Comments on: The Classic Love/Hate Relationship

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 22:31:06 +0000

Lee, first things first, probably you are insane. But don’t let that bother you — sane people are really scary. Now, wow, four books a year. Even though you’re at one with the characters, that’s a lot of work. Please tell me the Monks feature Sharona, not the new chick!

Interesting thought on series giving one a creative edge. I would argue that Evanovich has run the course with her Stephanie Plums while Roberts/Robb has found an interesting stride with the In Death books. While I haven’t read the new Rankin, by all accounts the series continues to evolve. And that’s a key factor.

By: Lee Goldberg

Lee Goldberg — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:15:58 +0000

I haven’t heard Nora Roberts or Robert B. Parker’s fans complaining too much about prodigious output (I think Parker has four books coming out this year…including two Spensers and a western). Ian Rankin, Janet Evanovich, Ed McBain, Lawrence Block, TJefferson Parker, John Sandford, Donald Westlake, are among many bestselling, crtically-acclaimed, authors, who turn out one or more books a year.

I dont’t put myself in their class, but I’m about to test your theory myself…perhaps I’m insane, but I’ve just signed a deal with Penguin/Putnam to write four books a year, two in my DIAGNOSIS MURDER series and two in my new MONK series (both based on TV shows I’ve written and/or produced).

I thiink if you’re writing a series, that gives you a creative edge that you don’t have if you were, say, writing one or more standalone novels a year.

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 16:50:58 +0000

Your final line had me laughing. Then again, I’ve always had a soft spot for Goofus. Love the underdog, you know.

Writers are told not to write to the market, but forcing a certain level of production is writing to the market. Readers deserve a lot more credit than they receive.

By: Bill Peschel

Bill Peschel — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 02:29:38 +0000

That second quote can only be believed by readers who can’t tell the difference between good writing and bad, and have to rely on a calendar to tell them.

And publishers who dump writers who won’t pump don’t understand how to make a profit either. A writer who churns out bad books lose readers quickly. Their series ends and their backlist becomes worthless. The books of good writers keep selling.

Geez, now I sound like “Goofus and Gallant.”