Studly Doright scared the crap out of me on Sunday morning. I was busy working on edits for The Cowboy and the Executive while my husband was supposed to be playing golf. There I was, my head buried in the task of revising and rewording the first five chapters of the book when he came around the corner of my office and uttered the scariest of words— “Boo!” It’s a miracle I didn’t have a blooming heart attack.
His golf game was rained out after only nine holes of play, so I guess he had nothing better to do than frighten the love of his life. Of course, if the situation were reversed, I’d have done the same to him. We have equally warped senses of humor.
Once my heart rate settled down, I finished my work while Studly got down to the business of enjoying a nap from the comfort of his recliner. His gentle (ha!) snores soon filled the halls of Doright Manor. He’d flipped the television to one of the old movie channels and to my delight the 1947 movie, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir was just beginning.
Now, Rex Harrison knew how to scare a lady properly. Not a single “boo” was uttered. And oh my goodness, was there ever a prettier leading lady than Gene Tierney?
I spent part of the morning and a chunk of the afternoon watching this wonderful old film. Do any of my readers remember the television series based on the movie? It was one of my favorites, but nothing compares to the film. I wonder why someone hasn’t done a modern remake? I’d watch that.
Oh, I’d forgotten that Rex Harrison’s character is a literal ghost writer in the film, and Gene Tierney’s character is his scribe. They bicker over word choice and what to include or omit in the book —just as my editor and I do. The whole scenario was comforting. As I watched, I wondered if Studly could be my muse. Then he snored, not so gently, and I decided that was a big NO.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
We used to share holidays with a relative whose snores shook the whole house
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My husband’s aren’t as bad as they once were, but he can still be annoying.
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🙂
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She was so pretty, like Adam Lambert. I don’t believe either of them are real, lol
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Totally not real.
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Gosh, I have always loved that film.
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It’s just the best. And kind of inspiring.
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Yeah. The first ever first comic strip library story I sold to DC Thomsons was called The Ghost and Chloe Moore and it was about how this girl’s best friend was a ghost but then the family decided to move house and the ghost couldn’t go. SO yes, it was an inspiring film.
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😊
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Reblogged this on Disablities & Mental Health Issues.
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Thanks, Kenneth.
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I am going to have to look up that movie. It sounds delightful. Thanks.
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Oh! It’s such a grand old movie.
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Well done….it is a favorite or ours also.
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Such a lovely film.
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She read was so pretty…
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She sure was.
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Hi Leslie, it’s Lesley! I love that movie and I also adore the book! I have a copy of the book from the late 40’s that belonged to my mom. I think the author fooled us all. It was written in 1945 by Josephine Leslie but she had to publish it under a male pseudonym. She used the name “R.A. Dick”. Now, you know she had to have done that on purpose. It was like she was sticking up her middle finger at her publishers. Lol I have the book on my shelf and laugh every time I see that name. And Leslie, being a Lesley myself, I also get a kick out of the fact that she had our name! She had to have been very cool! 😉 And feisty if she used that name!!
I remember watching the film as a little girl when it was on TV in the 1950’s. I fell in love with the story and of course the dashing ghost. I actually have the DVD of the movie on my book shelf with the original book. (I know, I’m a nostalgic nut).
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Oh wow!!! I had no idea. Love the pseudonym, and I really wasn’t aware that it had been a book. Now I must find a copy for myself. Thank you! Leslie/Lesley rules.
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Yes. I was writing my own ghost story in the 90’s and my mom gave me her book. But you might be able to find it on eBay or on another site . Sometimes old library books are up for grabs and you can get them cheaply.
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It’s worth a shot!
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I just checked. They seem to have paperbacks from various era on line. I realized that mine is a first edition copyright 1945 and in pristine condition. Yikes! Who knew? I found another 1945 copy but it’s condition isn’t as good and it’s for 400 dollars. So unless you can find it locally you probably will have to get a used paperback if you want a reasonable price. Maybe from a library that is getting rid of old books.
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Wow! I wonder what your copy is worth?
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I don’t know I’ll have to investigate. It’s sentimental but if if I ever get hard up for money maybe I should check it out. Lol I have a set of Mark Twain books from 1901 that were my mom’s that are gorgeous and some Second edition Dorothy Parker poetry books. All my mom’s. Plus, I saved my childhood copy of Little Women that my mom purchased in a used book store when I was little, so it has the original texts with Alcott’s author intrusion. That is no longer in the new reprinted versions. I treasure my old books. But I never thought about their value before, just how special they were to me.
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That’s awesome. I’d have a hard time selling books unless I didn’t have any other options.
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Yes, it’s interesting to learn about her life. She used her real name later once she became popular.
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Amazon has a new version of the paperback with info about the author.
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I just bought it!
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Great. Enjoy! Happy Reading!!
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I’m excited!
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Please follow me
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