Peter James: Novelist and Film Producer: BITING SNOW DUST IN THE NEW YEAR.....

Peter's blog

Thursday, January 07, 2010
BITING SNOW DUST IN THE NEW YEAR.....

I blame my mate, Arnie Wilson, ski writer for the Financial Times and editor of Ski + Board. He's always trying to find ways to get revenge on me ever since I beat him in a mad off-piste race at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, some years back, in a duel to settle a dispute over carver skis versus traditional ones. (I was on trad ones...) So, when I told him I was going to Meribel, partly on research for a future Roy Grace novel about a death in a ski resort he said, "I'll get my friend Julia Pomagalsky, who is the Press Officer, to show you around..." He omitted to add that (a) she was going to show me around on skiis, and (b) she was two times world snowboarding champion and double Olympiad! Also, as her name might suggest, she is a member of the Poma ski lift family - it was her grandfather who started building ski lifts in 1936 when he decided walking up mountains was too much like hard work. I'm with him on that!

So basically, I spent the entire day chasing a distant red speck on the horizon as we covered what seemed like every run in the famous Three Valleys - I couldn't be sure as conversation was impossible - trying to speak French whilst trying to get your breath back on a chairlift is not easy. The high point of my humiliation was trying to keep her in sight down a steep, mogul-filled black run through a gulley, which she nonchalantly took at twice my speed, ski poles tucked under one arm, deep in conversations on her mobile phone.....

She was, I have to say, in spite of all this, a truly delightful companion for the day, who bought enthusiastically into the idea of a murder in Meribel. I was worried by the gleam in her eye at the end of one run when she started talking enthusiastically about all the different ways to die on skis.... But at the end of a truly shattering day at least I had one compensation for my labours - I got the title for the book.... "Dead Beat."

ACTION MAN AND JULIA POMAGALSKY. I GRABBED HER FOR THIS PIC,

THE REST OF THE TIME SHE WAS A TINY RED DOT

ON THE HORIZON AHEAD OF ME....!!

posted by Peter James at 4:24 PM 16 comments

Comments:

I am very stupid because I left a message on Peter's "Happy Christmas" blog instead of this one, so I'm trying again. I arranged for Julie to ski with Peter in the vain hope that it would knock the stuffing out of him just as he does with so many of his fictional victims but unfortunately he has survived to tell the tale. (If it were one of his thrillers he'd have skied over a cliff to his doom.) But there you go. I would of course have missed him terribly but at least he would no longer be able to tell the world that he was a better skier than me. I suppose I will have to put up with that now that Julie, in spite of my instructions, has failed to a)shake him off b) finish him off. Well at least Peter's devoted readers (including me, I have to admit) will get a little winter excitement in the next Roy Grace novel. Can't wait!!

By Arnie Wilson, at 5:23 PM

Murder in a ski resort, fantastic idea, wonderful place for research, do you ever take a break? jx

By Jacqueline Twamley, at 1:26 PM

Hi Jacqueline, I try not to take a "break" in a ski resort....!!!!!!!!!

By Peter James, at 1:43 PM

I meant a proper holiday, but with a life like yours, I wouldnt want to have a 'break' either. jx

By Jacqueline Twamley, at 3:18 PM

And I thought research was so dull & boring! Writers have the best life, its all plain skiing! Sounds like a fantastic new setting for a Roy Grace book and "Dead Beat" an apt title for a Mr Plod! Happy writing (at your brill new desk!)

By Diana, at 1:36 PM

Thanks Diana - I'm not complaining... but what makes it nicest of all is having such lovely and fun readers, like you!

All very best for 2010!

By Peter James, at 6:34 PM

Hi Peter

Loving the sound of a murder on a ski resort and can't wait for your next novel. I am a huge fan and working for WHSmith in Brighton I am always recommding your books. I have also got my husband hooked on your books which is an achievement as I have never seen him reading any other books but yours. In fact he has to read it first keeping me waiting even longer.
Keep writing
Teresa

By Anonymous, at 8:55 PM

Hi Teresa,

Lovely to hear from you - and great that you work in WH Smith - are you the one in Churchill Square? If so I will pop in and say hi next time I'm downtown.

Thanks so much for these kind words! Mind you, with all this snow, I'm not sure I need the murder to happen in a ski resort anymore!!!!!

All very best and to your husband, I'm delighted he is a convert!!!!

Peter

By Peter James, at 9:34 PM

Hi Peter, Yes I am the assistant manager in the Churchill Square branch of WHSmith and you would be most welcome any time

Teresa

By teresa, at 6:48 PM

Hi Teresa

Great! I look forward to meeting you very much.

Peter

By Peter James, at 11:49 AM

Hi Peter, Just a quick note to say thank you for finally helping me understand the joy people get from reading. I read Dead Tomorrow when it came out last year and this was probably the first fictional book I’ve read since Roald Dahl at primary school, it totally blew me away. I didn’t go out after work or touch my TV for a week (which is again a first for me) I then proceeded to read the entire Roy Grace series and I’m now in the process of reading your other books. I have tried to read books by different authors but there just not clicking into place like yours do. Anyone you can recommend that is half as good as you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the weeks and weeks of enjoyment your books have given me and the faith I now have in reading a good book. Cheers, Christian

By Christian, at 3:10 PM

Hi Christian

Thank you so much for this really lovely email. I'm delighted to have got you into reading again! I very much like the US writer Michael Connelley - in particular his book "The Lincoln Lawyer." Also Neil Cross, his book, "Burial." I just read Stieg Larsson's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" - much hyped and takes about 60 pages to get into but I enjoyed it. All very best. Peter

By Peter James, at 3:31 PM

Thanks for taking the time to reply Peter, much appreicated. Good luck with your new book, looking forward too it and much as the holiday I will be on when I'm reading it.

By Christian, at 8:08 PM

Thanks, Christian!

By Peter James, at 10:08 PM

Hi Peter
I'm so excitied to hear you've got another Roy Grace book in the pipeline. I love your books, I live on the south coast and it's great to be able to relate to the setting you use.
My next project is to get my husband to read one of your novels when we are away on holiday.(He never reads and always makes out he doesn't have the time).
Which one is your favourite and would reccomend. I am having trouble choosing as they are all terrific!
love Michelle

By Anonymous, at 2:32 PM

Hi Michelle

Thanks so much for these kind words!

I think the best one to get him started on is "Dead Simple" - I get tons of emails from people telling me this is the book that got them back into reading again.... Hope you succeed with your husband!!!

By Peter James, at 5:02 PM