#1 New York Times Bestselling Author & TV Producer
The Shots Magazine blog reports that some authors are making lots of money writing crime novels:
Figures recently released show that earnings through the trade in 2007
for crime writers looked pretty healthy. Figures are shown as GBP MILLIONSJames Patterson 10.3
Ian Rankin 5.2
Martina Cole 4.8
Jed Rubenfeld 4.7
Alexander McCall Smith 4.4
Antony Horowitz 4.3
Patricia Cornwell 4.1
John Grisham 3.9
Lee Child 3.7
Tess Gerritsen 3.5
Clive Cussler 3.5
Andy McNab 3.3
C.J. Sansom 2.8
The Smart Bitches are reporting what I already knew — the collaboration between my friends Janet Evanovich and Steve Cannell didn’t work out. The way I heard it from Steve, their writing styles just didn’t mesh but things ended amicably between them. I’m not surprised they have remained friends despite whatever creative tussles they may have had — they are two of the nicest, and most talented, people I know.
I received my replacement computer on Friday and, so far, everything seems to be working fine (though I did have to spend a few hours this weekend re-loading all my software). But as soon as I resolved my problems, another member of my family descended into Dell Hell.
More and more high profile authors are turning to tie-ins. Dave Eggers, author of A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS, is
writing the novelization of the movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s
classic children’s picture book WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. The novelization
will be based on the script by Eggers’ and director Spike Jonze, which
expands on Sendak’s 300-word book. Publishers Weekly reports that the
novelization was Eggers’ idea but it was Sendak who lobbied Eggers to
be the one to write the tie-in. Harper Collins will publish the book, Eggers’ first since
2000 not to be published under his own McSweeney’s banner. It was not
an easy deal to craft:
The publisher acquired world rights to the novel about a year
ago, in a deal that involved not only Eggers but lawyers from Warner
Brothers, since a tie-in book was already part of the movie contract.
Intellectual property rights of both Sendak and HarperCollins (Where the Wild Things Are
was originally published by Harper & Row) also had a bearing on
terms. As [editor Dan] Halpern put it, negotiations involved “many different moving
parts.” But the goal was always to have any tie-in book published by a
Harper imprint, per the preexisting deal between Warner Brothers and
Harper, which owns publication rights to the Wild Things
franchise. Sendak, who has since been affiliated with other houses,
agreed “there was something correct” about Harper doing Eggers’s book.
My friend Javi’s pilot THE MIDDLEMAN has been picked up as a series by ABC Family. I couldn’t be happier for him. But the behind-the-scenes story of how this show was developed is almost as exciting and unbelievable as any MIDDLEMAN adventure. It began as a spec script, became a comic book, and then finally what it was always meant to be: a pilot film…all thanks to Javi’s perseverance and unbridled enthusiasm. I’m sure the Emmy for his great work on LOST didn’t hurt…
I want to see the MIDDLEMAN episode where the Chaodai return (they were in Javi’s "lost" episode of SEAQUEST 2032). Until then, I guess I will have to make due by humming the Chaodai song.
James Reasoner is back on-line after the terrible fire that destroyed his home:
"Awe-struck. Humbled. And very, very grateful. That pretty much
describes how I feel about the incredible outpouring of love, concern,
and support from all over the world following our fire last week. I
just can’t tell you how much we appreciate each and every one of you.[…]To those of you who have sent money, thank you so, so much. Even though
the place was insured, there are going to be a lot of extra expenses
that insurance won’t cover. You never realize how much you have to
replace when you lose everything. To those who are sending books . . .
this is absolutely wonderful. To go from being surrounded by tens of
thousands of books to none in a matter of minutes is almost more than
the mind can comprehend. Any and all book donations will be hugely
appreciated. We can use copies of the books we wrote, research books,
fiction of all sorts."
I’ve already sent one box of books and more are on the way. Books can be sent to:
Kim Lionetti
BookEnds Inc.
136 Long Hill Road
Gillette, NJ 07933
Checks should be made out to the Western Writers of America with a notation in the memo portion that it’s for the James Reasoner Emergency fund. Here’s the address:
WWA
MSC06 3770
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(The picture of James is from the Saddlebums Western Review)
The Los Angeles Times reports today that DR. WHO executive producer Russell T. Davies is taking a new approach to fans. He’s completely ignoring them.
"I think we’re an unusual
science-fiction franchise in taking a very big step back from fandom
and having nothing to do with them. . . . Every program on the BBC has
a message board on the website. I forbid it to happen on ‘Doctor Who.’
I’m sorry to say this, all the science fiction producers making stuff
in America, they are way too engaged with their fandom. They all need
to step back."
His policy of ignoring the fans doesn’t seem to be hurting his show at all. In fact, it may be helping by making his show more accessible to mainstream audiences worldwide.
It falls to
Davies "to keep balancing how much continuity there is, how many
stand-alone elements there are." Ever mindful of the shows’ "mainstream
audience" (meaning, not just sci-fi enthusiasts) and put off by
"exclusivity" in general, he said he is reticent of creating overly
inclusive stories dependent on viewers’ in-depth knowledge of ornate
histories. This job is made easier by Davies’ policy of ignoring the voices of those most vigilant.
Is there a lesson to be learned here for showrunners?
The Weatherford Democrat wrote about the Reasoners in their coverage of the wild fires that raged "from Johnson to Tarrant County lines" in Texas:
James and Livia Reasoner lost their home on Colby Lane near Flat Rock Tuesday.
James
said he was sitting at his computer when he smelled smoke. He looked
outside and found a line of fire reaching across his property, racing
to his home.“I grabbed a hose and got the dog,” he said.
Another dog escaped the blaze, but a family goat, three cats and a bird were lost.
“We lost everything,” Livia said. “All of our clothes — everything.”
The Reasoners are both writers and lost a book collection and ones they wrote along with family heirlooms and photos.
Wednesday, they were called back to what used to be their home, only to find it caught fire again.
An alleged illegal burn was to blame.
“I can’t believe after yesterday someone would be burning today,” Livia said.
The
couple repeatedly thanked Silver Creek firefighters for their help in
putting out the flames and saving a relative’s home next door.Firefighters simply said it was their job.
“We’re all alive,” she said gratefully. “At least we had insurance.”
James let out a long sigh. “We’ll just start over.”
I got a very nice review for MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE from blogger D.T. Holt, who wrote, in part:
"I don’t know whether Lee Goldberg wrote this book before he began writing for the series or vice versa but he has captured the tone of the show beautifully. It is written from the perspective of Natalie Teager, Monk’s long suffering assistant and de facto
baby sitter, and he writes in her voice perfectly. The story if full of
neurotic asides that give the reader an insight into Natalie’s thinking in an endearing way. Her character is likable from the first page of the book, which is crucial because Monk, in all of his mentally damaged glory, isn’t always the most likable character."
Thanks D.T.!