A Writer's Life

Spenser is Back

With WONDERLAND, Ace Atkins flawlessly captures Parker's narrative voice and has written the best Spenser novel in his years. It reads like Parker in his prime, and even without Hawk appearing in the book. There isn't a single false note in the plotting, character, pacing or prose. It's an astonishing feat, it's like he's channeling Parker from the great beyond. It's actually better, and truer to Parker and his characters, than the last few Spenser novels that Parker himself wrote. It's a shame Atkins can't take on Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole, too.

"That Thing You Did With Your Mouth"

I got a big kick out of GAME OF THRONES last Sunday...when virgin Jon Snow introduced the Wildings to cunnilingus and won the undying devotion of his lover, who was "amazed" at "that thing you did with your mouth." It was hilarious, matched only by the ridiculous moment in Jean Auel's novel VALLEY OF THE HORSES when blond Cro-Magnon cavewoman Ayla gave her astonished Neanderthal lover Jondalar a blowjob, demonstrating one of the ingenious reasons why Cro-Magnons would survive and Neanderthals wouldn't. It was a rare GAME OF THRONES misstep, but entertaining nonetheless.

Three Books You've Got to Have...

...and, as it turns out, they are all THE HEIST by Janet Evanovich and yours truly. There are three different hardcover editions of the book coming June 18th...but all of them are available for pre-order now. 

There's the standard edition, which contains stickers and, I believe, a chapter from the 20th Stephanie Plum novel.

There's the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition,  which also contains the never-before-published prequel novella THE CAPER.

And there's the Signed Collector's Edition,  which is the same as the standard edition, except that it's hand-signed by Janet and me on a special pre-title page... it will be available at Target and some independent mystery bookstores. 

Come See Us

Janet Evanovich and I will be going on a book tour on June 18, starting with some media interviews in NY and then hitting Westlake, Ohio with our first booksigning that night. We'll be in Dallas on  June 19, Houston the next day, then finishing up in Atlanta on June 21st. The complete schedule is below.

But if you can't see us in one of those cities, don't despair...signed copies of THE HEIST will be available at some select retailers. I'll let you know as soon as I have a list.

Westlake Ohio, June 18

Barnes & Noble  – 6 PM

Signing with Janet & Lee
198 Crocker Park Blvd.
Westlake, OH

Dallas, Texas – June 19

Barnes & Noble – 6 PM
Signing with Janet & Lee
7700 West Northwest Hwy., Ste. 300
Dallas, TX

Houston, Texas – June 20

*TICKETS REQUIRED*
Murder by the Book presents a Q&A with Janet and Lee – 7 PM
The Renaissance Houston
Greenway Plaza Hotel
6 Greenway Plaza East
Houston, TX
Event is in the Greenway Ballroom
*Murder by the Book really wanted to have a special evening for their customers.  The $35 ticket includes a seat for the Q&A, a pre-signed copy of The Heist and hotel parking.
Companion seat tickets are $8 (if a companion comes separate from the main ticket holder, please see a Murder by the Book employee to have parking validated.)  Murder by the Book will have books for sale at the event, but you are welcome to bring books from home to be signed.
Purchase tickets in-person, starting on May 9, at…
*  Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet Street
*  Over the phone (713-524-8597)
*  Online at murderbooks.com.

Atlanta, Georgia – June 21

Barnes & Noble – 6 PM
Signing with Janet & Lee
1217 Caroline St. at Moreland Ave.
Atlanta, GA

 

 

Free Signed Bookplates for THE HEIST

I signed thousands of these this weekend...and I suspect I will be signing a lot more! To get your free, signed bookplate for The Heist send a self addressed and stamped envelope (regular business size is fine) to:

Evanovich Heist Plate
PO Box 2829
Naples, FL 34106

The Mail I Get

I got this email from a passionate fan in the UK of the TV show PRISON BREAK...

 

 I am just writing to ask you about some information that i require about writing a TV Show.

So, you must of heard of the hit TV Show called Prison Break right? Due to the high demand of many viewers who have been

dedicating their time on creating fan sites and Facebook pages to get themselves heard about a brand new Prison Break.

Well, taking this into account i decided to start writing a Bible on Prison Break 2. A sequel to the previous US TV Show. However,

I do not have any information on whether or not i will have to contact the creator (Paul T Scheuring) in order to be able to go forward with this.

I am really in need of some help as i have dedicated nearly a month of my life into creating an idea and being able to present it well.

In my opinion, as well as other feedback I have received from fans, tells me that the Prison Break 2 will go on to be a success.

I am waiting in anticipation for your reply.

Thank You Very Much.

I get emails like this a lot. It's great that a TV show has sparked your creativity, but I'm afraid you've wasted a month of your life and your creative efforts.

To mount a new series of PRISON BREAK, you would not only need the permission of the show's creator, but more importantly the studio that produced the show and owns the rights. On top of that, nobody is going to be interested in an idea for a new PRISON BREAK series from someone who has no connection to the show and is not an experienced TV writer or producer. 

Working on new material for TV programs that are off the air, and that you did not create and do not own, is a complete waste of your time. You are much better off coming up with something entirely original and devoting your energies to that.

 

Janet Blogs About us

My good friend, and now co-author, Janet Evanovich blogged today about how we ended up writing THE HEIST together...

"I’ve been a Lee Goldberg fan for a long time, so I was thrilled when he agreed to co-author a series with me.  The decision actually took place over a pizza and a pitcher of beer when we realized we had the same vision.  We wanted to write books about fascinating people who were involved in high stakes adventures set in glamorous, exotic locations …like Dajmaboutu, Indonesia, and Calabasas, California.

We had fun writing The Heist, and we’re still even talking to each other after twelve edits.  We hope you have just as much fun reading our first co-authored effort."

 

I'm Stunned

I just stumbled on this...

THE HEIST is the #10 bestselling ebook on Amazon...and #6 bestselling book on Amazon in any format... and it's not even out until 6/18! I am stunned. Someone get me smelling salts...

Scribe Award Nominees Announced

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2013 Scribe Awards for excellence in media tie-in writing. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Comic-Con in July.

ORIGINAL NOVEL NOMINEES
Star Trek Rings of Time Greg Cox
Star Trek The Persistence of Memory David Mack 
Pathfinder City of the Fallen Sky Tim Pratt 
Dungeons and Dragons Online Skein of Shadow Marsheila Rockwell 
Darksiders The Abomination Vault Ari Marmell 
Mike Hammer Lady, Go Die! Mikey Spillane/Max Collins 
Tannhäuser Rising Sun, Falling Shadows Robert Jeschonek 

ADAPTED NOVEL NOMINEES
Batman The Dark Knight Rises Stacia Deutsch 
Clockwork Angels Kevin Anderson 
Batman The Dark Knight Rises Greg Cox 
Poptropica Astroknights Island Tracey West

AUDIO NOMINEES
Dark Shadows The Eternal Actress Nev Fountain
Dark Shadows Dress Me in Dark Dreams Marty Ross 
Doctor Who Companion Chronicles Project Nirvana Cavan Scott

Jonathan Winters on Writing Humor

Jonathan Winters died today at age 87. My parents used to play all of his comedy records for us when we were kids. Those records made me laugh so hard I had trouble breathing. Jump forward to 1997. I was a novelist and TV writer by then and I was invited to be a guest speaker at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference... on a panel on writing humor with Jonathan Winters and Fannie Flagg. I was honored...and absolutely terrified. What the hell was a nobody like me doing on the same stage as a legend like Winters? But he was incredibly gracious and hilariously funny...and that night is one of the most treasured memories of my career. Here's a recording of that hour-long panel.  Although it's a video, there's only a still photo to look at. The audio track is the panel. The picture here, and in the video, is of my mother Jan Curran and Winters at the conference. Somewhere out there is a picture of me with Winters and Flagg, but I haven't been able to dig it up.

 

Jonathan Winters at Santa Barbara Writers Conference from lee goldberg on Vimeo.