Now & Then

Exclusive Mystery Guild Interview with Robert B. Parker

A note from the Author:

"First, the disclaimer: I do not have a plan. I do not know what the next chapter in my current book will be, let alone what I'll do in some future book, so read my answers in that context... I never said I had foresight. Joan has not said that of me, either."

-Robert B. Parker

Q In your latest book, Spenser and Susan seem to be as strong as ever. You've discussed marriage for them in the past. Do you think they will ever tie the knot?
A I doubt that they will ever marry. They are the kind of people whom you'd expect it of, but somehow it doesn't seem quite proper, at the moment, anyway. They tried living together in DOUBLE DEUCE, and the conflicting force of their equal and individual autonomy made that arrangement not really workable. They seem to have found a way to love each other and be together with out quite being submerged in each other.

Q Do you plan on ever having Hawk find a "Susan," someone to lean on? He came close with Cecile in COLD SERVICE, will she return?
A Hawk doesn't lean on anyone, and is quite unlikely to start. Cecile, aside from her value to the plot of COLD SERVICE, was also a way of assessing whether Hawk was capable of a Susan. He, at least, concluded that he is not. From my perspective, again, it doesn't seem to work.

Q In THE PROFESSIONAL, we meet a new character, Zell, who seems to fall under the same code of ethics some of Spenser's other acquaintances possess. Will he, like Chollo and Teddy Sapp, appear again?
A Zell will reappear if there's an occasion for him to do so (see disclaimer above). I never create a character for future use, but if they're around in the future and a use for them develops, I re-employ them. Thus Vinnie, Chollo, Bobby Horse, Teddy Sapp, Tony Marcus, etc. were all created ad hoc (as was Hawk in PROMISED LAND) and come and go as they are needed. Their loyalty to Spenser is, of course, a way of reminding the reader how compelling Spenser is.

Q Will Spenser ever meet your two other characters, Jesse Stone or Sunny Randall? Speaking of Sunny Randall, will there be a new book in that series?
A Spenser and Hawk have briefly met Jesse Stone in BACK STORY and Sunny Randall receives ongoing psychotherapy from Susan Silverman. Sunny is now appearing with some regularity in the Jesse Stone novels, as Jesse's main squeeze. I don't know what the future holds. I think it is particularly interesting to see Susan through the eyes of an intelligent and admiring patient. It does for Susan what I think Vinnie and Chollo et al do for Spenser (see #3 above).

Q You've started exploring Spenser's past with the Young Spenser series-do you think you will ever do a Young Hawk book? His childhood experiences would be fascinating to learn.
A I don't know enough about Hawk, including his childhood, to do a standalone Hawk book. He works best when seen through Spenser's eyes, as he was in HUSH MONEY, where we do learn something about his early years.

Q Will Paul Giacomin ever provide Spenser and Susan with a grandchild?
A I doubt that we will encounter Spenser or Susan as a grandparent. They are ageless and I would prefer to keep them so. Although if I become a grandparent (despite my obvious youth), I may change my mind.