Lawrence BlockLawrence Block Newsletter 9th September 1998
(reproduced by kind permission of the author)
About the Author
Good news and bad news: I missed the Fourth of July, but now I can be the first to wish you a Happy Tajikistan Independence Day. (I'd have sent a card, but the store around the corner just ran out of them.) And such wishes are not inappropriate; by the time you get this, Lynne and I should be well into our visit to the five Stan sisters---Kazakh, Khyrgiz, Uzbeki, Turkmeni, and, hey, let's not forget Tajiki. We'll be rattling around Central Asia, with nothing to worry about but drought and hostile tribesmen. I'II tell you, it'll be a relief.
It's been quite a year. The big news of the moment is Everybody Dies, the new Matthew Scudder novel, due next month from William Morrow in the States and Orion in the UK. I think it's as strong a book as I've written, and others apparently concur; the book got starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, advance orders are heartening, and, well, I hope you like it. It's my third new hardcover in 1998 -- Hit Man came out in February, followed by Tanner On Ice in July -- and I'II tell you, this is all a surprise to me. I turned 60 in June, and I rather expected to be writing a little less at this stage of my life. Instead I seem to be working harder than ever. Right now I'm exhausted, so I think I'II let you help me write this newsletter by responding to a few of your questions. Okay now, and let's not always see the same hands...

I want to read the Scudder books in order. Could you send me a list or publish one in the newsletter?
No and no, but the ad card (the page opposite the title page) in the recent hardcovers ---Hit Man, Tanner On Ice, and Everybody Dies---lists each series chronologically and the non-series books alphabetically.

What's coming out in paperback?
The first Tanner book, The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep, is just out from Signet, with the remaining six to follow at six-month intervals. Signet will publish The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza in December, to coincide with Dutton's hardcover reissue of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian. Avon's edition of Hit Man is due in February, and in May they'll bring out A Long Line of Dead Men in trade paperback, a new format for me.

How about audio?
Ah, the spoken word. I've narrated all but one of the Burglar books in abridged form for Penguin Audio, and recently did Tanner On Ice as well. I've also done an unabridged reading of Eight Million Ways to Die for Chivers North America, and had hoped to do Everybody Dies for Dove Audio, but could hardly object when they went with Robert Forster, who gave such an inspired performance on Dove's unabridged audio of Hit Man. (You know Robert Forster. He got an Oscar nomination for his work as the bail bondsman in Jackie Brown.) And there are audio versions of other books coming soon.

I have some books of yours I'd like to get signed. Okay to send them to you?
No, I'm afraid I'd consider that an intrusion, and you'd never see the books again. I'II be more than happy to sign your books, but you'll have to catch up with me at a bookstore signing, or some other public appearance.

How about short stories? Any new ones on the horizon?
No, and I wish there were. I like doing them, and the Edgar I got this spring (for "Keller on the Spot") provides some positive reinforcement. I hope to make some time during the coming year, if I can get away from this ridiculous two-books-a-year routine I seem to have created for myself. But, while there are no new short stories coming, Crippen & Landru, will be bringing out some old ones in February. One Night Stands will contain my earliest work, previously uncollected (and perhaps for good reason). Present plans call for a signed limited hardcover edition priced around $45; for details call Doug Greene at 757-623.3453, or e-mail him at CrippenL@pilot.infi.net.

I loved Hit Man. Will we see more of Keller?
It's hard to predict these things, but I hope there'll be a new Keller novel within the next couple of years. And perhaps there'll be some short stories about him along the way.

And Bernie? What about Bernie? Did the plaque get replaced? And when's his next adventure coming out?
The plaque on Bernie's Bench is back, thanks to the good people at Bryant Park, and the bench itself has become a popular meeting place. If it's not quite up there with the clock at the Biltmore, just give it time. As for news of Bernie himself, well, that's what I've been meaning to tell you! The reason I'm so exhausted, and the reason this newsletter is quite clearly the product of a brain-dead human being, is that just yesterday I typed the two most beautiful words in the English language: 'The End'.
The end, to be specific, of a new Bernie Rhodenbarr book. The title is The Burglar in the Rye, and of course the publisher is Dutton (No Exit in the UK), and US publication is tentatively set for next July. And that, alas, is all I'm going to tell you about it, except that it was begun aboard the Star Flyer, a clipper ship sailing from Phuket to Athens. I wrote in the ship's library every morning from 4 to 6:30, and if that's not devotion I don't know what is. (Then I spent the rest of the day lying in the sun. You see what I go through just so you people will have something to read?)
Then I came home and started over. That happens often enough for me to regard it as part of the process---l write about half of a book, then begin again at the beginning, using some of what I wrote the first time. This time I had tight deadline. Made it! And now if we can just swing by the printer on the way to the airport...

What are you, a Luddite? Why don't you send the newsletter by e-mail?
Out of some misplaced loyalty to the printed word, I suppose. But I do send schedules and occasional special announcements to my e-mail address book. To get in it, send the following message to me by e-mail only: "I already receive your newsletter and want to be on the e-list." That'll do it.

I know you used to present writing seminars. Any plans to do any more teaching?
No formal teaching, but a couple of months ago I gave a presentation at The Learning Annex on the development of series characters. What it amounted to, essentially, is that I talked at length about my own experience with Matt and Bernie and Chip and Evan and Keller and Ehrengraf, then took tons of questions. I had a good time, and it was sufficiently well received to prompt me to try it again. It'll be in Manhattan on November 10, 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and will cost $39, less if you're a Learning Annex member. Call 212-371.0280 for more information, and to enroll; they'll furnish the address when you register.

How about Hollywood? Any plans to film any of your books?
Hollywood! That's the other thing I've been meaning to tell you. Back in January I mentioned that Hit Man been optioned by New Amsterdam Entertainment, and now I can report that we have an option deal on one of the Scudder novels, A Walk Among the Tombstones, with Jersey Films and Universal. As you know, I have mixed feelings about film adaptations, but in both these instances I feel confident the books will get thoughtful and sensitive treatment. Stay tuned and I'II keep you posted.

Are you and Lynne any closer to qualifying for the Travelers' Century Club?
We're getting there. Once we've schlepped ourselves through the five Stans we'll be up to 68. Our Star Flyer cruise got us to Sri Lanka, Oman, Yemen, and Rhodes. After we docked we spent several splendid days in Athens September 9, 1998 - 2 helping promote Even the Wicked for my Greek publishers, Patakis. Then, very much in the spirit of Evan Tanner, we took a train to Skopje, in Macedonia, and later caught a night train through Serbia. (We didn't have transit visas for Serbia, and the scene at the border was rather more of a Tanner Moment than I'd have preferred.) We went to Baden-Baden (where we pigged out on couscous, wore our muu muus, and sent postcards home to Walla Walla). Then Cologne, and on to Dublin and Listowel and Belfast.

And now a book tour, the first long one in years, for Everybody Dies. Here's how the schedule looks. It's tentative, so be sure to call the listed stores to confirm times and dates:

Oh dear, I’m tired already. I hope I see you at one of these stops, but if that’s not possible, and if you want a signed copy of Everybody Dies, just call one of the listed stores a few days before my visit and they’ll get you one, personally inscribed if you wish. Some of them can very likely furnish signed firsts of Tanner on Ice and Hit Man as well. Speaking of firsts, I should add that late advance orders created a situation in which Everybody Dies went back to press before the first copies shipped to stores. This does not mean first will be rare---the printing was substantial---but they may be hard to find. If having a first is important to you, get it now; if your bookseller runs out, his reorder will likely consist of later printings. Enough. That's it. I'm running out of time and space, but then who isn't?

N.B. Larry's promised us a schedule for the UK tour as soon as it is available - so watch this space....

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