Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Did You Know Tuesday: Fun Facts About Columbo

My all time favorite detective series, Columbo, premiered on NBC on September 15, 1971.  This long-running show ran from 1971 - 2003. 

Columbo was a detective played by Peter Falk.  He wore a rumpled raincoat, drove a great old car, and had a Basset Hound.

Here are just a few fun facts about this iconic show:

There was a Mrs. Columbo, although she was never seen on the show.

Columbo's first name is never spoken on the show, although it is on his police badge as "Frank."

The most frequent killers on Columbo episodes were Patrick McGoohan (4 episodes), Robert Culp and Jack Cassidy (3 episodes each).

Columbo is a cigar smoker.

Columbo often looks for food at the murder scene, and enjoys a snack ... although he often travels with boiled eggs.

Columbo drives a 1959 Peugeot, Model 403.

Columbo doesn't like guns and admits in one episode that he hasn't completed his annual firearm test in five to ten years.

This show still airs on Me-TV, is available on Netflix, and I still enjoy watching it.  Are you a Columbo fan?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
 

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Inheritance by Marianne Perry

Book Description for The Inheritance :

The Inheritance tells the story of a family disintegrating from conflicting loyalties in Calabria, Italy. Set during the period 1897 to 1913, the region was subject to earthquakes and tsunamis; the land harsh and poverty the norm. Superstition clashed with religion and a class system ruled the people. Calabria is the perfect backdrop for the tragedy that unfolds in The Inheritance.

Caterina is an atypical woman, and The Inheritance chronicles her life from birth to young womanhood. Born with an inheritance of loss into a society that has predetermined what she can and cannot do, she vows to live a life of her choosing. Caterina refuses to allow the limits of her gender, the constraints of her class and the demands imposed by those in power to stand in her way. Caterina remains steadfast in her commitment to become the woman she imagines. Her decisions ignite conflicts and fuel a chain of events that result in dire consequences for all whose path she crosses.

Praise for The Inheritance:

“Like a classic star-crossed love story, the novel is written with lush detail enriched with both likable and loathsome characters. In particular, Perry builds strong and decisive female characters. Although the key action doesn’t occur until the final chapters, Perry’s exquisite descriptions will transport readers back to the time and place of Lorenzo and Caterina’s romance-the brilliant colors in villa gardens, the smells and tastes of decadent food, and the menacing sounds of the ocean during an earthquake. After the engrossing storylines come to an abrupt end, a cliff-hanger will leave readers anxious for a sequel to continue Lorenzo and Caterina’s tragic story. Solid characters and vivid imagery capture the mood, traditions and uncertainty of the time.” – Kirkus Reviews, December 7, 2012

“The premise for The Inheritance was inspired by the author’s genealogical research in Calabria, Italy. Marianne Perry’s research trip to Cosenza province is obvious in her vivid descriptions of the setting of “The Inheritance”. The landscape, colours, culture, native food, plants and flowers, and even the weather are all vibrantly described……Perry deftly weaves secrets and betrayals throughout the entire book, not only among the two families but the supporting characters, as well….Marianne Perry weaves a very vivid tale that might well have happened hundreds of times over the centuries. “The Inheritance” will definitely make you think about how our ancestors came to be aboard a transatlantic vessel for a perilous three week voyage to being a new life.” – Amanda Morehouse, The Ontario-Canada Genealogical Society, August 2014



Author's Bio:

Family dynamics, genealogical research to solve ancestral mysteries and international travel are Marianne Perry’s priorities. A second-generation Canadian-Italian, she is the author of The Inheritance, a historical fiction set in Calabria, Italy from 1897 to 1913 inspired by her grandmother’s early life in Calabria. With a thirty-year career in education and communications, Marianne holds a Master of Education Degree from The University of Western Ontario (Canada).

A past member of the Board of Trustees, the Canadian National Arts Centre Corporation, she has also published non-fiction genealogical articles throughout North America. As a girl, Marianne fell in love with The National Geographic Magazine and dreamt of exploring the world. With her recent visit to Antarctica, she achieved her goal of stepping foot on every continent. The mother of two grown children, Marianne and her husband live on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, which drains Lake Superior on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She continues to research family history and write non-fiction genealogical articles. In addition, she is working on her second novel and planning further adventures.

Marianne blogs about genealogy, travel, family and writing on her website. Visit her at http://www.marianneperry.ca. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.

Connect with the author:  
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook


Giveaway:​

Prizes: ​3 print copies of The Inheritance (Canada & USA)
2 ebook (kindle) copies (Canada & USA)
3 $15 Amazon gift cards (International)

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