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| Broadway |
Marni Graff is the award-wining author of The
Nora Tierney Mysteries, set in England. Her new series debuts with Death Unscripted,
a Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery. Graff also writes the crime review blog
Auntie M Writes. Today she joins us to talk about little gems hidden away in
The Big Apple. Learn more about Marni and her books at her website.
Manhattan
When people hear the name “Manhattan” they
often think of the dazzling lights of Broadway and Times Square, the gaudy
shops along Fifth Avenue, The Plaza Hotel and Central Park.
Growing up on Long Island, Manhattan was all
that to me and so much more, only a train ride away. It’s also a place where
there are smaller jewels to be discovered that most tourists miss.
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| The Morgan Library |
One of my favorite places to stop is TheMorgan Library and Museum at 225 Madison Avenue and 36th
Street, which began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan.
Designed by Charles Kim of the renowned architectural firm of McKim, Mead and
White, the Italian Renaissance-style structure holds three soaring elegant
rooms in their original condition. A modern annex holds more of Morgan’s
collections, and there’s a tea room and gift shop, too, but the original
library was donated by son J.P. Morgan to the public in 1924 to allow them
access to his father’s treasures.
And what treasures these are, from Medieval
and Renaissance illustrated manuscripts, early books and historical manuscripts,
to Old Master drawings and prints, including a massive Rembrandt etching
collection and things like a journal written by Thoreau. These reside alongside
ancient artifacts, and scholars can apply for access to the volumes. There are
also special events, such as this summer’s Alice: 150 Years in Wonderland,
through October 11th. For the first time outside London’s British
Library visitors can see the original Carroll manuscript, as well as original
illustrations and drawings, rare editions, and vintage photographs. It’s a
place I can visit over and over.
Another unusual stop is the Paley Center for
Media (paleycenter.org), formerly the Museum for Television and Radio, renamed
in 2007 for founder William Paley. The center’s collection features over 150,000
clips from television shows, radio programs and podcasts. Introduce children to
vintage TV or watch a clip from a show you enjoyed. There are public events in
their auditorium, too, like an upcoming discussion August 16th of
the show Homicide between its creators, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson.
Or stop by September 28th for a talk by journalist Christiane
Amanpour.
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| Lincoln Center |
The bustling energy and international flavor
of Manhattan has always been attractive to me, one reason I decided to set my
new mystery series there. Based on my medical consulting days working for a
movie studio, most of my time was spent at the ABC Studio that taped “One Life
to Live,” right down the street from Lincoln Center. I’d walk there at
lunchtime to see what was on at the Met or the Ballet, or simply watch the play
of its fountains. It’s a great plaza for people watching and collecting
characters. Living in North Carolina now, I still yearn for the special vibe
that is Manhattan’s own, and visit whenever I can.
Death
Unscripted
Trudy Genova has the best job any nurse could
want, working onset as a medical consultant for a movie studio. No more
uniforms, bedpans or emergencies, until the actor whose overtures she’s refused
dies suddenly while taping a hospital scene--but not before pointing his finger
accusingly at Trudy. When detectives view Trudy as a suspect, she interferes
with their investigation to clear her name. Then a second death occurs, and
Trudy realizes she’s put herself in jeopardy.
Based on the author’s real life work experience,
Death Unscripted takes readers behind the scenes of a Manhattan soap
opera.
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