I’m wondering, was Pagan Babies a tough write? That’s Mr. L’s best, for me, anyway. And I figure if it’s tough for him then it’s going to be great.

‘Course with him, it’s all good.

What makes it a “tough” write? Before Djibouti, what was his hardest?

I keep reading about two books Mr. Leonard is working on—this would be a question for renowned researcher Mr. Sutter—is he completing “Djibouti” and has also started an untitled book which he put away to take another crack at—or is this book he put away “DJIBOUTI”—and he is only working on one book post ROAD DOGS—which by the way was a simmering read—joyful to see Jack back and up to his old tricks again. Hot damn!

Elmore only writes one book at a time.  He is finishing up Djibouti as I write this.

Gregg Sutter - 19 October 2009 11:42 AM

He is finishing up Djibouti as I write this.

Is there a possible release date yet, Gregg?

You heard it from Mr. Sutter himself – Elmore is finishing up DJIBOUTI in the right now. This is wonderful news. “Road Dogs” was like a cool drink – loved it. If there is one complaint I have toward Mr. Leonard’s writing (books) is that A) He spoils the work of other writers, at least for me & B) I laugh my ass off and enjoy Leonard’s books so much that I finish them the day or the next day after I turn open the book for the first time. Meaning – it is a long wait for the next piece of gem to come out. But Mr. Leonard is human after all, and waiting, well, God knows, that is not such a bad thing now is it?

Djibouti - Christmas 2010

I just killed Mr. King’s “Under The Dome” & am reading “Pagan Babies”, which was the first Elmore Leonard book I read back in 2000. I knew of Mr. Leonard before 2000, probably 1995––but I didn’t get around to reading him until five years later for some strange reason. I have read all his books except “Touch” and that is on the agenda for early 2010! Let us hope I can some more good books to read, (I’m pondering Sherlock Holmes right now) before “Dijbouti” is released. Can’t wait to crack open that book, smell it, as I always do and dig in with a grin from ear to ear.

EL told a Crain’s Detroit Business reporter that he finished the modern-era pirate thriller in November and expects it to be published in spring 2010, according to a blog post today that’s mainly about what books he and other Detroit area notables are currently reading.

His two-item response gets a post of its own on this forum, titled ‘What Dutch Is Reading.’

Robert,

“Touch” is great. Elmore has great introduction about how he wrote book in 1977, but it wasn’t published until 10 years later. Still sounds fresh today. Enjoy.

Scrum - 29 October 2009 01:42 PM

Djibouti - Christmas 2010

October 2010!

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/03/08/elmore-leonard-on-new-novel-djibouti-kathryn-bigelow-run-in/

What’s your next book about?—Time Magazine (2010)

Djibouti takes place in East Africa, for the most part, and has an array of characters. There’s a guy who’s a billionaire, and he’s giving this girl he likes—she’s a runway model—a test. If she can go around the world with him on his yacht and not throw up or become bored, he may marry her. They’re characters.

Elmore Leonard And Sons’ Recipes For Writing, Fried Spam
Recorded at the Tucson Festival of Books

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125253280

caught me peeking
sneaking a peek
waiting hoping
not holding
breath