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Ask the Author: Charles Finch

“I'm getting to my backlog of questions now - I had no idea these were here! I'm also happy to take questions about my new book, "The Vanishing Man," (out in February!) or writing in general.” Charles Finch

Answered Questions (21)

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Dear Mr Finch, I read your book A Stranger in Mayfair. I do have one small question: when Charles Lenox is given a tour of parliament it is given by a man named Bigham. Many folks around where I live have the similar name of Bingham, but I have never know anyone other than relatives with the name Bigham. Where did you receive inspiration for this name? Did it come from life or did you just make it up? Thanks!
Charles Finch What a great question! Two years later I can tell you that I barely remember this - but I do know Bigham is a Scottish name, possibly a variant of Bingham? I don't think I make up names - I want to be true(ish) to life. Thank you and best! CF
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I sent a message months ago that I never received the book I won. Not sure why or what happened or if you even received my message?
Charles Finch Hi Judy - I'm so sorry to hear this, and so sorry it's taken me a year to reply! Can you message me with the details? Or did you receive it? Best, CF
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Hi mr Finch..are there book club questions for your book The Last Passenger that I can get for our book club? Thanks so much!
Charles Finch I may be too late, but sure, feel free to message me!
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Part 2?? But it's your characters that just draw me in. Just finished Burial at Sea and the grazing, ship-board valet, as well as the terrified (but won't show it) 14 year old nephew taking his first berth as a midshipman were just brilliant. Got to try the stand-alones. And thank you, thank you, thank you for some great reads. (The plots aren't shabby either.)
Charles Finch Hi, I know it's been five months, but this means the world to me! Thank you so much. And I'm so relieved when I hear I didn't set off any alarms with my language - always my aim. Best, Charles Finch
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First: on a day when I get hold of one of yours, that is a really good day. Not only that, They are books I can read several times over the years, and still love as much, The best kind of books! Now: WHAT?? Reading "An Extravagant Death", *I find that Polly and Dallington are married, and Lenox has a second child! When did these happen? I don't think I've missed a book... Thanks, Frost
Charles Finch Hi Frost - first of all, thank you so much, that's lovely to hear! Second, those events took place (spoiler) in The Woman in the Water and The Inheritance, in case you missed those! Best, Charles Finch
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Good morning: A little confused here, sorry. I keep track and search on Goodreads for all my books, so that said, why are some of the Lenox series marked .01, 02, etc.? Just finished A Woman In The Water and moving on to the series, just confused, want to read the series in order. Thanks for a reply.
Charles Finch Thanks so much for asking! Those are three prequels - a trilogy :) You can start with them or with the regular 1-10 series equally easily.
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Will you bring Lancelot back to upcoming prequels? Please, I love him. Thx
Charles Finch Oh I'm so happy you like him! He does make an appearance in The Last Passenger :)
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Just finished Stranger in Mayfair (perfect for a hammock) and moving on to A Death in the Small Hours. Wondering whether there has ever been talk of filming any of the Lenox books? Mayfair would be particularly good. It’s just shy of 11am as I mount the hammock with Small Hours and already wondering what might be the appropriate cocktail once Happy Hour rolls around. Too warm for claret or port. Daiquiri perhaps.
Charles Finch Thank you so much Warren! Can I recommend a shandy, or an iced punch? The Victorians were not lacking in summer drinks :)

And I have spoken in preliminary fashion about making a series - fingers crossed!
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I've just discovered the Charles Lenox series and have really been enjoying them. I'm currently reading A Death in the Small Hours and I felt compelled to point out an anachronism. On page 1 the year is given as 1874. Then on page 16, there is a reference to Jack the Ripper (?). However, the Jack the Ripper murders did not occur until 1888. Anyway, I'm looking forward to continuing with the series!
Charles Finch Thanks so much for reading Dan - you're absolutely right, and it's been corrected in subsequent editions. A definite mistake though.
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Enjoying the Charles Lenox series; they are absolutely fantastic. Do you have an idea how many books in the series there will be?
Charles Finch Hey Scott, thanks so much for the question, and sorry just to be seeing it now!

In a word: no idea! I'm still enjoying the research and writing, so that's got to be a good sign. I think.
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How long did it take you to write your first book?
Charles Finch GREAT question. I suppose the answer is two different ones - about three years, then about three months. I spent three years writing the wrong book, then realized what the right one was, and after that it all got so easy. I don't know if every writer has to cycle through a lot of mistakes before their first book, but I did...

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond! Only seeing these questions now! Happiest of holidays.
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I really liked The Last Enchantments! Do you have any plans to write another standalone novel?
Charles Finch Hey Julie! Thanks so much for saying that - that was such a person book that it means more when someone likes it. Anyway, the answer is YES! But it's going...sloooowly. I'll post when it's ready though :)

Also I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply! I didn't see these questions earlier. Hope you're having a happy holiday season
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This isn't a question but I just wanted to thank you so much for your fantastic book reviews. I find that if you recommend a book, rest assured that not only will I read it, but I will like it so much that I will also recommend it to other people. In fact, I do have a question now that I think about it. What does "tk" mean in your reviews?
Charles Finch Oh Carol! This is so so kind of you!!!! I am really pleased you feel that way, because I try to put a lot of thought into my reviews and am never sure if people are reading them...

To answer your question, "tk" is journalismese for "to come"! A lot of journalism terms have misspellings to avoid similar letters being confused - hence "lede" not "lead" of an article, for example.
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How long does it take you to write a book, from concept through draft submitted to publisher? Do you feel pressured to publish a new book each year and how does that affect your creativity? Thanks!
Charles Finch Wow, great question! So sorry just to be seeing it!

The answer really varies. For my literary novel ("The Last Enchantments") the whole process took about four or five years. But for crime fiction, I'm on a shorter schedule - say, 3-6 months for writing, then 3-6 for editing and publication with the publisher.

In some respects that does hamper my creativity - the longer you spend with a piece of fiction the more sure you are what it is (at least for me). But I also think that sometimes having to produce work without TOO much analysis is healthy and keeps the work fresh and alive. Tricky balance.
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I just discovered your work and have become a fan. Are you planning to write another prequel. A Beautiful Blue Death begins 20 yrs after "The Woman in the Water" and left me wondering. What was Charles up to during that time?
Charles Finch Hey Zoe! So sorry just to be seeing this, and thanks so much for your kind words :) The answer is yes! It's coming out in February - The Vanishing Man. And actually I think I'll write a 3rd prequel too, because I want to take him from being a very young man up to the start of A Beautiful Blue Death :)
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Are you working on the next Charles Lenox adventure?
Charles Finch Hey Jules - so sorry I'm just seeing this! I'm very bad at Goodreads (sometimes I'm obsessed and sometimes I forget it exists for a month). Anyway, yes! The next one comes out in February :)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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Oh Charles, I just finished book 10. I read (listened) from the Prequel through book 10. Please tell me Lenox and Co. will be back??? I want to weep!
Charles Finch I'm so sorry I'm just seeing this! First of all, I am so so happy the books were worth all that time! That makes me really happy. And second: They will :)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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I stumbled across " The Laws of Murder " and "Home By Nightfall" by chance at the Library and Loved them both. I then put the rest of the series on hold and read " "The Last Enchantment" while waiting. Loved it as well. I have been truly floored by your insight and honesty into human nature . I look forward to reading the rest of the Lenox mysteries . My question is... Do you have another stand- alone planned?
Charles Finch This makes my day - a lot of people like *either* the mysteries or the stand alone, so it's really meaningful to me that you liked both. To answer your question: Yes! Working on it now. But literary fiction takes me a lot longer than mystery fiction, I think because in mysteries I have a definite job to do (figure out a murder...)

Thanks so much for your kind words. I really mean that.

Charlie
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I've just read "A Little Life" and am confused by your review of this book. What did you mean?
Charles Finch Which review, Dorothy? Just seeing this. Thanks!
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I have read an ARE of The Vanishing Man. I noticed a mistake on page 79. In the first paragraph on the page he planned to meet Bonden "again that evening." However that is a detail that is not mentioned later that day. In fact he doesn't meet with him for several days. Any comments?
Charles Finch Hey Beverley - first of all, thanks so much for reading :) Second of all, I caught that in proofs! Phew! So yes, it will be correct in the final book. If you spy anything else tell me before it's too late!

Hope you enjoyed and all best,
Charlie
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