A Writer's Life

Harvey Mapes Isn't Forgotten

I was stunned today to stumble on Ed Gorman's unexpected tribute to my novel THE MAN WITH THE IRON ON BADGE. He says, in part:

Iron-On is a book that will keep you laughing and smiling all the way through. If you have any affection for the private eye novel, this book should be required reading because in addition to gently spoofing the form it is a story so rich in character and story twists it's truly masterful.[...]But more than the comedy, the beautifully designed plot and the snapshots of La La Land--more than any other element in the book, it's Harvey's voice you'll remember. There's a workaday universality to it that gives the novel its wit and insight and truth.

Thank you, Ed. I'm truly flattered. It is my favorite book of all the ones that I've written. I hope that it's published in trade paperback someday...and does well enough to justify a sequel.

More MAPES

  I've had some very nice emails today from people who attended the International Mystery Writers Festival in Owensboro, Kentucky and enjoyed my play, MAPES FOR HIRE. I also stumbled on a blog by Tony Brewer, who led the foley team who did most of the live sound FX for the "radio" plays. He writes:

I love doing sound effects, especially live, and boy did this project stretch me. I think I commented elsewhere: 8 shows, 34 performances, 10 days, with a little over a week of real-time face-to-face onstage prep and rehearsal. Damn.

But what made this so rewarding was the talent involved. From the seasoned audio producers, to the pros in the sound booth, to the versatile actors, to the great writing, add me to the mix and you've got a unique, hybrid theatre experience. A little bit old-time radio, a little black box, plus 3 of the shows were screenplays adapted for live performance -- basically movies performed live -- all done on a shoestring.

Amy Walker co-starred in MAPES FOR HIRE as Carol and you can get a glimpse of her amazing range in her YouTube video "21 Accents,"which went viral on Break.com earning over three million views.

(The picture on the left, taken by Bryan Leazenby, is Orson Ossman performing as Harvey Mapes)

Mr. Monk and the Blog Reviews

MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY is author/publisher/editor/reviewer/man-of-the-world Ed Gorman's favorite Monk book so far. He says, in part:

For me the only thing more fun than watching Monk is reading the adventures Lee Goldberg creates for him.

[...]As usual Mr. Goldberg not only keeps the story rolling, he also gives us a plenty of smiles and out-loud laughs along the way. This time he gives a sense of a foreign milieu as well, some very sly travel commentary from time to time. The Monk books take a series that is one of the best on TV and makes it even better. No small accomplishment. I can't wait for the next one

But if that wasn't flattering enough, Ed goes on to talk about my novel THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE.

Whenever I review one of Lee's books I feel guilty if I don't mention his masterpiece, The Man With The Iron-On Badge. This is a novel that pays tribute to the classic private eyes by introducing a funny, cranky, sly and very bright guy named Harvey Mapes who between honoring his twin obsessions junk food and crime fiction on page and tv screen manages to become more than just a security guard--he becomes a private eye, kind of.

[...]The mystery here is cleverly drawn and not without grit and real suspense. The other aspect is the tour of LA that Lee/Harvey takes us on. Too much of LA fiction plays the usual songs. But the cunning detail in Iron-On Badge makes everything from gated communities to eating at Denny's seem brand new. This is because we're seeing it through the eyes of a burned-out working class guy who takes us inside his dotty but endearing fantasy life.

This is one of those novels that will be around for a long, long time. It's that good.

I hope he's right, though the book is hard-to-find. I still haven't managed to get a deal for a mass market paperback edition...but I'm working on it.

Thanks so much, Ed!

Off to the Land of BBQ

As you read this, I'm on my way to Owensboro, Kentucky today to see "Mapes For Hire," the stage play version of my  Shamus-nominated PI novel THE MAN WITH THE IRON ON BADGE, which is being performed this week at the International Mystery Writers Festival. I'll also be talking about writing TV mysteries in a seminar with CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, participating in some panels, and doing a number of book-signings with folks like Stuart Kaminsky, Mary Higgins Clark, and Gene Hackman. But what I am really, really looking forward to is eating lots of BBQ.

I'll report back when I can.

Wit, Grit and Panache

The blurb machine at Crime Fiction Dossier has generated a kudo for THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE.

"Combining humor and suspense together in a mystery novel is no easy feat, and few writers can accomplish it with the skill of Lee Goldberg. The Man With the Iron-On Badge is an affectionate ode to the classic Private Eye novel, told with wit and grit, and a touch of panache." -Crime Fiction Dossier

"Wit, Grit and Panache." Sounds like a great title for a lousy TV series, doesn't it? I can see it now...

"Jack Wit is a cop who doesn't play by the rules, a rogue, a rebel, a loose cannon...Samantha Grit is a beautiful, sexy, undercover operative with degrees in psychology, criminology, and kicking ass... Largo Panache is a mysterious stranger, a thief who can steal anything from anyone anywhere... together they fight crime across the globe. They are WIT, GRIT AND PANACHE."

Another Day, Another BADGE Review

If you're a regular visitor here, then you're familiar with Chadwick H. Saxelid, a frequent commenter on my posts and a man whose unusual name I have borrowed (with his permission, of course) for a murder victim in DIAGNOSIS MURDER: THE DOUBLE LIFE (coming in November 2006). Today, he reviews THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE on his blog. He says, in part:

Lee Goldberg's The Man With the Iron-On Badge is a fun little page turner that, on more than one occasion, reminded me of Parnell Hall's Stanley Hastings series.  Like Stanley Hastings, what Harvey Mapes thinks he knows about private detective work comes entirely from television shows and crime novels.  (Goldberg's novel references so many different television shows and/or books that it almost qualifies as an exercise in metafiction.)  Unlike Stanley, when Harvey gets in over his head he finds an inner reserve of strength and character that he never even knew existed within him.  (Stanley usually makes an ass out of himself, or he just gets lucky.)

But Mapes amateurish fumbling and on-the-case training are just sly misdirections on Goldberg's part.  While the reader is distracted by Mapes's growth from junk food guzzling slacker to junk food guzzling detective, all the clues are artfully dropped.  Another trick is how The Man With the Iron-On Badge manages to spoof private detective story cliches while letting Mapes discover that the reality of amateur detecting isn't all that different from what is on TV or in books, after all.

Thanks, Chadwick. Now I'm sorry I killed you.

BADGE is So Good

Gerald So, an editor at the Thrilling Detective website, recommended THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE on his blog yesterday. He wrote, in part:

Goldberg's clever premise allows him to present a refreshingly un-macho hero to whom any fan of the P.I. mystique can relate. Facing the hard realities behind private eye genre cliches, Harvey believably discovers truths about the case and about himself.

Gerald is big fan of Robert Parker's Spenser, and runs the Spenser discussion group, so I was especially pleased that he enjoyed the book. I was also thrilled to discover that Harvey Mapes got his own listing in Thrilling Detective's list of literary PIs.

Some Really Nice Things to Say

The I Love a Good Mystery Blog has some really nice things to say about THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE.

Imagine sitting down with someone who has a wild story to tell, and manages it to tell it with great humour.  This person quickly becomes a friend, and lets you in on all the fun details of his adventure.  Sound good?  If so, get yourself a copy of Lee Goldberg's book, THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE...

...I tore through this book and just couldn't put it down.  With a terrific style that makes the reader feel part of the action, Goldberg has managed to create a very funny book that doesn't skimp on plot, dialogue or surprise twists.

Thanks -- you made my day. It's rainy here in L.A. and for some reason, writing today has been like chiseling at granite with a cotton ball (that labored metaphor is a perfect example how badly it's been going).

A Valentine for BADGE

I got a very nice review for THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE yesterday from, of all places, Love Romances.com.  I must admit this site was new to me. The review says, in part:

Lee Goldberg is an acclaimed writer of fiction and non-fiction as well as a TV scriptwriter.  His works come across as  funny and thrilling, but THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE may well be his  best novel ever.  His humor goes from light to rolling on the floor  laughing and may cause the people around you to wonder just what you are  reading. 

Goldberg has created a perfect character in Harvey Mapes.  He is a man who finds himself looking for more in his life, and takes the leap to find it.  When he finds himself in trouble he doesn’t run away, he goes headlong into the abyss to find out the truth behind the past.  The oversexed security guard will make readers smile and cringe before laughing out loud at his antics.

This novel comes from one of the writers of MONK,  if you think the television show is funny, this is the book for you!

What a wonderful and unexpected valentine...              

A Good Omen for the New Year

Book critic Oline Codgill of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has given me my first review of the new year... here's an early peek at her Jan. 1st column and her review of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE:

Anyone who has watched television during the past 10 years probably has at least more than a passing knowledge of Lee Goldberg's work. As an author, Goldberg's name may not come easily to mind. But as a writer/producer, Goldberg's credits include Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Nero Wolfe, Hunter, Spenser: for Hire and The Cosby Mysteries. He has also written a couple of comic mysteries and the thriller The Walk.

Credits aside, it's always what can you do for me today. And Goldberg does quite a lot in the amusingly hard-boiled The Man With the Iron-on Badge. In this novel about a Los Angeles security guard for a wealthy, gated community, Goldberg delivers a clever riff on the traditional private eye novel, resplendent with witty and dark turns.

Twenty-nine-year-old Harvey Mapes is approached by one of the residents, Cyril Parkus, to follow his wife. The spouse, Lauren, is so perfect that even Harvey wonders how much of her is real.

He has little illusion about his job -- "I'm there to give the illusion of security. I don't have a gun, a badge, or even a working stapler." But this undercover assignment will give Harvey a new view of his work. Not knowing anything about following someone, Harvey immerses himself in detective lore -- watching a Mannix marathon on TV Land, reading detective novels by Robert B. Parker, Sue Grafton, Robert Crais -- and tries to pass himself as John D. MacDonald, the best-selling author of detective fiction who's doing research. Of course, it would help that he knew what the D. stood for in MacDonald's name; or realized that everyone he talks to knows who MacDonald was.

When the path he pursues following Lauren takes a dark, twisted turn, Harvey refuses to give up. Along the way he will learn about the lives of others and about himself.

Goldberg's penchant for complexity keeps the story on a twisted keel, and with his background, The Man With the Iron-on Badge should make a lively movie of the week.

Thanks, Oline!

A Christmas Present from the Chicago Tribune

Yesterday,  Santa left a nice review for MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE from the Chicago Tribune under my tree:

Lee Goldberg, who novelized the Dick Van Dyke character in TV's "Diagnosis Murder" series into an interesting human being, now bravely marches into territory already staked out by some fierce competition--Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block, the early Harlan Coben--and comes out virtually unscathed in what appears to be the start of a series about an overeducated and oversexed Southern California security guard named Harvey Mapes.

Hired by one of the residents of the gated community where he works to follow the man's wife, Mapes rises to the occasion--often. He also finds himself in deeper and darker water than the community's oversize pool offers.

BADGE a Bestseller

Someone just sent me this list of December bestsellers from the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association:

Hardcovers

1. CONSENT TO KILL by Vince Flynn

2. SPECTRES IN THE SMOKE by Tony Broadbent

3. THE LINCOLN LAWYER by Michael Connelly

4. GRAVE SIGHT by Charlaine Harris

5. THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE by Lee Goldberg

6. SHROUD OF THE THWACKER by Chris Elliott

7. DELETE ALL SUSPECTS by Donna Andrews

8. FALL OF THE PHILANDERER by Carola Dunn

9. DERMAPHORIA by Craig Clevenger

10. THE FIREMAKER by Peter May

FYI, the number one paperback on the list is SOLOMAN AND LORD by my buddy Paul Levine, so he's buying when we have lunch next week.

UPDATE 12-22-05: I have reason to doubt whether this list is accurate. The email I received reproduced an Independant Mystery Bookseller Association bestseller list that was reprinted in the December newsletter of the Aliens and Alibis Bookstore. However, the December IMBA bestseller list doesn't actually come out until January...so where did this list come from?

I've contacted Aliens and Alibis, and they aren't sure where they got the list that they published. I've enlisted some friends of mine at various mystery book stores to help me figure out whether this is an early IMBA list, another individual bookstore's bestseller list, or whether it's a Christmas shopping list someone dropped on the sidewalk somewhere. I'll let you know what I discover.

"Pamela Anderson, here I come!"

The Contra Costa Times, the largest newspaper in the San Francisco East Bay, has reviewed THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE....three weeks after my signing up there. Oh well, better late than never!

Hero Harvey Mapes is one of those Everyman kind of guys. Yep, he's more than a few levels down the ol' status totem pole. In fact, he might be one of the few guys in the world deemed unemployable by the car wash.

"What?" you say. "Can't even get a job at a car wash? That's impossible." Tut-tut. Where do you think overnight security guards come from? 7-Eleven? Perhaps you believe the urban legend that they are dropped off by the Great Pumpkin?

Yes, Harvey is an overnight security guard. But a guy with some brains, good instincts, stick-to-it-ness and an encyclopedic knowledge of TV detectives: Think everything from Frank Cannon to Magnum. "Iron-on Badge" is the story of Harvey's transition from security guard to MAN.

Writer Lee Goldberg is a local success story. Walnut Creek native. Northgate High School grad. Former freelancer for the Contra Costa Times, UPI, Newsweek. He's written for numerous television shows: "Monk," "Spenser for Hire," "Martial Law," "Hunter" and -- boy, he must have done something right in his past lives -- five episodes of "Baywatch."

"Iron-on Badge" is his latest book. It is a fun read, and it proves that as a fellow Contra Costa Times columnist, I have something to look forward to. Pamela Anderson, here I come! Woo-hoo!

Thanks, Joe!

Author, comic, blogger and international sex symbol Joe Konrath surprised me by giving my new book THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE a plug on Amazon:

This isn't satire or parody, even though it is laugh aloud funny. Goldberg has written a cleverly plotted mystery-- one that also happens to be a tribute to mysteries in general, pulps and TV private eyes in particular.

If you're a fan of the genre, you'll find a lot to like here. In-jokes abound, and Harvey Mapes is one of the most likeable PIs in years. But don't expect Naked Gun type antics. There is blood. There is sex. There is tragedy. And there are even some bittersweet moments to go along with the many belly laughs.

The Man with the Iron On Badge flaunts convention while also being a part of that very same convention, and the result is a cross between Dave Barry and Donald Westlake. It's a one-sitting read, and more than worth the price of admission.

Thanks, Joe!

Deadly Pleasures finds BADGE a Pleasure

Maggie Mason gave THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE a rave in her review for the upcoming issue of Deadly Pleasures Magazine:

THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE by Lee Goldberg (Five Star, $25.95) First in the Harvey Mapes series.  Rating A

 

You wouldn't think of Harvey Mapes when asked to name a dashing PI.  Harvey works as a night shift gate guard in a Southern California gated community.  He lives in an older apartment complex, and isn't what you'd call a real go-getter.  Imagine his surprise when a wealthy resident wants to hire him to find out what is going on with his wife.  Cyril Parkus knows something is wrong with Lauren, but isn't sure what. 

Harvey secures a fee a bit over what Jim Rockford used to charge, buys some disposable cameras, and tails Lauren.  Much of his sleuthing skills are obtained by watching reruns of classic detective TV shows.  Surprisingly, Harvey is success full in his endeavors.  Cyril reacts in a strange manner when Harvey makes his final report, and pays him off.  Harvey is not convinced the entire story has been told, and continues his investigation, all the while lamenting his lack of a big, angry, strong sidekick, and an insider at the police department.  He does have a neighbor named Carol who begins to get involved in the investigation, and romantically with Harvey, but that won't help him if he decides to put up a PI shingle.

Harvey uses his payoff money to go to the Seattle area to continue the investigation, and does clear everything up, while nearly paying the ultimate price.  The good news, is he may have obtained his "Hawk" on the trip. 

 

This was a witty, wonderful book.  It was hard to keep from chuckling out loud while reading Harvey's take on how to be a PI.  I remember enjoying Goldberg's previous novels, especially MY GUN HAS BULLETS, and this may even top that for laughs.  The man on the cover illustration looks like a young Tim Daly, who would perhaps be a good casting decision for the movie that is crying to be made from this book.

Thank you, Maggie! She's one of several critics who've noted that BADGE is the first in a series. It's news to me -- though perhaps Five Star is saying that it is. I certainly hope I have the opportunity to write more about Harvey but so far, nobody has asked...

I Love a Mystery Loves Badge

The kind folks over at the I LOVE A MYSTERY newsletter have given my new novel THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE a rave review.

For those who have never read one of Lee Goldberg’s books, you are missing some of the most enjoyable reading around. From his DIAGNOSIS MURDER series to his stand-alone novels, Mr. Goldberg never fails to entertain. Whether he is writing about the lovable Dr. Mark Sloan, the inner workings of Hollywood, or a character dealing with his own demons, he delivers. Once again, with the release of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE, he comes through.

Harvey Mapes is in his late twenties, stuck in a life of boredom. His job is that of a security guard at a gated community -- a rent-a-cop. He has a part-time girl friend in his apartment building. He has the usual dreams of something better, fueled by his love of detective novels and detective show reruns on television. Then, one day, his life takes a change. Cyril Parkus, one of the wealthy residents of the community he “guards” ask Harvey to do him a favor. Cyril needs someone to tail his wife to see what she is up to. Mr. Parkus suspects something but has no proof. Harvey jumps at the chance even though he has no idea of what he is supposed to do. His only guide comes from the characters in novels about Travis McGee, “Dirty Harry” movies, and the “Mannix” and Rockford television shows.

Through a series of humorous actions, dangerous beatings and murders, Harvey pursues the truth – all the while throwing out the usual clichés when he is confronted with danger. Yes, he actually tells one thug to “Make my day.”

Piece by piece, Harvey becomes a better private eye than he realized he could be. He continues his detective work for two main purposes. One, for his own satisfaction. And two, he wants to impress Carol, his part-time lover, since she seems to have become quite enamored of him now.

Harvey Mapes is the type of wannabe that many of us can see within ourselves. He is the type of fictional character who could find life in several other story lines.

Even though I know that he will find a way, I am wondering how Mr. Goldberg can continue to give us his trademark unique endings. With the conclusion of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE he once again shows his talent to surprise and please a reader.

The causes behind all the subterfuge and secrets get turned on their heads with the conclusion of his latest work. Not many writers can make us both laugh and feel sad within the same story line.

Thanks so much to Tom Mayes and everyone over at I LOVE A MYSTERY.

M Is For Mystery

Yesterday, I signed at M IS FOR MYSTERY is San Mateo where I met some people I've only "known" online, like Rachel (one of my students at Writers University), Keith (the one who isn't Keith Snyder who comments here), and Teresa (webmistress of a great MONK site). It's a friendly little store in a charming neighborhood that feels like a small town, circa 1964. Even though I grew up in the Bay Area, I somehow never managed to get to San Mateo before. It was a nice trip. After the signing, I made the long drive back to L.A., listening to Ron McLarty do his usual magnificent job performing an unabridged reading of an Ed McBain 87th Precinct novel. This time, it was the return of The Deaf Man in HARK. Another 100 miles, and I would have finished it...but so far, I'm enjoying the book.

Right Back Where I Started From

I spent most of Friday roaming around SF, taking pictures and basically just soaking up the locale for my third MONK novel, tentatively entitled MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU. This is my second research trip to SF. Although I grew up in the Bay Area, I don't know the city as well as I would like...at least not if I'm going to be writing about it.

In the evening, I made my way over the traffic-clogged Bay Bridge to Berkeley where I was the guest at Mystery Reader International's "At Home" author chat...held, appropriately, at MRI leader Janet Rudolph's hillside home. Among the attendees were author David Corbett and Left Coast Crime/Bouchercon Monterey organizers extraordinare Bill & Toby Gottfried. I told my usual lies and exaggerations and a good time was had by all (especially me).

Now I'm sitting in San Mateo, where I will be interviewed today by the founder of a MONK fanclub/website and signing THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE at 2pm at M IS FOR MYSTERY. Then it's a long, six-hour drive back to L.A...listening to music on my iPod and a book-on-tape (I finished listening to the lastest Spenser, SCHOOL DAYS, and wasn't wowed. It's one of the weakest entries in the series...but at least Susan wasn't in it, which was a plus).

Going Home Again

Last night, I had a signing at the Barnes & Noble in my home town of Walnut Creek, California. I drove up from Los Angeles, which took longer than usual due to rain, fog, and more cops on the road than I've ever seen before (I guess end of the month is ticket-quota time).  But it was a pleasant drive. I lost myself in mysteries -- finishing a  J.A. Jance book on tape and starting the latest Spenser.

Once I got up to Walnut Creek, I couldn't resist visiting Emil Villa's Hickory Pit, a place I used to love as a kid. It's probably been a decade since I've eaten there. Well, memories can be tricky things. Either I've changed or the ribs have. They tasted like they were frozen and then marinated in solvent.  I should have known better -- they weren't good ten years ago, either. Why did I think they'd be more like I remembered now?

I did some drive-by signings at  B &N in Concord, B&N in Dublin, Borders Express in Concord and Borders in Pleasant Hill before heading to the main event in downtown Walnut Creek.

The signing didn't pack a big crowd, but I never mind that. The bookstore ordered quite a few copies of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE, which were prominently displayed (and had been for the week prior to my arrival and will be after I leave), and there were two posters in the store announcing the event. They even had a healthy number of DM books on hand. There was a film crew there from Rossmoor, a retirement community that has their own television station (The DM books are big with the retirees, as you can imagine), so my signing will air on TV in the next few weeks, so I reached more people than actually attended. I was on a mike, so more people came as I started speaking, answering questions, and telling all my Hollywood anecdotes.

I finally got to meet Chadwick Saxelid, who has reviewed the DM books on Amazon and is a frequent visitor here -- and who I just killed (with his permission) in the DM novel I'm writing now. And my old high school chum Jim Sampair showed up with his lovely wife and mother (I've always known her as "Mrs. Sampair, " so when it came time to sign her book, I realized to my embarrassment that I didn't know her first name!). I also forgot, in middle of my talk, how many days there are in a year -- I blame those solvent-soaked ribs for my mental hiccup.

Tonight I meet the members of Mystery Readers International at Janet Rudolph's home in the Berkeley hills. I've heard from lots of other authors that her "At Home" events are a lot of fun, so I'm looking forward to it.

Bibliomysteries

The latest issue of Mystery Readers Journal, from the folks at Mystery Readers International, is just hitting the stands. This month's issue is dedicated to "bibliomysteries" and includes articles by Bill Crider, Rochelle Krich, Elaine Viets, Carolyn Hart and me among many others. I wrote about the painstaking research that went into writing THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE.

(I'll  be talking to the members of Mystery Readers International up in Berkeley on Friday, Oct 28, at 7:00 pm. Contact Janet Rudolph for more information).

Terry gives BADGE high Mark

THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE earned a rave review from Mark Terry this week in The Oakland Press. He says, in part:

"The Man with the Iron-On Badge" has snappy dialogue, tight plotting and near-perfect pace. Mapes is laugh-out loud funny in the way of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, and the plot is surprisingly graceful, keeping the reader guessing to the very end. Harvey's growth as a human being is an added bonus. One can only hope this is the first of many novels about this engaging character.

Thanks, Mark!

The Cold Draft

Yesterday, I shared excerpts from  some of the rejection letters I received for THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE during its long journey to publication. Today, novelist Laurie King reflects on the uncertainty and rejection all professional writers face, regardless of their past successes.

There ain’t no guarantees in the writing business. It’s scary even to mention the possibility, as if failure is a demon summoned by voicing his name, but it’s very true, it’s waiting just outside. I’ve got sixteen books out there, sold a couple million copies, had titles on the New York Times list, and still, every day I feel the cold draft at the bottom of the door. My accountant talks about SEP accounts, and I think, well, that may be necessary. My husband asks if we’re going to have the money for some project or another, and I have to tell him I don’t know.

Rejection

Last week, I talked about the long road to publication for THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE,which came out this month to some terrific reviews (including a starred review from Kirkus and a rave from Publishers Weekly).  Here are s0me of the rejections the book got over the years. I've edited out the names of the companies and editors.

"The manuscript was a lot of fun -- definitely a good read and a fresh angle. We seriously considered it since it is so unique, but ultimately we have to pass since we are moving away from mysteries and thrillers..."

"I am going to have to pass on an offer at this time. We must be extremely selective with the titles we bring on."

"Thanks so much for the extended look at THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE. You know I hold Lee in the highest regard and I thought he treated this mystery with great humor and enthusiasm. Though I think the conception is novel, in the end I just thought that the plot development moved a little too slowly for us to be really able to break this out commercially. Furthermore,  though I think Harvey Mapes is a great protagonist, I just didn't think the 'fish out of water' conception would play out successfully in a very crowded and competitive market."

"This story is well-written and entertaining; however, the tone is not quite right for our list and overall it would be very difficult to publish."

"This is going to be a pass for me. Though I thought the writing was strongly readable and mildly humorous, the protagonist likeable and the overall delivery well structured, I'm afraid the overall storyline wasn't strong or original enough for me."

"I agree it is an unusual crime story. Unfortunately, we find the market is glutted with crime fiction right now and the market is not kind these days. Simply put, I did not find this manuscript special enough to warrant an offer."

"Lee Goldberg is a great writer but I'm afraid I didn't respond to the first person voice the way I would have liked in order to confidently take it on for my list here and be its advocate."

"Lee has a good sense of humor and a great grasp of the down-and-out detective genre. I found the story here entertaining, and though it's not perfect, I asked the publisher to read it. He was not as enamored of it as I was and I lost the battle of wills."

"It's a lot of fun and very professionally done, but I just don't see it for my list. I'm sorry, because I liked Harvey. I loved the wit, I admired the use of the L.A. setting. This is one of the better PI novels I've ever read."

CRIMESPREE Wants More

The November issue of Crimespree Magazine will include editor Jon Jordan's very nice review of  my new book THE MAN WITH THE IRON ON BADGE:

Harvey Mapes could be me. He’s a guy who reads a lot of PI novels, loves the old PI television shows and he thinks he can solve mysteries. The similarities are almost disturbing. However Harvey is fictional, and a bit more willing to take chances.

The book sets up nicely with Harvey working in his guard shack for a gated community in California. One of the residents makes a nice monetary offer to him in exchange for services, in short the old rich guy wants his wife followed. Harvey having read many books and seen many TV shows feels he’s up to the job. What ensues is a wonderful story of the pitfalls of overestimating yourself, and what happens when you surpass your own expectations.

Goldberg has a knack for combining just the right amount of humor and realism with his obvious love for the PI genre and his own smart ass sensibilities. THE MAN WITH THE IRON ON BADGE is a terrific read and I for one would love to see this become a series. Goldberg is the real deal and should be on everyone’s must read list.

Thanks so much, Jon. I'd like to write more about Harvey, too.

An Idiosyncratic View of My Book

Many thanks to Sarah Weinman at Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind for making my new book  THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE a "pick of the week".

This book is getting a ton of review attention and it's easy to see why: on the surface, it's a classic wish-fulfillment tale, but the substance that lies beneath is what elevates Goldberg's novel into a thoughtful, sometimes sweet and always engaging look at what it takes to grow from a boy to a man. In a way, I see why it took so long to reach readers: many other writers would need another 100 pages to tell the same story, but credit to the author for putting it across without a wasted word.

The Long Journey to Publication

I got this comment here yesterday regarding my new book THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE:

I noticed in the comments on Paul's site that it two years of wading through rejections and the like, to the point you wondered that it may just sit in your drawyer for all of time - I would be most interested to hear more about this journey from you, what your thoughts were on why it didn't find a home in the beginning, what obstacles you faced with it, etc. I think many have the idea that established, published writers don't have to deal with that once they've broken in and gotten published.

Succeeding with a book or two doesn't  mean everything you write from now on will get published.  The publishing business today is brutal. There are many well-known authors who wrote a book outside their established series or genre and, as a result, either had to fight to get it published, had to switch publishers for the title, or couldn't get it published at all. And there are many acclaimed, mid-list authors who have had their long-running, successful series dropped and are fighting to get back in print again (often having to resort to using a pseudonym to avoid being damned by sales figures of their last few books).

THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE is about a guy who learns everything he knows about being a PI from reading books and watching TV shows. It's about the clash between fictional expectations/stereotypes and reality. The book is something of a spoof...and yet, at the same time, a straight-ahead crime novel full of explicit sex and violence. That shifting tone made the book a hard sell...because it didn't fit into a particular marketing niche. Is it a satire? Is it a PI novel? Is it a thriller?

Most of  the editors who rejected the book praised the writing but didn't see where it would fit in their publishing line.  There were two editors at major houses who loved it and wanted to acquire it...but  couldn't convince their superiors. Another wrote a LONG rejection letter, saying how much she loved it, that it was the best PI novel she'd read, and how it pained her not to be able to publish it. (In the mean time, I wrote a screenplay version of the book, which landed me the gig writing the DAME EDNA movie. It never got made, but it was a very big payday for me and my first solo screenwriting job outside of episodes of TV shows I've produced).

It was frustrating not being able to sell the book because I felt it was the best novel I've ever written. I loved writing it and I very much wanted to write more about Harvey Mapes, the main character. At the same time, I couldn't whine too much, because I have been doing well with the DIAGNOSIS MURDER books. Of course I approached my DM editors about BADGE...but as much as they like me, and my work, they weren't willing to take the gamble (I'm hoping they will consider the paperback rights now that the book has been so well reviewed).

Finally, after two years of  shopping the book, we took it to Thomson/Gale/Five Star,  which has  a reputation for putting out fine mysteries...and for being a place  where  published authors can find a home for their "dropped" series and unpublished works.   It's an imprint run by writers (like founder Ed Gorman) and editors (like legendary book packager Martin Greenberg)  who truly love books and appreciate authors. They produce handsome hard-covers that are respected and reviewed by the major industry publications. I had a great experience with them on THE WALK (another book that was a hard sell)  and I knew they would treat THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE well.

The downsides with Five Star are that they pay a  low advance, they primarily serve the library market and have very limited distribution to bookstores (though they are stocked in most independant mystery bookstores). The only way to get your title in a Barnes & Noble or Borders is to have an event in one of their stores.  Still, it's possible to win wide acclaim and impressive sales with a Five Star title, as my friend Robert Levinson proved last year with ASK A DEAD MAN, an LA Times Bestseller that won a starred Publishers Weekly review.

The hope with a Five Star title is that it will be well-reviewed, sell big within Five Star's limited market, perhaps get an Edgar nod (or the equivalent from RWA, WWA, etc), and get enough notice that a larger house will pick-up the mass market paperback or foreign rights.

Success can open a lot of doors, and make the experience smoother, but unless you're at the Stephen King/Janet Evanovich/Michael Connelly level, it by no means guarantees a free ride.

Today is Pub Day

Prepare yourself for same blatant self-promotion...but I think I'm allowed.

Today is the official publication date of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE, which should start appearing in finer mystery bookstores nationwide, like Mystery Book Store, Mysteries to Die For, and Murder By The Book. You can also order if from Amazon. Here are some excerpts from the pre-publication reviews:

"As dark and twisted as anything as anything Hammett or Chandler ever dreamed up...leaving Travis McGee in the dust" Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

"Approaching the level of Lawrence Block is no mean feat, but Goldberg (the Diagnosis Murder series) succeeds with this engaging PI novel..." Publishers Weekly

"A convincing, even moving tale about the real nature of the SoCal streets and the real nature of heroism," Ed Gorman

"Likeable loser Harvey Mapes is my new favorite private eye, the guy with the dead-end job who longs to be Mannix or Travis McGee.  I hope the folks in charge of the Shamus nominations are paying attention." Victor Gischler

"Violent, often crude, sometimes hilarious and ultimately touching, this book is a great homage to the Gold Medal paperbacks of the 1950s and 1960s." Clair Lamb, Mystery Bookstore newsletter

A witty, wicked and dare I say wise little book. Lee Goldberg shows off more than just his funny bone here. He reveals a keen eye for the wrenching heartbreaks and triumphs that forge heroes" David Corbett

"Lee Goldberg's 'The Man in the Iron-On Badge' is a very funny book about the ironclad LA class system, life in a security guard's shack, and the crucial differences between violence as experienced on a TV show and in real life. " Scott Phillips

"A quick fun read with a satisfying and unexpected ending. Harvey Mapes is a hero I  hope we see in a sequel." Phillip Margolin

"A clever, witty and intelligent parody of, and homage to, the PI genre." Robert Randisi

"Lee Goldberg is a sly and funny writer, with a warm heart and an ease with words.  He never disappoints." SJ Rozan

"This book starts out as a fine example of the humorous “lovable schmoe” school of detective fiction, and Goldberg does a good job with that part of it, but then it takes a sudden turn into darker and more dangerous territory and becomes even better..."James Reasoner

"The book is about Harvey’s discovery that real-life crime isn’t like the fictional variety at all. At first, the differences are played for laughs, but when Harvey’s case takes a tragic turn, Lee never loses his footing. Harvey actually matures on the page, a transformation made evident in the character’s distinctive voice." Vince Keenan

"Goldberg is funny in this rip on pop culture, PI cliches, and California culture...a laugh-out-loud example of what the best PI novels should be."  James Winter, Reflections in a Private Eye

Ink Slinger Slings Ink My Way

My friend Paul Guyot has some really nice things to say about my book THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE. He says he's not just saying it because he's my friend...but it means even more to me because he is.

The Eye on THE MAN

Many thanks to Jim Winter for his rave review of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE in the new issue of "Reflections in a Private Eye," the official newsletter of the Private Eye Writers of America.

Goldberg is funny in this rip on pop culture, PI cliches, and California culture...a laugh-out-loud example of what the best PI novels should be."

That New Book Smell

My author's copies of THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE arrived today. There is nothing like opening that box and seeing all those copies of your book. Unlike seeing your writing credit on TV, it's a moment that never loses its charge. When you can take that book out of the box and stick it on your shelf, that's when it all becomes real.

To be honest, I had real doubts this day would ever come. There was quite a while there when I wondered if the manuscript was destined to end up in a desk drawer. Even if it had, I couldn't complain too much -- in some ways, it's been the most financially lucrative novel I've written. A script I based on it got me the gig to write the DAME EDNA movie. Although the movie wasn't made,  I wrote the script and the check cleared.

Now that BADGE has come out, and received the best reviews of my career, I figure everything else is gravy.