Donald Bain

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July-August 2010

The past month has been busy, although not in the usual sense. After years of limping around on a bad right knee, I decided to have it replaced. The surgeon, who does hundreds of knee replacements a year when he isn't racing cars, did a superb job. After three days in the hospital, and ten days in a wonderful local rehab center, I'm back at home and settled in at the computer. I'd gotten a good start on THE FINE ART OF MURDER in anticipation of the surgery and am glad I did. I've been able to pick up where I left off in the manuscript and am forging ahead with the novel. Besides being a wonderful writing collaborator, Renée has also assumed the role of care giver, although I'm pretty much now able to fend for myself with the help of my trusty cane. The therapists tell me that I'm way ahead of where I should be in the healing and therapy process, which is good to hear.

Here's an update on the various projects in the publishing pipeline, and the status of THE FINE ART OF MURDER.

Years ago I wrote a novel, not in the "Murder, She Wrote" series, in which art theft was at the root of the story. I immersed myself in the subject and was amazed at the extent of art theft around the globe, particularly in Italy where fine art can be found virtually everywhere, in major museums as well as in small churches where security is almost totally lacking. I wondered whether I'd ever have the opportunity to use all the research I'd done in another book. When it came time to come up with a plot for the 36th novel in the MSW series, I decided that the time was right. In THE FINE ART OF MURDER, Jessica is witness to the armed theft of a "minor" piece by the great Italian painter, Bellini (but still worth millions on the black market). A retired Italian police officer is slain in the process, and Jessica comes close to being killed. The thieves escape, and Jessica returns to Cabot Cove. Many months later, she's drawn into the murder of a wealthy Chicago art dealer who'd married a friend of hers from New York. To Jessica's dismay, her friend has been accused of having killed her husband, and Jess finds herself not only reliving her harrowing experience in Italy, she's knee-deep in helping her friend prove her innocence. My new knee and I are enjoying writing the book, and I think it will rank as one of the best novels in the series. You'll have the chance to make that judgment when THE FINE ART OF MURDER is published in October 2011.

THE QUEEN'S JEWELS
Coming out this October, THE QUEEN'S JEWELS takes Jessica to London in preparation for a trans-Atlantic crossing back to the United States on the magnificent Queen Mary 2. After spending time with Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland (too little time as far as they're concerned), she sets sail. Little does she know that individuals connected with the theft of a huge diamond from its London owner are also onboard, and Jessica soon finds herself in the middle of a plot by international jewel thieves to fund terrorist organizations. The stakes are high, high enough to kill for, and it takes every ounce of her intellect and cunning to bring the bad guys to justice, and to see that she arrives safely. Two engaging characters from the TV show make an appearance in this, the 34th novel in the series.

SKATING ON THIN ICE
We've recently delivered the latest novel in the "Murder, She Wrote" series, which now carries the title SKATING ON THIN ICE. It takes place in the exciting world of competitive figure skating, a wonderful sport that has millions of devotées, including us. Renée is an avid fan and continues to take skating lessons at our local rink. The story is set in Cabot Cove and features many of our readers' favorite characters. It'll be published in April 2011. NOTE: We originally were going to title the novel COLD AS ICE but because another murder mystery being released by our pubisher is using that title, we've come up with SKATING ON THIN ICE.

IN OTHER NEWS

In March we attended the Left Coast Crime annual convention in Los Angeles Left Coast Crime murder mystery conference. This gathering of murder mystery fans, editors and agents has been a mainstay of the mystery writing community since 1991 and attracts more than a thousand attendees each year. We had a chance to catch up with friends out west, do some signings, and take part in the myriad panels devoted to the mystery genre. See photos on our Events page.

Our friends, Lee Goldberg and Max Allan Collins, founders of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers (IAMTW), of which Renée and I are proud members, have compiled a book to be published this summer in which members of the association contributed essays, memoirs, and tales from the life of tie-in writers. I've penned a long piece about the genesis of my involvement with the "Murder, She Wrote" books series. I hope you'll find it a fascinating look at how publishing works and the events leading to my writing the first book 22 years ago. Never did I dream that 22 years later I would still be writing the series that now numbers 33 books published, two more already written, and two more to go on the new contract.

Here's the latest news on other books:


A FATAL FEAST

A peek into this distinctly American celebration, as well as an intriguing mystery to solve, the book takes place in Cabot Cove the week before Thanksgiving. Jessica has a lot on her plate. She's grappling with a rare case of writer's block just as she's got to work on the town's holiday pageant, feed the needy at the Senior Center, and figure out how she's going to squeeze in extra places for all those people she's invited to Thanksgiving dinner. Joining Jessica in Maine is a special guest, Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland. George not only experiences a traditional New England Thanksgiving dinner, he helps Jessica solve the murder of an enigmatic newcomer to town. (It will be out in paperback this October).


MADISON AVENUE SHOOT

Now available in softcover. Jessica Fletcher is back in New York City, although as a visitor this time. Over her initial objections, she's taking part in the filming of a television commercial together with a television chef, a New Age guru and a writer of exposes. Fans of Jessica Fletcher's nephew, Grady, will be pleased that he'll be back in this book playing a major role. Donna is there, too, of course. And you'll get to meet their 9-year-old son Frank, named for Jessica's late husband. The book has received great notices including one on the Hartford Examiner site.


A SLAYING IN SAVANNAH

Out in paperback and Kindle, the novel takes place in this quintessentially southern city renowned for mystery. When her friend Tillie Mortelaine dies, Jessica is invited to solve a 40-year-old murder case. At stake is a million-dollar bequest for the local literacy program that she and Tillie established. As Jessica settles into Tillie's Savannah mansion and meets its collection of odd boarders, she begins to suspect that the spirit of the murder victim, Wanamaker Jones, is haunting the premises--and that there are those in Savannah who are looking to cash in on Jessica’s failure. Savannah has been receiving wonderful reviews, including one from Publishers Weekly, the publishing industry's leading publication, which reads, in part, "Ferreting out who killed Wanamaker is tough work, but Jessica, as always, rises to the challenge. Ghostly assistance adds to the charm of the spunky sleuthing...", as well as five stars from reviewer Harriet Klausner, who calls the book "an entertaining cerebral cold case whodunit" and "one of the best cases Mrs. Fletcher (and Donald Bain) has worked on." And Elisa Preston wrote in the Savannah Morning News, "A Slaying in Savannah is fun and interesting, and the authors nailed Savannah right on the head. It's a murder mystery filled with the city's charm and uniqueness." Thank you, Elisa!


MURDER ON PARADE

Now in paper, celebrate The Fourth of July in Cabot Cove with traditional, festive parades, contests, events for the youngsters, and, of course, fireworks. But this year, the "bombs bursting in air" includes a fatal gunshot that takes the life of one of the town's most controversial citizens. Jessica finds herself right in the middle of the investigation, aided (or perhaps hindered) by a stranger whose arrival in Cabot Cove has tongues wagging. Former sheriff Amos Tupper makes a return appearance in this novel. And Seth Hazlitt, who's seriously wounded by a mugger, faces a tough decision that has Jessica worried, and will determine whether he closes down his medical practice and retires.

Remarkably, every book in the "Murder, She Wrote" series is still in print.


Murder HE Wrote

The "Murder, She Wrote" series, the Veronica Lake autobiography, "Charlie and the Shawneetown Dame," and "Coffee, Tea or Me?" are among the more than 100 books I've written over a long career (the actual number as of November 2008 is 104). The stories behind these books and all the others, are contained in the new, large format paperback edition of my autobiography, "Murder HE Wrote: A Successful Writer's Life," published by Purdue University Press. For reviews and endorsements from top publishing figures and fellow-writers, please click on the book's title, "Murder HE Wrote" to your right. Perfect gift for the writer in your family.


CHARLIE AND THE SHAWNEETOWN DAME

The Purdue University Press reissue of a book I wrote more than 30 years ago, CHARLIE AND THE SHAWNEETOWN DAME, continues to create a buzz in Hollywood. It's a dramatization of a true story from the Prohibition era, involving one of the more bizarre gang wars in the annals of crime in America, replete with tank wars, bombing from an aircraft, and chronicling the life of Charlie Birger, a flamboyant, slightly mad Al Capone wannabe. I've completed a screenplay based upon the book, and of the more than 100 books I've written, this has always been a particular favorite. Click on the title at the right for reviews, and an excerpt from the book.


THE CIA'S CONTROL OF CANDY JONES

Often called a "cult classic," the reissue of the controversial THE CIA'S CONTROL OF CANDY JONES is difficult to find in stores, but used versions are available on amazon.com and at barnesandnoble.com. Twentieth-Century Fox bought the film rights many years ago as a vehicle for Jane Fonda but has never made the movie. I've tried to buy back the rights, as have a dozen Hollywood producers. For some reason, Fox won't let go. That's a shame because it would make a wonderful motion picture. Besides, the American public should know about the perverse CIA experiments that took place during the "Cold War."


COFFEE, TEA OR ME?

Penguin Books' reissue of COFFEE, TEA OR ME? includes a new foreword by me, and all the original Bill Wenzel illustrations.

Stop back again soon.
Donald Bain