If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably noticed that I haven't been posting as much lately. That's because I've been hard at work writing an action movie, an international co-production that is presently scheduled to be shot before the end of the year in Europe and China.
For the last few weeks, I've been toiling on various drafts of the detailed beat sheet but, if everything goes according to plan, I will start writing the screenplay in the next week or so. That will give me about four weeks to write the script which for me, coming from years in episodic TV and armed with a ridiculously detailed beat sheet, feels like plenty of time (we'll see if I feel the same way once I'm in the thick of it).
While I await the official greenlight, I will go back to writing MR. MONK IS CLEANED OUT, my next Monk novel, which I had to mostly set aside while I concentrated on the film. This morning I re-read and edited what I've written so far, so I'm ready to plunge back in. I've also got the galleys for MR. MONK IN TROUBLE arriving tomorrow that need to be proofed in the next two weeks.
It's nice to be busy!
In the midst of all this, my Kindle arrived last night and I've only just started to play around with it, but I'm beginning to see already why it has become so popular. I'm looking forward to reading a novel on it to really get a feel for it. That probably won't happen until I hop a plane on August 12 for Owensboro, Kentucky to be a guest at the International Mystery Writers Festival.
Glad to hear about the action movie, Lee. Good luck. I’m not sure if you can answer this question or not, but with the Monk series ending this year, does that mean the end of the books, too?
Great stuff! When it rains, it pours, I guess! It would really be great if you published your beat sheet, either on the blog or even in an e-book. I’m also wondering — if you did video clips of some of your blog stuff, would a TV show like Entertainment Tonight want to air them? Like, maybe, movie reviews or book reviews. They might, considering the following you have built up. Another idea is to have a partner (Roeper and Ebert) to debate a review. Anyway, it’s just an idea to leverage the material on the blog! I hope the screenplay goes great!
Brian,
The books will go on…there will be at least three of them following the end of the series.
Dan,
I can’t publish the beat sheet…I don’t own it, the studio does. I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate me sharing it before the release/broadcast of the movie. But you can find plenty of other sample beat sheets on my website.
Lee
Lee,
I am relieved the Monk books will continue. It’s been on my mind that the third one might be a conclusion to the series, so I can only hope this is not the case and there will be more to come. Many more.
Thanks for the care and feeding of this Monk addict, and wishing you much success with your screenplay.
Helen