Lela Rogers, intensely devoted to her daughter and her niece, outwardly accepting of her stage mother label, is nonetheless determined to establish her reputation as screenwriter, stage director, and studio talent scout. For Phyllis, she’s an inspiring model of grit and persistence in an industry run by men.

     While Ginger soars to the heights of stardom in musicals with Fred Astaire, Phyllis is tempted by a career more fulfilling than the one she was thrust into. Should she continue working in films, or devote herself to the profession she’s dreamed about since childhood? Which choice might lead her to the lasting love that seems so elusive?

     “Based on a true story....A witty and meticulously researched treat.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

     “An engrossing glimpse into a bygone era and the forces affecting a young woman's evolution into her own abilities...vigorous and involving to the end. ~ Midwest Book Review

      “A captivating novel about Hollywood...a more realistic and multifaceted view of the era.” ~ Historical Novels Review (*Editors' Choice)

     “A lovely tribute to the larger-than-life celebrities of early Hollywood....a glitz and glamour novel that shines brighter the deeper you go.” ~ Independent Book Review

     “A time capsule of Hollywood's Golden Era...a captivating novel of Tinsel Town's perils and pitfalls, trade-offs and triumphs!” ~ Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess 

 What Is Women's Fiction Day?

 Women’s Fiction Day celebrates women’s fiction authors, novels, publishers, book sellers, and most importantly, readers who appreciate women’s fiction and the power of a great story. This year for Women’s Fiction Day, members across the country will hold book signings to engage and connect with readers. WFWA is working with its 1,800 members across the country and internationally to hold a day of book events both online and in person on June 8.

More info--and giveaways--available here: Women Fiction Writers Association

What Is Women's Fiction?

Women's fiction is a writing genre that includes layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey. The stories can be contemporary or historical, and may have magical, mystery, thriller, romance, or other elements.

My Return to the Stage--as Author, not Actress

 An event that was months in the planning, took place last evening at a historic downtown theatre. Laura Knoy of NH Public Radio and NPR interviewed me and three other local authors--Paul Brogan (memoir, biography, myster), Virginia Macgregor/Nina Monroe (contemporary fiction, young adult, historical), and Mark Okrant (mystery, history). With over two hundred people in attendance, it was the venue's largest crowd since the onset of the pandemic--amazing support by the community. 

After the interview, which included two question-and-answer segments, there was a booksigning in the lobby, sponsored and supplied by our local independent Gibson's Bookstore--where anyone can order personally autographed copies of my titles.

It was a wonderful evening, and a great joy to spend time with such talented and inspiring friends.

The marquee on Main Street

Me, Virginia/Nina, Mark, Paul

On the stage--Paul, Virginia/Nina, Mark, Me, Laura

Answering a question

Signing

Book sales were brisk!

Authors talk with their hands!

Zooming through 2022 >>>

 You can take the title of this blog post two ways . . . the "new year" is speeding along. And I've done a lot of Zoom events, as an author. And for regular meetings of the various nonprofit organizations I serve.

Since the prior post, I was extremely busy with events related to The Limits of Limelight. I enjoyed the holiday season--we even managed to host a very downsized and extremely safe and highly festive version of our annual Caroling Party. After not having it last year, this felt like a major achievement . . . there was snow on the ground, and Dot the dog tagged along.

I successfully completed National Novel Writing Month, writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I usually enter every other year.

I've finished writing a novel--that's another achievement--set in 17th century France, in areas familiar to me, with a connection to a story and characters that have long obsessed me. 

My dog Dot is featured in this novel, because she looks exactly like King Louis XIV's dogs.

I'm getting ready for an exciting event, an on-stage interview with three other local authors.

These days I'm catching up on reading, and will have some new book reviews to post fairly soon. 

Novel #16 is already in progress. 

It's shaping up to be a big travel year, with the pandemic apparently in retreat. After two years of going no farther than the lake house, I'm ready to dust off my passport, and get airborne again.