A Writer's Tale

Sept. 10 The St. Martin’s version of Midnight’s Lair was chosen to be a Doubleday Book Club selection here in the U.S.

Nov. 13 I had a book signing for A Good, Secret Place at Dark Carnival in Berkeley.

Late that night, at the Berkeley Marriott, we had rodent adventures and needed to change rooms. We didn’t find out until later, but in the new room Kelly spent the night between her bedsheets with a pile of nut shells near her feet.

Nov. 14 We visited the Santa Cruz boardwalk, which I had already fictionalized in Funland. While there, we observed a woman who was concerned because her child had vanished inside one of the amusement park’s rides.

Nov. 17-18 I wrote a piece about Midnight’s Lair for Mystery Scene.

Nov. 19-24 At the request of film agent Frank Cooper, I wrote a treatment of Midnight’s Lair. Oddly enough, based on a review of the book that appeared in Publishers Weekly, the folks at Disney were interested in movie rights. But only for a while. Then they found out what Midnight’s Lair was really about. (Film never made.) Dec. 2 I finished writing Endless Night and sent it to Bob Tanner.

Dec. 12-13 We helped our friends, Loretta and Mel Roberts, set up and arrange their audio book store in Long Beach.

Dec. 15 I started making notes for a new novel, The Pact (never finished).

1993

Jan. 6-11 I had meetings with film agent Frank Cooper, and did more work on treatments of Midnight’s Lair. (No films made.)

Jan. 19 - Feb. 9 We took a massive driving trip through Arizona and New Mexico, visited Carlsbad Caverns, drove through west Texas, stayed in Corpus Christi for a few days, spent a while in Houma, Louisiana, then a few days in San Antonio, Texas before heading for home. On the way back, visited the Cadillac Desert to pay homage to Joe Lansdale.

Feb. 15 I started writing a new novel, working title MOG. It would be published with the title, In the Dark.

Feb. 16 I made two trips to the Cooper Agency about a possible film version of The Stake.

Feb. 26 Savage sold to St. Martin’s Press for hardbound publication under the Thomas Dunne imprint. Also, I went to the Cooper Agency for a meeting with screenwriter Richard Adams about a film version of The Stake. (Film never made.) March 5-6 We went to Disneyland, Roy Robbins threw a book-signing party at the Disneyland Hotel, and Roy treated us to a night at the hotel. Tim and Serena Powers dropped by for the signing. We got kicked out of the Disneyland cowboy saloon (because Kelly was under age), so we all went to our room, opened up the mini-bar, and had a great time for a couple of hours.

March 12-13 We spent the night in Sacramento, then had another signing at Cobblestone Books. Larry Mori and Joan Parsons came over from Berkley and we took them to dinner.

March 15 I wrote my article, “The Lizzie Borden Syndrome,” attacking certain book reviewers. It would appear in Afraid magazine and cause a bit of a stir.

March 25 I was informed that paperback rights for The Stake and Midnight’s Lair had been bought by Berkley but the publisher turned out to be Zebra, not Berkley. Also, Tom Dunne of St. Martin’s made an offer for Quake, based on the partial I’d sent to England back on March 30, 1992.

April 17 Koon and Powell, two of the officers involved in the Rodney King arrest, were found guilty when retried by the Federal government. This was the “proper” verdict, so we didn’t have a riot this time. Except for a small outbreak of violence at Magic Mountain amusement park.

April 19 The Branch Davidian compound at Waco was burned down with multiple casualties.

May 20 I got involved in writing a screenplay with the man who installed the new windows in our house.

July 1-13 To celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents, my brother and I treated them to a week in Hawaii. We all went over and stayed together in a condo on Maui. Then Ann and Kelly and I spent an additional week in Honolulu.

July 20 I finished writing MOG, which would be published as In the Dark.

July 31 - Aug. 20 We took an extensive driving trip up the California coast, staying in such places as Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg, then going up the Oregon coast and spending a couple of days in Portland. After going to the disaster site of the Mt. St. Helen’s volcano eruption, we stayed in Seattle, Washington for a while, then drove up to Port Angeles and Aberdeen. On the way back, we spent a couple of days at Gold Beach, California, where we took the mail boat ride up the Rogue River.

Aug. 20 - Sept .22 I wrote a screenplay based on ideas developed in discussions with the man who installed several windows in our house. I then sent a copy of the finished screenplay to him, and never heard from him again. So much for the fun and games of collaboration.