Very excited to share that 7 HOURS TO DIE, my latest
@audible
Original collaboration with
@JP_Books
, is available today! The SoCal kidnap thriller stars Sarah Paulson, Patina Miller, and Dan “The Man” Stevens. I hope you’ll put this series in your ears immediately.
Thinking about the amazing Robert Bloch, author of PSYCHO (and so many other novels, stories and screenplays). We lost him 30 years ago today. This is my favorite photo of him, best described as "Lovecraftian hipster."
The Daughter would have turned 16 today. While we are forever grateful for the 15 years we had with her, I can’t help but ache for all of the birthdays we won’t be spending together.
This morning, the daughter (14) was given some serious painkillers to take away her post-chemo nausea. She begins to act GOOFY.
ME: Wow, I haven't seen you this silly since you were four.
DAUGHTER: But when I was four, did I do this...? *flips me off*
That's my girl.
Four years ago, for a class assignment, my daughter Evie wrote a letter to her future self... the one who would be getting ready to graduate from high school. A year and a half later, we lost her to leukemia.
The letter arrived in the mail today.
Just watched "The Autopsy," an episode of
@RealGDT
's CABINET OF CURIOSITIES on
@netflix
and it is outstanding. The Michael Shea short story is one of my all-time favorites, and I had no idea how one could ever adapt it... but damn, it's perfect. (And horrifying.)
Nearly two years ago we lost our brilliant daughter Evie to leukemia. She was a huge book nerd, so in her honor we're running a book drive to benefit the Literally Healing program at
@ChildrensLA
. I hope you'll consider donating.
I hate when you do a Google search for something then see tons of ads for that same thing on Facebook. It’s like chill out, I already found a corpse disposal service
Ever since Evie passed away, I haven’t been able to read or write. Finally, tonight, I’m able to write a few paragraphs. Her obituary. I’m never going to do her justice, but I’m trying.
We lost our daughter Evie to leukemia four years ago this month. While in treatment, her spirits were lifted by
@ChildrensLA
's Literally Healing Program, which gives a new book to each kid every day. In her memory, we host an annual book drive to support this amazing program.
Don’t you hate those annoying jerks who brag about receiving advance copies of eagerly-anticipated novels?
Screw it; I’m one of those annoying jerks. This is
@donwinslow
we’re talking about here, and I’m doing cartwheels.
Not all news in Hollywood is dire these days! I'm so grateful to be partnering on a feature version of CALIFORNIA BEAR with a legend like Gary Lennon, as well as the dream teams at Proximity and 20th Century Studios.
EXCLUSIVE: 20th has landed the rights to a feature adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel California Bear from Duane Swierczynski.
Gary Lennon will write the feature alongiside Swierczynski with Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media producing
Happy Birthday to the crazy talented Leigh Brackett (seen her with lifelong pal Ray Bradbury). You can celebrate by watching THE LONG GOODBYE or THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK... she wrote the screenplays for both, along with many novels and short stories.
I can't believe it's been four years. I miss and think about Evie every day, but milestones will always be especially tough. A friend once told me: "the bigger the love, the bigger the grief." Which means I'll never stop grieving, because my love for my kids is immeasurable.
It’s raining. My car starter broke. A pandemic is sweeping the globe. But then a dude knocks on my door and hands me an early, signed copy of the latest
@donwinslow
and the day brightens considerably.
The daughter is back home from the hospital, and all is good in the world. (Well, okay... not the world. The world continues to circle the drain. But you know what I mean.)
ME: *wakes up at 4 a.m. for no reason whatsoever*
MY BRAIN: Oh good, you're up. Here's a detailed list of everything you should be worried about.
ME: ... what... ohgod...
MY BRAIN: I've also compiled a list of everything you've done wrong over the past four decades. Enjoy!
Last night’s CINEMA SPECULATION launch at the
@newbeverly
was amazing. Tarantino sat down for an epic Q&A with
@SeanFennessey
, then read the entire first chapter, “Little Q Watching Big Movies.” (Hearing Grown-Up Q voice Little Q: priceless.)
Just watched LAST NIGHT IN SOHO for the second time, and I love it even more. I'm stunned by
@edgarwright
's beautiful slight-of-hand, in both visuals and storytelling (with
@WeWriteAtDawn
). Go see it on the biggest screen you can find.
[At a showing of BLACK PANTHER]
King T'Chaka: "A man who has not prepared his children for his own death has failed as a father."
*turns to my son*
ME: Dude, I'm totally gonna die someday.
SON: *stares at me*
My daughter Evie and I met the wonderful
#juliansands
nearly 9 years ago at Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ (after a screening of WARLOCK) and he couldn't have been sweeter. I'm joining every other fan of his and praying for a miracle.
Watching and very much loving the adaptation of
@neilhimself
's
#TheSandman
. This is a series I re-read every two or three years, so it's fascinating to see a faithful yet fresh take on these very familiar (to me) stories.
Back in Philly, I used to take the Daughter to Chickie’s and Pete’s for crabs for her birthday. I’d give anything to be back there now. Happy 17th, sweet and silly girl. We miss you so much.
I'm happy to be able to share a piece of very good news: Chris Morgan Productions just announced their new deal with Sony Pictures TV, and one of their first projects is a horror comedy I wrote called THE RIPLEYS!
This big pouch of gore has the potential to save our daughter's life. I'll always be grateful for the anonymous soul who went through a lot of trouble to donate it.
A year ago today, I was having breakfast with my daughter and her pet rat Tippy. The best thing was the horrified looks from other cafeteria-goers who thought Tippy was the real thing.
Today we're happy to launch Evie's Holiday Book Drive, benefitting
@ChildrensLA
. This is in memory of our amazing daughter Evie, who we lost to leukemia three years ago this month.
If I started a monthly newsletter, updating you on things I'm working on, but also true crime stuff, and essays on pulp fiction, and general L.A. oddities... would you subscribe?
I'm reading that they may have found the remains of
#JulianSands
near Mount Baldy. Evie and I met him years ago at Monstermania, and he was the kindest Warlock ever.
Grief is such a strange thing. I was feeling good this afternoon, then walked by a young father with his toddler daughter. And boom... I was weeping. Thank God for sunglasses.
I'm thrilled to report that CALIFORNIA BEAR is a
@USATODAY
Bestseller! Huge thanks to everyone who has picked up a copy, spread the word, or both. The Girl Detective sends you a high five.
@mulhollandbooks
ARCs of my next novel (out this January) just arrived! CALIFORNIA BEAR is my 11th solo novel, and I am here to confirm the cliche: the thrill never gets old.
I am very happy to learn the French edition of my 2016 novel REVOLVER won this year's Rivages Booksellers' Prize, which is chosen by a jury of 96 booksellers in France, Chile, Morocco and Quebec! A high-five to my brilliant translator, Sophie Aslanides, for her amazing work.
Definition of meta: riding Angels Flight for the first time while looking at an ad for
@Connellybooks
’s BOSCH season four, which is based on his novel ANGELS FLIGHT.
Thank you, friends, for all the kind words and love today. I won't lie to you; this kind of loss never gets easier (and in a lot of ways, the grief can be stronger with the passing of time). But knowing you're not alone helps a great deal.
The wife and I also carry tiny portions of her ashes (1/100th each; we had to sign forms specifying this). A locket for Meredith, a keychain for me. Evie would probably call this arrangement "two servings of Daughter, to go."
A year ago tonight was the last night I spent with The Daughter.
It was not a good night. I didn't know it would be the last night, but I knew her condition was deteriorating.
Almost impossible to believe it’s been five years since we lost Evie.
Grief is not what you expect. I used to think the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) were a finite checklist. “Okay, I’m done with anger, check. Let’s start bargaining!”
Happy Birthday to Dashiell Hammett and Harlan Ellison, two of my writing idols. Harlan would have turned 90 today; Dash would have been a sprightly 130.