Another Fleming

Treasure Unearthed

Another treasure from the vault. A signed First Edition of the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, the first sentence: "The scent and smoke and sweat of the casino are nauseating at three in the morning." And spy thrillers would never be the same. Think of it as "the real book spy book." You owe it to yourself to read it. Thank me later!

Now...The Thrill of Summer!

Here's the plot. Christmas Eve. The Queen of England and the entire Royal Family are at Balmoral Castle for Christmas. A vicious splinter cell of Al Qaeda parachutes into the grounds, wipes out the Royal Marine guards, and storms the house. The Royals are herded down to the basement. The terrorists have turned the cellar into a tv studio. They demand live airtime on BBC and read a long list of demands. Unless they're met in 24 hours, the entire Royal Family will be beheaded one at time on live tv. Miraculously, someone slips a mobile to the Queen. Late that night she makes a desperate call to the one man who can save them -- Alex Hawke. "I'm on my way, Your Majesty!" he says. Thrilling enough? 

I'm just sayin'...

Terry Allen Kramer:

A Helluva Dame 

Remembered

A legend has slipped offstage. My dear friend of many years, Terry Allen Kramer, pictured on the left with Jerry Hall and Joan Collins, has slipped away. And the lights have dimmed on Broadway. Her first hit was West Side Story.Among countless others were Kinky Boots and Spider-Man. Terry was bigger than life, a force of nature, and someone you always wanted in your corner. I'm proud to say she was always in mine. I will miss that deep, smokey, whiskey voice on the phone saying, "Teddy, it's Terry." What a dame she was, my God. Never be another. RIP. Baby. Give 'em hell up there. 

Eighty-Six and Going Strong

Mr. Frank. Greenbrier legend. So happy to find him still a permanent fixture at the door after all these many years. "Just had a birthday," he told me. "Eighty-six, going on one hundred, yessir!"  Still wearing the signature red blazer and the hat that Sam Snead gave him. Hang in there, brother! 

photo: Victoria de la Maza

Chills & Thrills:

Coming to New York in July

Welcome to Thrillerfest XIV at the New York Grand Hyatt July 9-13! Come and join Ted and other titans of the thriller genre on Friday, July 12th at 4:40 pm for a panel discussion "Hola, Hallo or Ciao? International Thrillers," and on Saturday, July 13th at 4:20pm for "Broken Heart, Betrayal or Revenge? Crushing Your Character's Emotions."

Register today!

Author Night:

East Hampton Library

Mark your calendars:

Saturday, August 10th

Join Ted at the East Hampton (Long Island) Library's Author's Night, the premier literary event of the Hamptons. Click below to get all the details, check out the other fabulous authors and actors (read: Candace Bushnell, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Alec Baldwin) who will be in attendance, and to buy tickets to this very fun who's who in the literary world and worthwhile fundraiser. All proceeds benefit the East Hampton Library.

Cuba Libre!

So much fun in Charleston, South Carolina having drinks and swapping literary war stories with Pike Logan, aka, Brad Taylor. Note to Commie Cuban Government, Havana. Colonel Taylor drinks Cuba Libres, aka "FREE CUBA!" Consider yourselves warned."

photo: Victoria de la Maza

The Last Word

"Yours truly. 1968. Hemingway mustachioed, Scott Fitzgerald wannabe. Dreaming of glory. Itching like a finger on the trigger of a gun. Que sera, sera, Teddy Boy."