Hi, again. Time to catch up.
Having finished a Delaware novel, I’m attempting a bit of rest and recreation. Attempting, because it’s often during periods of alleged leisure that ideas for new books flood my head. At my age, scant short-term memory remains, so when something interesting pops into the old cranium, I jot it down. The result is a file containing scores of story lines. So many novels, so little time…
TRUE DETECTIVES debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List at #1. Profound thanks to all of you who went out and got it. BONES remains on the paperback list.
The new Delaware, EVIDENCE will be out on October 21, 2009. Faye’s new Decker-Lazarus novel, BLINDMAN’S BLUFF will come out in August, 2009
My “coffee table” book, WITH STRINGS ATTACHED: THE ART AND BEAUTY OF VINTAGE GUITARS got some kind reviews in the guitar-press and I heard from lots of happy pickers who received it as a holiday gift. On top of that, I got to put it on my coffee table, to the delight of my 23 month old granddaughter, Lila, for whom “guh-tah” is a favorite word.
Jesse’s third novel, published in the U.S. as THE GENIUS was released internationally with his original title THE BRUTAL ART and was chosen as a Richard & Judy selection – England’s equivalent of Oprah’s Book Club.
Speaking of offspring, our youngest of four, 16 year old Aliza, has been producing freakishly mature poetry and prose since she was old enough to heft a pen. Faye’s editor asked if she’d ever considered co-writing a young adult novel with the charming high school junior we sometimes still call “The Baby.” Faye hadn’t; we’re anything but stage-parents. The editor suggested broaching the topic with Lizzie, anyway. Despite the demands of rigorous academic load, Lizzie was eager to try her hand at full-length fiction and wrote an outline that Faye refined. The result is PRISM, a supernatural suspense novel by Aliza and Faye to be published this June by Harper. Some people will assume, “Here’s another privileged kid riding parental coattails.” The truth is that Lizzie wrote the entire book, after which Faye edited and tweaked. Lizzie’s work ethic was astounding: she’d come home from school, do her homework, study for her SAT, connect with friends, then quietly, uncomplainingly write one or two pages. Then she’d rewrite. Any time I inquired if she was feeling overwhelmed, she reassured me that creating PRISM was her great escape.
Faye and Aliza will be embarking on a multi-city promotional tour in June. Here’s a Youtube.com link to the two of them discussing how they worked together.
Do all the kids want to write professionally? No, a couple want to be psychologists. Go figure. Our eldest daughter Rachel is completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and neuropsychology and has published several scientific articles. Ilana, currently a teacher and research assistant in child development, will be beginning Ph.D. studies in clinical psychology this Fall. Here’s a link to one of her vocal performances.
Best wishes to all and continued happy reading.
JK
PS: Having lost three beloved pooches (see Dog’s life) , we’re finally ready to share our lives with another canine pal. More to follow.
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