I'm back after a long delinquency. . . .
Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch have returned as well, in RESOLUTION, the second book in the "Appaloosa" trilogy, which is now out and available. The third entry, BRIMSTONE, will appear next year. . . My new young adult novel, THE BOXER AND THE SPY is also available for purchase . . . APPALOOSA, the movie (Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, & Rene Zellweger -- directed by Harris) has finished shooting and progresses through the editing and post production process. I don't know yet when it will be released. . . The next Tom Selleck/Jesse Stone movie will be on CBS in the fall . . David Parker and the Bang Group will offer their all dance reinvention of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun" in dinner theater at Rialto restaurant at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge on July 8, 22 & 29. A splendid show, a gourmet meal. The show previously performed in NYC at Joe's Pub. For you medical fans, I had my right knee replaced in April, and am now the proud owner of two steel knees, no outmoded original equipment for me. . . The Daniel Parker CD, SONGS THAT SPENSER TAUGHT ME, is almost ready. I'll let you know. . . Joan and Pearl are both doing very well, and remain beautiful (each in her own way, of course).
rbp
Dear Dr. Parker (I feel like Sherlock Holmes when I write that) :))
I am 42 and have been reading your books since I'm 16. I just finished reading The Boxer & The Spy for the 2nd time and that book just always makes me wanna cry; obviously not out of sadness but rather because you create such compelling three dimensional characters that are defined by their integrity and courage and honesty.
It strikes me as ironic that I started reading your books in high school and now after reading a "young teen" genre book I feel some kind of circle is complete.
Believe it or not I have always thought of Spenser as role a model in the "What would Spenser Do" vein. And happily sometimes it is something as simple as telling some deserving villain to take a flying F#$W at a rolling donut.
Just so you know the books that really did it for me was Early Autumn and A Catskill Eagle. It just resonates to this day and I've always tried to share the joy with anyone looking for a good read. It's hard not to loan them out and yet I still have a bunch on my shelf so it all works out.
In addition it tied in with a love of hard boiled fiction and when insomnia strikes, which is usually every night, I usually go to sleep with The Maltese Falcon (1941 version).
So since by being yourself you have contributed great value to my life, I even wrote a private eye novel in 92 but getting published wasn't in the cards and life took over, but I still was grateful for the inspiration.
Any since I have benefited so much from your work I'd like to recommend something you might have not seen and that is the film "BRICK," by Rian Johnson.
Really reminds me of that Spenser/Hard Boiled nobility in the face of very grey situations.... Probably one of the best noir films I've ever seen in my life and I've seen 40 or 50.
And in parting besides the obvious thank you very very much I would also like to recommend Yoji Yamada's, "Twilight Samurai" film which again personifies that nobility that is what makes being a man such a fulfilling existence.
May you live & write forever. :)
Posted by: Cary | December 20, 2009 at 12:58 AM