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

Comments

[Wayne C. Rogers]

Thanks for the information of Tom Selleck's Thin Ice. I'm taking a guess that the movie won't be on television till around January or February of 2008. That's something to look forward to.

[Mary Stella]

Spare Change is excellent!

[Chris Hartmann]

Appaloosa was so much fun I was actually disappointed when my plane landed. The four hours ridding coach from Logan to Dallas flew by (yes I said flew) while I was reading. I’ll be excited to read Everett Hitches next adventure when the book comes out. It feels good to have the Sox so far ahead but August always worries me. Plus Manny seems to get pretty flakey when summer draws to an end.

[Kevin]

Huge fan of the Stone books. Huge fan of the Stone MOWs. I have to say the most recent movie, "Sea Change," left me wanting. About the only thing that resembled the novel was the title, which would have been fine if they had replaced elements with a good story, but instead it fell flat.

That said, I am hoping Selleck's role on the abysmal "Las Vegas" series does not preclude him from continuing the Jesse Stone series.

[Bill Cord]

I understand the point about screenplays not being able to include all elements of a novel but the previous Jesse Stone movies did not completely alter or drop major story lines like "Sea Change".

Sea Change was a definite drop in quality from the previous Stone movies and if this continues, there will be no need to worry about "Vegas" being a barrier to Selleck playing Jesse Stone because low ratings will halt the production of the Jesse Stone series.

Somebody better wake up.

[Mike]

I have read every Spenser book more than once and seen all the movies. I was wondering if there was any future Spenser movies planned and if so if there is going to be a search for the right Spenser. Robert Urich was an OK Spenser but Joseph Mantegna was as much Spensor as I am. I always imagined that Spensor should be someone like Brian Dennehy, tough looking Irish guy who looks like he has been punched a few times. By the way, Selleck is an excellent choice for Jessie Stone.

[Jan]

Mr. Parker,
I have read all of your books. Some I have read 6-8 times, some less, but all more than twice. I couldn't possibly tell you my favorite, but I will say that Spenser, Hawk, and Susan's relationship is beautiful. I love that you have the different characters intermingling now! Please don't ever retire your pen! PS -- I have a Chocolate Lab that looks just like Pearl. I don't think my Hershey's bloodlines were Lab pure. . . She is as spoiled as Pearl, I guarantee!!

[Prisha]

I like the Jesse Stone books. At the same time, I think Selleck is perfect as Jesse. I am perfectly happy with the idea that original Jesse is different than movie Jesse. Both are satisfying. Thank you for creating Spenser and Jesse and for the westerns.

[Rob]

I hope the Stone books and movies keep on coming. A weekly TV series would be nice, CSI is getting old.

[Catharine]

I've read all your books more than once. You are the king! I continue to yearn for Rita and Hawk to flirt. Thank goodness for Sunny Randall. Loved that she and Jesse got together, especially in a LA changing room- RBP! Keep up the great writing- your books get me through lifes ups and downs. PS- thanks for your note about the Sox- go get em Dice!!!

[Nancy]

I just read Spare Change. I loved it! I really enjoy Sunny.

My question for you is, where do you get your fashion knowledge for women? Do you consult Joan?

Can't wait to read the new Spenser in October. I have it on my calendar.

GO SOX!

[Michael Tatom]

Commercial plugs aside, I think that it's big of you to communicate like this with your fans. Thanks,
Mike, Hesperia, CA

P.S. My "Pearl" is a 14lb chihuahua named Koko.

[Sheilagh Hagens]

My son handed me a Raymond Chandler book the other day. I got through a couple of chapters and said, "if you like this, you'll love Robert Parker". He did some digging and found out that you had finished a book of Chandler's left unfinished when he died. I have an MP3 audiofile of a conversation between Chandler and Ian Fleming. If you haven't heard it, let me know and I'll forward it. Enjoy!

[Richard Mabry]

Glad I'm not the only one who battles the gremlins of the kilobytes. Thank you for persisting.
My wife and I both found SPARE CHANGE to be excellent. You have set the bar high for those who wish to write fiction. Thanks.
PS--The Texas Rangers are in their normal position of the division cellar. Glad I can at least root for my second-favorite team: the one playing the Yankees.

[Pat Nelson]

Love Spenser, Sunny and Jesse. Also Virgil (never thought I would love the western genre!!!)

I've wanted to say this for a long time - I really appreciate how you integrate people of all races, orientations and genders into your novels. They are clearly delineated even if they are not on the "good & narrow" path.

And the absolutely delicious (no pun intended) way you handle adult sexual relations...it is truly about the imagination!!!

Thank you and I look forward to reading more of all your series...and a big hello to Joan, Pearl, Rosie (and your sons!)

[Jane]

Just read Spare Change this week and enjoyed it very much. I love the way people from the other series show up in the books (ie. Quirk, Susan Silverman). I wonder whether Spencer and Sunny will ever collaborate on a case. Keep em coming....I'll be waiting anxiously for the new Spencer in the Fall.

[Sandy McDade]

I have been reading your novels for many years. Have you ever heard of the Cinderella complex? Well, I think I have the Susan complex...always searching for my Spencer and can't find anyone who measures up! Resently, I read "All Our Yesterdays." Being a big Spencer fan I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it but I truly did, such fine writing. I will always be one of your biggest fans.

[Sylvia Berman]

Everytime I read a Spenser novel, it feels like I am visiting with an old and dear friend. I like Jessie and Sunny - but not as much.

Tom Seleck, to me, isn't Jessie. He is too old. His character needs a man young enough to still believe. As Jessie, Tom has seen too much to ever be enchanted again.

Why isn't there a movie about the Sunny Randal series? That's what I want to see. Too often women are nothing more than fluff. Deep roles are few and far between.

Finally, the April Kyle story would be a wonderful made-for-TV trilogy.

[Mark]

As a Sox fan since 67, I have learned not to get to excited about big leads.

I just tell people "Sox keep us on the edge till the bitter end."

But it's looking good what with new Eric Gagne(sic) and Jon Lester back in good form.

Crossing my fingers until November

Mark

[Mark]

As a Sox fan since 67, I have learned not to get to excited about big leads.

I just tell people "Sox keep us on the edge till the bitter end."

But it's looking good what with new Eric Gagne(sic) and Jon Lester back in good form.

Crossing my fingers until November

Mark

[Mark]

As a Sox fan since 67, I have learned not to get to excited about big leads.

I just tell people "Sox keep us on the edge till the bitter end."

But it's looking good what with new Eric Gagne(sic) and Jon Lester back in good form.

Crossing my fingers until November

Mark

[tommy scarborough]

Tom selleck and the rest of the cast make each Jessie Stone movie some of the best acting I have seen for years.Cannot wait for the next one and many more,I hope

[Steve Pepke]

I suppose many have mentioned this, but if not: In Spare Change, you have Quirk looking for "brass" or a shell casing from a revolver. Ummm, he should know that a revolver keeps the fired brass in the cylinder until the gun is reloaded, unlike a semi-auto pistol which ejects the brass each time it is fired.