It looks like I am about to take on another series of TV tie-in novels (in addition to the continuing series of DIAGNOSIS MURDER novels). Since this isn’t a series I created, I’m considering some basic issues: when an author writes books based on a TV series, what are his main responsibilities? Is it to capture the essense of the characters and the tone of
the show… to make the book as close to an episode as possible? Or is it create a book that stands alone as a novel in its own right…while still evoking the flavor, the characters, and the "mythology" of the TV series? How flexible are you about adding elements, and making changes, to the characters and the "franchise" to suit your own needs as a novelist?
For me, I think my responsibility is to be true to the series…to the characters and voice of
the show…but to go beyond that, creating an experience that’s deeper and more satisfying than an
episode would be.
I think my first DIAGNOSIS MURDER book, for example, is the weakest because it too closely resembles an episode of the series in structure, pacing, and tone. I’ve tried in the subsequent books (seven so far) to stay true to the series…but go to places, emotional and geographical, that an episode never could. I try to dig deeper into the characters and their motivations without violating what we already know about who they are…and, if possible, shed
light on aspects of their personalities that were never revealed before. I don’t want to write episodes in book-form…but books that satisfy the reader in the same way an episode of the show could…and then offer something more lasting. I want the books to work first,
and foremost, as books… I want to write them in a way that someone who is totally unfamiliar with the TV show could pick one up and feel they’ve read a good book, not an episode of a TV show in book-form.
The advantage I have with DM is that I was the executive producer and principal writer (with William Rabkin) of the show for many years…so I knew the characters inside and out… and knew how far
I could go in new directions without violating what made the show
special. I also knew what I wanted to say, and what aspects of the characters I wanted to examine, that I *couldn’t* get away with (for a variety of reasons) on the show. It wasn’t difficult for me to capture the voices of the characters because I’d already written
literally hundreds of stories with them before.
On this new series of books, if the deal closes today, I also have the advantage of having written for these characters before (having scripted several episodes of the show) but I don’t feel that they
are mine to anywhere near the same degree as the DM characters were. Also, unlike DM, this series is still in production and is a big hit, so I have to be careful not to step on anything they are doing or might reveal about the characters down the line. Luckily, I have a
great relationship with the showrunner, and his encouragement to try new things with the "franchise" and the characters. I already know the voice I’m going to use for the book,
the point-of-view I’m going to take, which is already a big change from the TV series (and an approach the showrunner agrees with).
I’ll give you more details about the project once the deal is officially done, which will be today or tomorrow, since the deadline is brutal. I’m eager to take on the challenge… even if means writing a novel faster than I ever have before.
Once again with this teasing. What series is it????!!!!
I’ll spill the beans: CHiPs. Not a lot of people know this, but Lee wrote the famous disco episode of CHiPs and that Lee and Larry Wilcox are still very close, but he hates that punk Erik Estrada.
Sorry, Tod, but I just talked to Lee and it’s actually Baywatch. The first book will be called “The Baywatch Murders: Boobs-a-Plenty.”
A hunky lifeguard is found smothered to death by a porn star’s EE fake boobs. Lt. Mitch Buchannon, however, is convinced that it was no accident!
I know what it is! I know what it is!
At least I hope I do. I’m not going to say anything right now, however. I’ll let Lee tell us. You’ll just have to trust me that I’m right.
Although the Baywatch and CHiPs seem promising (and bouncy), I’d be willing to bet one slightly used Heather Locklear poster that the tie-in is none other than: “Battlestar Galactica: The Colonial Fanforce Vendetta.”
I like the alternatives, especially the Heather Locklear / Baywatch crossover.
A check at imdb reveals the answer: a LG-scripted show that’s still in production and still popular. Figure it out yourself.
Lee,
If it’s not a series of T.J. Hooker novels, I’ll be very disappointed.
Victor
Come on people, everybody *really* wants a new series of Saved By the Bell books. The first will be SAVED BY THE BELL: Screech Lowers His Voice.
I’m hoping it’s LOONATICS.
The IMDb.com sure can take the fun out guessing games when it comes to blind items. It didn’t take me more than a minute to find the info I needed to guess the answer. And that’s even though the IMDb will have info that’s totally wrong and yet still gets quoted as gospel truth.
The IMDb took all the fun out of the Kevin Bacon game as well!
But if this deal goes through, I’m hoping for two things somewhere down the line in the series of novels.
One would be appearances by other TV characters. [I’m a Caretaker for Toobworld; I have to wish for that!]
Of course, it would have to be the type of crossovers in which the characters were recognizable but understandably not named.
As for the second wish I had for the series, well, I’ll wait until the announcement is official.
Toby
TJ HOOKER novels… that *would* be fun.
But I’m afraid you’ll have to tackle those, Victor (and I truly wish you would!). I’m going to be tied up writing books based on MONK.
I knew people who wrote novelizations based on the series “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” and while those books were true to the tone of the series, many went in a direction you never would have seen on TV for reasons of cost or perceived audience interest; one put the characters in a setting of Irish mythology, for instance (and was actually pretty good).
Also, the authors would take one-shot characters from an episode and reuse them, often in significant roles. For example, in the first season Raquel Welch appeared as Aunt Vesta, the older, fun-loving sister to Hilda and Zelda. While her character never reappeared on the TV series, Vesta made more than her share of appearances in the novelizations.
I was right! So cool. Can’t wait to read them.
I guess the clue that it was a popular series ruled out ‘1-800-Missing’…..
I’m hoping that somewhere down the line in this new franchise, you’ll be able to address the reasons Sharona left the employ of Mr. Monk. I’m not talking behind the scenes reasons like “creative differences”; I’m talking about within the series’ “inner reality”.
Because after everything we saw about Sharona’s relationship with her ex, I don’t buy that she remarried him.
“Disappeared” him and then fled? I’d buy that explanation first!
Which raises an interesting question – will the novels be set before Sharona left or afterwards once Natalie became his assistant?
I am enjoying the work of Traylor Howard by the way. I’m not one of those people who only wanted Sharona in the picture. I understand that people move on, life goes on.
I’d just like to see a more plausible send-off for her character….
I guess the clue that it was a popular series ruled out ‘1-800-Missing’…..
I’m hoping that somewhere down the line in this new franchise, you’ll be able to address the reasons Sharona left the employ of Mr. Monk. I’m not talking behind the scenes reasons like “creative differences”; I’m talking about within the series’ “inner reality”.
Because after everything we saw about Sharona’s relationship with her ex, I don’t buy that she remarried him.
“Disappeared” him and then fled? I’d buy that explanation first!
Which raises an interesting question – will the novels be set before Sharona left or afterwards once Natalie became his assistant?
I am enjoying the work of Traylor Howard by the way. I’m not one of those people who only wanted Sharona in the picture. I understand that people move on, life goes on.
I’d just like to see a more plausible send-off for her character….