2/10/2010

• I have signed a two-book deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt US and Faber and Faber UK for the first two books of a detective series. I am very happy about this! I have always wanted to do a series and to have two venerable, powerful publishers support this is fantastic. The books will focus around detective Claire DeWitt. The first book (already written) takes place in post-K New Orleans. The second (in progress) takes place in and around San Francisco. Both books are shot through with secondary stories of Claire's years as girl detective in 1980s Brooklyn, NY. Sound like anyone you know? Yes, the books are highly autobiographical, more so than anything I've written before, other than the sad fact that I am not, actually, a detective. READ MORE

• And it's going to be a a TV show! The book has been optioned has been optioned for development as a TV cable series by Fremantle (the company that brought you AMERICAN IDOL) and produced by the Todd Sisters, responsible for such cool films as MEMENTO, BOILER ROOM, and all three Austin Powers films. I am super-excited about this. The idea of one of my books becoming a film is great, but a TV is even better--there's so much more they can do with expanding plot, character, story, etc., rather than contracting. Stay tuned for more news.

• Come Closer is finally out in France, from the lovely and wonderful Sonatin Editions (http://www.sonatine-editions.fr/). French people, read about it here http://blog.leparisien.fr/planete_polars/, or just go buy it--in fact, do both!