Well, dear readers, I suppose the cat is out of the bag or something is out of the bag because the bag is empty. I suppose that someone finally figured out at least partially what the new book is, so I suppose since the cat is out of the bag I may as well tell you how it came to be and what it is. How it came to be: Back when I wrote the third Adriana Hofstetter mystery, Murder at the Hollywood Historical Society, I created a character who became one of my all-time favorite characters I’ve written. What alchemy was at play I know not, because I simply got to a chapter and needed a new character. All I knew was he was going to be a producer and old. And suddenly, just like magic, out came Patrick Bronstein, fully formed and easy to write, a character I just “got” instantly. Everyone who read the book loved him, including Dick Lochte who even mentioned him in his blurb. Two years later when it was time to do the new Hofstetter book, I, of course, brought him back. And I have continued to bring him back for each successive book because I love him dearly and he’s just great fun to write.
So, after I finished Murder at the Hollywood Division, and did the signing/reading and read him again, a little idea popped into my head – what if I gave Patrick Bronstein his own book. It was just an unformed notion at that point and I didn’t think much about it until I began pondering what my sixteenth book would be, knowing it wouldn’t be a Hofstetter book and that I wasn’t ready to tackle a Red Gold sequel. So, I began to think about the idea of a Patrick Bronstein book – what it might be and more importantly would he work for a novel solely about him. I had some doubts until I figured out the concept of the book – then I knew it could work. I finessed the concept over a couple of months and began making notes about what to have in the book. Basically the premise is a young writer of film books contacts Patrick Bronstein about doing a book about his life and times and movies. As simple as that. That way, the book would be seen through the eyes of the author, who has a little story of his own that we eventually learn.
And so, that became the new book and I am very proud of it. The title? Patrick Bronstein Presents. There has never even been a thought of any other alternative title because I love my first choice. And there you have it.
I spent a good deal of yesterday proofing – I did about seventy pages. The most interesting thing was the introduction, which is as written by the guy who’s writing the book. I wrote it and the first page of chapter one back in October, just so I’d hit the ground running when I started to write on January 1. I smoothed it out a lot on that day, but haven’t read it since. Well, I hadn’t discovered yet the voice of my author character and the introduction just didn’t have his voice, so I rewrote five or six paragraphs to make sure we establish his voice immediately. I read all that to Muse Margaret who thought I was absolutely right and she liked all the changes. Otherwise, I’m just finding the usual typos and some things to slightly adjust or rearrange. But it’s making me laugh and that’s a good thing.
Other than that, I am still dodging many potential bullets, so please send REALLY strong excellent vibes and xylophones for the dodging of bullets. I’m hoping the weekend will enable me to take some necessary action that will help everything. Sorry to be enigmatic, but I must. I got about eight hours of sleep, then went and had a bacon cheeseburger and no fries or onion rings, then came home and continued proofing. I had a few telephonic conversations and I watched half a motion picture on the Flix of Net, and that was really about it. At some point I made about three or four ounces of spaghetti with butter and sautéed onions.
Today, I really am praying I continue to dodge bullets and that no merde hits the merde. I’ll have the same routine – proof, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and proof.
Tomorrow I have a work session at noon-thirty, then I’ll proof, then I’m attending a birthday partay in the evening. Sunday I know I’ll proof, but other than that I’m not sure what’s happening.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, dodge bullets, proof, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and proof. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, too many to remember. Blu and Ray – some Edgar Wallace German movies – I had these on DVD but figured I’d get the one volume that’s come to Blu-ray. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have finally revealed what the new book is.