December 2022

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a houseful of family and friends, many of whom were invited, and most of whom stayed for the weekend. The thing I was most thankful for was the caterer.

My latest novel, The Maze, was published on October 11 and thanks to you it debuted at #2 on the NY Times combined BestSellers list. This was a tough list to crack because a lot of “big” books, including The Maze, had been held back from the Spring list because of Covid concerns, having to do with possible supply chain issues, author appearances in bookstores, and other issues that were unknown when these decisions were made last year. The result was that a large number of what were to be Spring 2022 books actually appeared on the Fall list. This was good for readers who had a lot to choose from this Fall, but not good for authors who found themselves in a crowded field of good books. Having said all that, The Maze sold well and continues to sell. Again, thanks to you.

And while we’re on the subject, if you haven’t bought The Maze, or if you want more copies to give as Christmas or Hanukkah gifts—or if your dog ate your copy—please click here.

If you’d like to read (for free) the first chapter of The Maze before you decide, click here.

Reviews of The Maze were mostly good, though a few reviewers found that the character of John Corey was a bit hard to take. Corey fans know that John can be obnoxious, profane, sometimes sexist, monumentally egotistical and arrogant, and obsessed with the appendage below his belt. This is why we love him. Though it’s also why some reviewers don’t. But I don’t write for the book reviewers; I write for my readers—you, who are as crazy as John Corey.

Author book tours are not common these days, but I did do an abbreviated tour for The Maze, and did some in-person book signings in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, and also The Villages in Florida, Vero Beach, and Miami. Plus, I did a lot of radio, TV, and print interviews. Wherever I went, sales of The Maze went down. Just kidding.

Like most authors, I’m ambivalent about the book tour, which can be arduous and exhausting. The tour can help sell the book, but even if it doesn’t, you get to meet your readers and book sellers. And sometimes an old girlfriend. Or a new one. Hey, it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

In my last Newsletter, which you can see here, I mentioned some movie and TV interest for The Maze and past books. Nothing new to report, but I’m hopeful that Sony TV will move forward with the John Corey project. It would help if John wasn’t insisting on playing himself, or asking to pick the female leads, and demanding script approval and at least two sex scenes per episode. He also wants me in a cameo appearance which seems reasonable. We will see.

People often ask me to suggest a book to give as a holiday gift. Well, aside from my own books, I would strongly recommend a novel from my good pal Lisa Scottoline, titled Loyalty. This is a different kind of book for Lisa, an historical novel, and it is set in Sicily in the 1800s. I’ve read an advance copy and I loved it. And so will you and so will anyone you’re giving it to. It will be published on March 28 next year, but you can pre-order it now from an online book retailer, or at your bookstore.

Another book that I strongly recommend is Words and Music: Confessions of an Optimist, by Stephen Rubin. Steve is also an old pal of mine, and Words and Music is his memoir, a very honest and forthright look at his legendary career in the publishing business and his early years in the music business. You don’t have to be in either business to enjoy Steve’s recollections of his dealings with CEOs, celebrities, and a cast of crazy and cranky characters. Full disclosure: I am mentioned in the book as is my late wife Sandy. We got off easy. Words and Music will be released January 24. I don’t know when Steve will be released. You can pre-order now.

Looking for stocking stuffers? Or a cheap gift for someone who gives you cheap gifts? I suggest a paperback copy of any of my books. Click here to see a list of all my novels. If you buy Cathedral, please know that all royalties from that book go to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC) Restoration Fund. Cardinal Dolan assures me that my act of charity will shorten my time in Purgatory, and get me a fair hearing at the Pearly Gates. That’s the best he can do. If he was Sicilian, like the characters in Lisa Scottoline’s book, I could work out a better deal.

But seriously.

It is the Christmas season, and you’ve heard and read everything about the true meaning of Christmas, so I won’t add to that. But as always, I want to thank the men and women in our armed forces, and also the men and women who are firefighters, police, first responders and health care professionals who are on duty when we are with our families. These last few years have been a challenge to all of us and to our country. But think how scary it would have been if there was no one “out there” when we needed them.

I wish you all a very merry and peaceful Christmas and Hanukkah season, and a happy, healthy, prosperous and productive New Year!

Newsletter 9/22

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The MazeIt’s been awhile since I’ve sent out a Newsletter, and I’ve actually gotten e-mails through my website from people saying they look forward to my Newsletters more than my books. I’m sure they’re just kidding.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. With most of the Covid restrictions lifted, things seem to be getting back to normal. School starts soon, or has already started, and if you’re like me, you are overjoyed and celebrating.

As I announced in my last Newsletter, my new John Corey book, titled, The Maze, will be published on October 11. But as a sneak peak, I now have Chapter One up on my website which you can read for free. Download it today. If you like it, you can pre-order the book online or from your local bookstore. The Maze will be available as a hardcover or an e-book, or in audio disc or download. Scott Brick, who’s narrated all the John Corey books, will again be the narrator and he’s done a great job as always.

The Maze is sort of a sequel to Plum Island, which was the first John Corey book in the series. Early reviews have been terrific, so go ahead and pre-order now. Also, you might want to read or re-read Plum Island before The Maze.

With the imminent publication of The Maze, there is renewed interest in the John Corey series for TV, and my agents have had promising talks with people at the various cable and broadcast networks. John Corey, as you know, is politically incorrect, so some of the networks are hesitant to promise an accurate representation of John Corey. They won’t say that, of course, but we know that. And so does John, who thinks that TV and movie execs are a bunch of *CENSORED!*

You may recall from past Newsletters that Paramount Motion Pictures optioned the movie rights to The Cuban Affair. The screenplay that was written was . . . let’s say not of the same quality as the book from which it was adapted. The good news is that Paramount wants to try again with a new or substantially rewritten screenplay. I look forward to reading the new effort—with a stiff Scotch and soda in hand.

There is other movie and TV interest in my books as there always is when a new book is about to be published. I will keep everyone informed of the progress on this.

And now for my next book, titled The Explorers Club: This is a stand-alone, meaning it’s not part of an existing series. It’s a classic action/adventure story, set in New York City, and also the Mideast. I’ve created a new leading character, Kip Truitt, who is a bit like Harrison Ford in Raiders, with a touch of James Bond and maybe a little bit of Nelson DeMille. I’ve just started writing this book, so I don’t know when it will be published. Not next week.

My son Alex, who co-authored The Deserter with me, is putting the finishing touches on our next co-authored book, titled Blood Lines, featuring Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, Army CID agents who we first met in The Deserter. If you liked The Deserter, you’ll love Blood Lines. Publication is scheduled for sometime next year. I’ll keep you posted. Alex’s website is here. Shoot Alex an e-mail; he loves to hear from his readers—especially when he’s racing a deadline to complete a novel.

As for The Maze, I’m doing a publicity tour, so please check out my website Events page in a few weeks for my appearances. The book tour is my favorite part of being an author—canceled and delayed flights, security lines, rough weather, airport hotels, long hours and weeks away from my La-Z-Boy recliner. I love it. But seriously, I love meeting my fans. And that makes it all worthwhile.

That’s it for now. I hope to get another Newsletter out, or a few e-mail blasts before The Maze is published on October 11.

Hope to see you at one of my talks and signings.

Chapter One

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Newsletter 1/22

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I hope everyone had a wonderful and magical Christmas. I’m sure that Covid put a damper on many people’s plans for travel, parties, and family gatherings. But I truly believe that we’ve all been transformed in a positive way by this ongoing pandemic, and we’ll all live life to the fullest in the years ahead, and appreciate the small things that we take for granted.

When I returned from Vietnam in November 1968 and landed in San Francisco, I savored everything that I’d barely noticed before my year in the jungles and rice paddies of Southeast Asia. When I went to the men’s room in the airport, the flushing toilets sounded like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. We all need to promise ourselves that we won’t sweat the small stuff, and we can handle the big stuff.

Well, I got a lot of holiday cards from friends, family, and fans, and I appreciate all of them. I see a trend away from traditional greeting cards, and more and more photograph cards. It’s good to see the faces of people I know, children who are growing up, people I haven’t seen in years, and their impossibly cute dogs. Lots of dogs.

My newest book, The Maze, was completed in August and was scheduled for publication in June 2022, but it has been moved by the publisher to October 11, 2022.

Why? Well, it’s a long story, but basically I’ve made a lateral move within the publishing house of Simon & Schuster, and my new publisher in the house will be Scribner. Scribner’s list of spring and summer books for 2022 was finalized before I made the move so The Maze will be a top release for Scribner in October. The fall season includes the Holiday season, of course, so this is not a bad thing in terms of gifts for your shopping list. Also, Covid will be completely over by then—right?—and I can do a publicity tour around the country. We all just need to be patient. I don’t mind waiting a year for my payment which is due on publication. Not at all. And you don’t mind waiting a little longer for the new John Corey book which you may have already pre-ordered. It will be worth the wait. And I promise to post the first chapter or two of The Maze on my website before publication date.

Thanks again to everyone who emailed me a response to my question about what I should write next. I learned a lot about my readers from the thoughtful responses, and I’ve shared these responses—over two thousand of them—with my agents and editor. Even the emails that said I should retire and stop killing trees. Everyone’s a comedian.

Anyway, I still haven’t decided what to do next, but I’m zeroing in on a few ideas. And, no, none of my ideas has to do with a pandemic.

It’s winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, a good time to tuck in with a good book. Click here for a few suggestions. And in the Southern Hemisphere, where I also have many fans, these same books are great beach reads. If you live on the Equator, you can hop back and forth between summer and winter. Think about that.

Nothing new on the movie or TV front, but I am working on a deal for Spencerville to be a limited TV series of maybe 8-10 episodes. If you’ve read Spencerville, I’d love to get your opinion of the book, or your thoughts on a TV series. If you haven’t read Spencerville, you might want to pick it up for a read on the beach (Southern Hemisphere) or a great fireside read (Northern Hemisphere). If you live in New Jersey, try the audio version—the narrator speaks slowly.

Well, that’s it for this Newsletter, but not before I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. And may 2022 go down in history as the year of peace and love, prosperity and renewal, and good will toward friends, family, and neighbors. And special blessings to all first responders and the entire medical community. You’re the best.