The Return of the Blogger

Time to address some input from blogees:
Negotiations continue on the Spenser For Hire front. The mills of Hollywood grind exceeding fine. But I have no reason to think it won't happen in awhile. . . . The response to BRIMSTONE has been gratifying. I don't know very far ahead, what I'm going to write. But I rather don't like the idea of not writing anymore about Hitch and Cole, so, probably, I will. . . . to the high school teacher who is planning to teach my books to her 10th graders (shame on you), I think you should start with some of the adult stuff (maybe EARLY AUTUMN?) and then go back to CHASING THE BEAR. However, I can report that I was once banned in Concord New Hampshire ("live free, or die") because there were swears and maybe some tasteful sex (write what you know). CHASING THE BEAR has little of either. You know your students (and their parents); you should be the final judge. . . .as for the current baseball season, we need to get Papi turned around and Jed Lowrie back at short, after that I think the Sox roll on through the season to another World Series Championship . . . As for the Celtics, wait'll Kevin Garnett comes back. . . . Several of you have asked how I can produce so many books a year. One answer would be: I am a creative giant. Another would be: I have no life. But the truth is probably more that Joan thinks I should. . . . I am currently writing a book with the working title SIXKILL in which a new character joins Spenser's world. Probably be out next year. Joan likes it. . . . time to go box with my trainer (who has promised not to hurt me).
rbp

Comments

[David Cranmer]

I'm glad to hear there's more Hitch and Cole on the way. And hopefully more Jesse Stone movies will be produced--I've enjoyed the fact that they've been faithful with the books and Tom Selleck's portrayal is excellent.

[Evan Lee]

Howdy Bob!

I just finished Brimstone and I gotta say, it was magnificent! More so than Resolution (sorry!). Actually, I'm not a western kinda guy, but I saw Appaloosa in the theater and the very next day had to read the book. It was probably closer to following the novel than any of the Jesse Stone movies. I was TOTALY impressed. After I finished Appaloosa, naturally, I read Resolution. Like I said...it was "ok" it just lacked something. But that's ok. Brimstone MORE than made up for it! :)

I also just finished Night And Day.

STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE SPOILED!!!

...waiting...

I'm glad that Sunny stopped back by, but I'm not sure I liked how Jesse hung up on Jenn and high fived Sunny. I mean...don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to see Jesse and Sunny together again, but if that happens...what's to happen to Jenn and Richie?

Anyway...love your work, and how 'bout another Sunny Randall novel, huh? I miss that gal. I've read Spare Change (and all her others) about four or five times already!

Anyway...

See ya later, and as always...

You keep writin' 'em and I'll keep readin' 'em!

Evan

[Mary Stella]

I love your books a lot more than I love your baseball prediction.

I expect a repeat World Series win for my Phillies!

[Nessa Flax]

I second the emotion expressed by Evan for another Sunny Randall adventure. It was through Sunny that I "discovered" Robert B. Parker -- and have since been reading my way through your entire body of work.

Another request, perhaps made by others: Though I note in past blogs that one of your sons made a song ("Spenser Taught Me") CD, I sure wish you'd make a CD with the music/artists Spenser listens to. Maybe a copyright nightmare, but it would be (as the kids say) "way cool." Likewise, I'd love to see Spenser's Cookbook. He throws together these yummy meals with whatever's at hand, especially at Susan's. No measurements necessary; it's just the creative combinations, collected in one source, I'd value.

As if you're not busy enough already ...

[Robert]

I had no idea you had written so many books - it really is amazing. I just bought "Hundred Dollar Baby" as an audio book from http://www.audiobooks.net and was really enjoying it so I thought I'd look you up online. Keep up the good work!

[Evan Lee]

Howdy Bob,

Well...I'm a little peeved.

I popped in my DVD of Appaloosa last night, about the 4th or 5th time I've seen it :) but I did something I rarely ever do.

Instead of watching the movie, I watched the special features.

Not ONCE did they ever mention your name! I mean, the actors and crew that were interviewed all said they loved the book and the story, but they never said anything about YOU!

I know you probably just "sold" it to them, which I fully understand, but still...shouldn't they have at least given credit where credit is due?

Anyway...

I did watch a couple of my favorite scenes, however. The "saloon" scene where the two drunks from Bragg's crew are pissing on the floor and the "hill" scene where Cole and Hitch confront the two cowboys and they're out of their "jur-diction" LOL! I also watched Daniel T. Parker's RIVETING portrayal of Bragg's attorney, Mr. Mueller. :)

Oh well.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

As always...

You keep writin' 'em and I'll keep readin' 'em!

Evan

[Lynx]

Mr. Parker,

I am halfway through Appaloosa and love it. I puchased it after reading Mike Lupica's (NY Daily News) Sunday column sometime in May. Anyway, I will watch the movie then read the rest of the trilogy. Great work!

Joe Lynx
Mahopac, NY

[LisaMC]

Hi, there! I love your books. All of them. I read the first Spenser about 25 years ago, and then got the rest in publication order. Love Spenser and Susan. Don't listen to the idiots who think you should dump her. No way!

I add my name to the list wanting another Sunny Randall. I am ambivalent about her and Jesse getting together... I think he is too hung up on his ex to ever commit and she deserves better... like her own book. ;o)

I have to ask this. Are you aware that there is a book called Passport to Peril by another Robert B. Parker, who died in 1955, which is supposed to come out in the Hard Case series? I saw that and thought it was you. Of course, Amazon is making no effort to disabuse people of that notion.... I'll probably buy it if it ever comes out, just to compare, but someone needs to get the word out that it isn't you.

Thanks for everything, all the books and stay healthy and write just as long as you want to. I'll keep buying them!

[Francile Cook 306 Butts St. Holdenville, Ok. 74848]

You have without a doubt captured Hitch and Cole. Seems like I've met both of them :).
Being a Library Director for 22 years and retired June 2008, broke my hip and left wrist is a fall (in the rain) not in Spain, I've had very little to do but mend. I must say though being a history buff, I admired you bringing to life these two characters. I have a Journal hand written in 1890's of C. W. Polk who later became a marshall in our little town of Holdenville, Ok. in 1900's, died in 1907. This journal I know makes me laugh, makes me cry and could be a great book. He begins a child in Texas, quits school (because he didn't want to go) becomes a cowboy and rides herds to Dodge age 15, gets into and out of trouble like rain in Spring, (Truely involved with Pat Garrett in bringing in Billy the Kid first time) gets a trail boss killed with lightening) stampedes, etc. The whole nine yards. (My husbands great-grand-uncle was Rooster Cogburn of Caddo Gap, Ark. and his own grandfather was arrested and jailed for killing revenue man in Caddo Gap.) Genealogy uncovers a lot the folks don't admit to. Wondered if you could or would work with a new author on such???

[Wayne C. Rogers]

Lisa,

Thanks for the information about Passport To Peril. I thought it was our Mr. Parker, too. I mentioned it on his last posting, but he didn't say anything about the author not being him. Anyway, I'll the $6.99 and apply to the new Joe R. Lansdale "Hap Collins and Leonard Pine" novel, Vanilla Ride, which also comes out on the 30th. Think of Bruce Willis and Samuel E. Jackson as a couple of Texas good ol' boys who always get into trouble when they help out their friends.

[SParker]

I love your books, they are great. I have read all the Sunny Randall and Jessie Stone books 3 times and am currently reading all the Spencer books again. I would love to know when the next Sunny book is coming. I love that it looks like Sunny and Jessie will get together. They make more sense as a couple. So I guess I am begging, PLEASE another Sunny novel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jane B]

Do I need to read the Spenser series in order? I have finished the Jesse Stone and 6 Sunny Randall. Want to start the spenser but wasn't sure where to start! thanks

[Aled]

Jane B, I started reading Mr Parker when I moved to Palm Springs CA back in 1995! I have followed his books since then, and have tried to read them in the order they were published. You can get this info from the front of any of his books. Happy reading - he really is the greatest!

[Lin]

Where to start? Voracious reader, I cannot stand it if there isn't at least one Robert Parker novel around, and can hardly read anything else, 'cause my fingers itch to pick up the next RBP book! I breed and raise stock horses, have always loved a great Western, and YOU, my dear Mr. Parker, have the entire corner on the Western novel market! You rock!!! I first read Gunman's Rhapsody, followed by Appaloosa, then Resolution...then found Appaloosa was on DVD, so ordered that, hoping they didn't stray too far from your Cole and Hitch. Omigawd, it was the best book-to-movie transition I've ever seen! But let's not forget your other series, all of which are just the best. Yet I admit to a particular fondness for the Spenser series. The savagely beautiful cynicism of Spenser, especially when in dialogue with Hawk, is off the charts! This feedback is from a reader, some of whose favorite authors are: Myron Coben, Jonathan Kellerman, Michael Connelley, Lee Child, and Jeffrey Deaver, to name just a few. Even in the company of these greats, you just keep rising to the top, like wonderfully rich cream. Please keep the keyboard humming, and keep Virgil and Everett in the saddle! P.S. Thanks for showing some knowledge of horses and the old West!

[Evan Lee]

I agree with Lin. Appaloosa was indeed an awesome book to movie transition. I don't think the film strayed from the writings at all. And Ed and Viggo nailed their roles as Cole & Hitch. I truly hope that Resolution and eventually Brimstone also make it to the silver screen.

Oh, I also gotta say howdy to Fran Cook, blogger #9 of Holdenville, Oklahoma. I'm from Holdenville too. I know Fran...she's an awesome lady. :^) My wife Cindy took Kim's place as assistant librarian when Kim took the reins from Fran.

Yes, I'm married to a librarian and I have literally THOUSANDS of books and writers at my disposal, but I read RBP damn near exclusively. I've tried other guys (and gals) and none of them even come close. I just finished Double Play a couple of days ago (read it for like the 6th time) and I am still amazed at how Bob can write about Jackie Robinson and then write about Spenser and then write about Conn Sheridan (All Our Yesterdays - two thumbs way, WAY up!) and then Jesse and Sunny and not get lost. What a guy!

Anyway...I'll get off here and quit rambling on and on.

Thanks Mr. Parker.

As usual, You keep writin' 'em and I'll keep readin' 'em!

Evan Lee
Holdenville, Oklahoma, USA.

[Gloria Stewart]

Mr. Parker,

Do you have any control over the production of the audio CDs of your books? I have all the Spenser novels in either hardcover or paperback, all the Jesse Stone movies produced to date, the Spenser for Hire TV series on DVD and twelve of the Spenser books on Audio CD. But many of the novels are not available except as abridged audio cassettes. Isn't it time to revisit the earlier books and produce them as unabridged audio CD's (with Joe Mantegna as reader, preferably)? For the greater part of every year I am either reading, watching or listening to a Spenser novel. Thanks.

[David]

Hello sir,

Your books are wonderful and I have read every one in the Spenser, Randall, and Hitch and Cole series, as well as a few Jesse Stone novels.

I am putting in a request for Spenser to appear in a Sunny Randall novel. Of course I would more than settle for a Sunny Randall appearance in a Spenser novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her appraisal of Susan, and her comment about her boyfriend possibly being a "Harvard geek" gave me chills of delight. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed superheroes from different sects of a comic book universe occasionally joining forces when I was younger.

I now have this insatiable desire for Sunny and Spenser to meet. Every time I hear of a new release from you I desperately think to myself, maybe this is the one!

Just something to consider. Either way, your books have been great, and I wish you the best of luck.

-David

[LisaMC]

Wayne, I ordered Passport to Peril from Amazon the other day, since it is now available. I can't wait to see what this RBP is like. I wonder if he ever wrote any other books.

BTW, do you look anything like Wayne Rogers from MASH? Just curious, he was one of my favorites. :o)

[Jeffrey McGraw]

Thought I would comment upon Dr. Parker reading a Stephen King short story on the House on Maple Street audio CD just out. Think the story is "Umney's Last Case." Talk about a creative giant.

Kudos to Titus Welliver for bringing Hitch and Cole to our ears.

How many days until Spenser?

[Wayne C. Rogers]

Lisa,

Unfortunately, I don't look like Trapper John. I do wish I had his money, though. He's one of the richest men in Hollywood, most of it acquired as an agent for other actors and from buying real estate and building shopping malls in Southern California.

Let me know how Passport to Peril is. I've purchased several of the Hard Crime novels over the last three years and have enjoyed them.

[LisaMC]

I will. It's supposed to be coming to me any day now, via Amazon Marketplace. No place else seems to have it yet.

The RBP wrote a couple of other books too. I ordered one from AM (the other two are currently oop). So, we'll see.

[LisaMC]

Other RBP, that should say....

[LisaMC]

I got both Passport to Peril and Ticket to Oblivion, which is another TORBP wrote. I actually got TtO first, used from Amazon. It's not a bad little book. 50's type of espionage, Commies and all that, since it was the height of the Cold War. Good first person narrative and PtP looks like more of same.

To stay on topic, ie, This RBP, I discovered when I got PtP, that above the author name is the comment "the Original Robert B. Parker." This is goofy and manipulative because the old paperback of TtO has the author as Robert Parker, no B. That was obviously added for this Hard Case edition, simply to capitalize on our man.

Wonder if he could sue, although, really, I guess all publicity is good.

[Karen]

Thanks Mr. Parker,
I've enjoyed your novels from the first Spencer to the last Jesse Stone: ALL ARE FANTASTIC READING MATERIALS! I'm curious though about Thin Ice, why the movie but no book? The Jesse Stone movies are great and Selleck portrays Jesse just as I can imagine him but was surprised to find no book out and that it was written by several not just you?? I generally read the book first then watch the movie. Keep on writing and I most definitely will keep on reading!
Karen

[Susan Neal]

Hi!
As a reader of all of your books (and I do mean all of them), I was a bit surprised when you wrote Appaloosa - so different from anything else. But I quickly fell in love with the characters and story, and was ecstatic when the movie came out (very true to the book) and of course I had to buy Resolution.

So glad you will be writing more about Virgil - and I'm off right now to buy Brimstone! Thanks!