Robert B. Parker

Holiday Blog 2007

The question of spelling Spenser's name has arisen.  I may be the only one who has never mis-spelled it. Spenser, with an S like the English poet (who probably also spelled it right, though they were less picky about spelling in the 16th century). . . . Several have raised a question about who this "Rose" is, to whom NOW & THEN was dedicated. That would be Rosie, Joan's miniature bull terrier, who died at age 14 this past March. She was the model for Sunny Randall's dog. There is a picture of Rose on the back cover of PERISH TWICE . . . It has been suggested that the back list of my books is not available. I believe this is wrong. In paperback, to my best knowledge, all the books are out there. Great Xmas gifts! . . . on the show biz front: APPALOOSA has, I believe, wrapped. Should be ready to go in spring. After that, when it does go is pretty much a marketing decision. If you haven't been paying attention, the cast includes Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Rene Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Lance Hendrickson, and, of course, the brilliant Daniel T. Parker. Harris directs.  The new Jesse Stone movie, THIN ICE, with Tom Selleck doing his usual dandy job,  is tentatively scheduled to air on CBS in February. If that changes I'll issue a blog alert. As for my day job, STRANGER IN PARADISE (Jesse Stone) goes on sale in February. My second YA novel, THE BOXER AND THE SPY appears in May, and RESOLUTION (the sequel to APPALOOSA) comes out in June. I'll be doing a week in Texas (strating June 2) to promote the book. Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and Austen, I believe. . . .  Boston is having a particularly good year, weather's good so far. In addition to having the best baseball team in the world, again, we also have, apparently, the best football team, and, incredibly, so far, the best basketball team. It also seems that we have become Hollywood east, or Toronto south, thanks in noticeable part to Dennis Lehane (whose success, of course, I deeply resent) . . . I'll be having my right knee replaced in April.  I had my left knee replaced in 2004, and its working very well, so by the time y'all see me in Texas, you'll think I'm Fred Astaire. . . . And, of course, my annual endorsement of presidential candidates -- Except for John McCain, whom I admire but disagree with, I hope they all lose. . . . Happy Holidays.
rbp

LA Break down . . .

Joan and I have returned from Hollywood. We visited Dan, dined with moguls, and were generally the talk of Tinsel Town. . . several moguls asked me if I was the wine guy. . . the fifth Jesse Stone Movie, an original called THIN EDGE, starring Tom Selleck again as Jesse Stone, is in post production (we Hollywood insiders refer to that simply as "post") and is expected to air in February. APPALOOSA is now shooting in Santa Fe. Jeremy Irons has joined the cast, and so has Daniel T. Parker. They shot the railroad train scene this week, I believe.  The new Spenser, NOW & THEN will be published on October 23. Be sure to get yours (we Hollywood insiders refer to that as pleading). The CD, "Songs That Spenser Taught Me" is completed (though not yet available). Noted actor,Dan Parker sings classics from the American Songbook, joined harmonically on one track by his father,  known fondly as the velvet rasp. I'll let you know when it's available. Despite the presence of the old groaner, it's a very good album. And noted choreographer David Parker brings his company (David Parker and the Bang Group) to Boston for a week at the Calderwood Pavilion, starting November 7. Details to follow . . . there's nothing wrong with nepotism as long as you keep it in the family.
Go Sox!!!!!

rbp

The fall blog

I am not, as you may have noticed, an assiduous blogger -- for which most of the world seems grateful. But it is time to catch up. I've been asked about major league baseball, steroids, and Barry Bonds. My answer is I don't know. His situation is yet to be legally resolved, and until it is, I'll simply observe that he is one of the best players in the history of the game. . . and if he did in fact enhance his natural talents in some chemical way, he certainly made more of it than anyone else did. . . . should there be an asterisk by his record? I am happy to say I don't have to decide that. . . .  I share the view that DOUBLE PLAY should be a movie . . . I pitched it with a producing partner all over LA before it came out, and succeeded only in firming my resolve to give up show business. But, one never knows. . . . We do have Jesse Stone # 5 shooting in Nova Scotia. And Appaloosa begins principal photography in Santa Fe in a couple of weeks. . .  I have little opinion on the quality of writing on TV, because I don't watch it. Basically I only watch ball games and an occasional movie on The Western Channel. I can say that Joe Buck is the best play by play guy in America, and that the combo of Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy who do the Sox games are the best pair in America. Remy is a damned legend around here. . . . As for the difference between TV and feature films, it is rooted in money (there's a surprise). To stay inside budget on a TV movie they often shoot in a maybe 19 or 20 days. A feature has more money and more time. . . you can afford better directors, better writers, you can frequently attract bigger stars: If Appaloosa were a TV movie, it is less likely that it would star Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson, and Rene Zellweger . . . or be directed by Harris. This is not always the case (e.g. Lonesome Dove), but it is often so. If a story is too long for a feature film, it might go to a mini series format on television. As was the initial plan for All Our Yesterdays. Which of course didn't work out. In either case, it often depends on who wants to do it. On the Jesse Stone movies, Tom Selleck initiated proceedings. On Appaloosa, Ed Harris did so. People write books on this subject, and even I, who know very few things, and have a small vocabulary, could go on for pages. But if you get the idea that it has to do with money and luck, than you know what I do. . . . remember that NOW AND THEN (Spenser) will be published on October 23. . . I will be speaking at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale University on October 24. . . . Daniel T. Parker was said to have stolen the show (Tempest) at the Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival this summer . . . David Parker and the Bang Group will be appearing at the Roberts Theater in the Calderwood Center in Boston on November 7 thru the 10th . . . talk to you soon (or pretty soon, maybe)
rbp

modification

actually Pearl spent her summer BARKING out the front window.
sigh!
rbp

Selleck and other matters

As you may know, Tom Selleck has been nominated for an Emmy Award this year for his role as Jesse Stone in the recent "Sea Change". No one deserves it more. Tom nails the character. "Appaloosa" is proceeding, and has now in preproduction. Should start to shoot in the fall. The newest Spenser, "Now & Then" will be out October 23, on which date, I will be speaking at Yale University(Egad!). For those of you in mid coast California, Daniel T. Parker is appearing all summer in repertory at The Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival. David Parker and the Bang Group have been  in residence at Concord Academy Summer Stages for the month of July and, after a short time at home in New York, will be in Cleveland (actually, Akron, I think). I am here typing, and Joan is here, putting up with me. When she's not going for a run in the woods with her walker, Pearl The Wonder Dog has spent the summer  out the front window. At this writing the Sox are 8 games up on the Yankees.
rbp

Mission Accomplished?

My "mission accomplished" announcement of my victory over Cyberspace appears to have been premature. . . . however, I won't cut and run,  I'm staying the course. So here we go again. Several of you have remarked on the differences between the Jesse Stone films, and the Jesse Stone novels on which they are based.  As I have said, the average script for a two hour TV movie is about 87 pages long. If it is based on a 300 page novel, there will, of necessity, be some cutting. Beyond that, it is two different kinds of story telling. In film, there is no need to say "she was wearing a black sweater and white pants." The camera shows you this.  What might make a good scene in a book ("In the pitch black room, unable to see a thing, Jesse took out his gun and held it at his side"), might not work so well in a film. A lot of characters may enrich a book, but clutter a 90 minute film, and cost money (actor's salaries) to boot. And so forth. The next Jesse Stone (#5), THIN ICE, will start shooting in August. It is not based on any particular book. It is an original script. Tom Selleck will continue to star as Jesse Stone. Meanwhile my novel SPARE CHANGE (Sunny Randall) is out now. The next Spenser, NOW & THEN will be out October 23. I have recently completed a second western novel about Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. It is titled RESOLUTION, and should be out sometime next spring or summer. Meanwhile all the signs continue that Ed Harris will start to shoot APPALOOSA in the fall. And in case you didn't notice, or are in denial, the Red Sox are leading the American League East by 11 1/2 games, 12 games over the Yankees. One never knows, but so far so good.
rbp

I have returned

Some time ago my attempts to post on my blog failed miserably and I was left, in blog terms, voiceless. After a fearsome struggle with my arch enemy, CYBERSPACE, the forces of good have triumphed over the forces of evil and here I am again. Just in time to remind you that Spare Change was published on June 5 and you should make every attempt to buy it. More later but I just wished to announce my triumphal re-arrival.
rbp

Blog On

The Young Adult Novel, EDENVILLE OWLS is now in the bookstores, and I wish only that you not hurt anyone as you rush out to buy it . . .  SEA CHANGE starring Tom Selleck will air on May 22 (I think -- check your local paper) on CBS. Sunny Randall returns in June in SPARE CHANGE . . . Marketing efforts are underway for Dan's (and my) CD: "Songs that Spenser Taught Me.". . .wanna buy a record?
  Here's a plug for a Joan Parker fund raiser --  To benefit the New Repertory Theater, you are welcome to bid on a chance to appear as a character in a future Spenser novel. if you interested go to www.cmarket.com

Hollywood Update

Since I discussed plans to make a feature film of Appaloosa, several people have asked if I'll revisit the subject. Yes I will, in fact I am currently on page 79 of a new novel about Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, which for the moment I am calling RESOLUTION. Probably be out next year. As for the movie, I share your enthusiasm for the casting. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortenson are exactly right. The only one better would be, of course, me . . . but my SAG card has lapsed. It is also time to remind you that Jesse Stone returns to CBS-TV in the person of Tom Selleck in the tv version of my novel SEA CHANGE. It will air, I think, on May 22, or there abouts, keep an eye out. Tom makes a great Jesse Stone (of course, if my SAG card hadn't lapsed . . . ). One last show biz note: David Parker and the Bang Group are peforming May 8 through 12 at Dance Theater Workshop in NYC. And, for you California mid coast folks, Daniel Parker will be in residence this summer at The Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival.
Later
rbp

Hooray for Hollywood, Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson,New Line and me

As promised -- good news on the feature film. New Line Cinema has green lighted APPALOOSA (greenlit?). It will star Ed Harris as Virgil Cole, and Viggo Mortenson as Everett Hitch. Harris will direct.  Probably start shooting in the fall. Where, is yet to be decided. I've seen the first script and think it's about perfect (I had nothing to do with it). So far, Ed Harris has done everything he said he'd do -- that is not common,  and I feel fortunate to be in business with him. I'm now angling for a walk on as a still deadly, but aging,  gun fighter with a good looking hat, who doesn't have to get on a horse . . . SONGS THAT SPENSER TAUGHT ME, the CD my son, Dan, is doing (with a guest shot by Sugar Throat Bob) is finished. I've been promised a few early CD's this coming week. Then we'll figure out how best to market it. I'm hoping for an irresistable ground swell of demand. . . My first YA novel, EDENVILLE OWLS is out this month (4/24 I think). Get 'em young is our motto. . . And, in the interests of full disclosure, yes it's true, I was on a program on WPRO in Providence, RI last week, called Radio GirlFriends. My only excuse is that Joan was with me, and one of the Girlfriends is a friend of ours. But it doesn't do much for my attempts to cultivate a tough guy image. Worse still, during the entire two hours, neither the word "Stud" nor the word "Hunk" was ever spoken. Sigh!
Talk to you later
rbp