Robert B. Parker, sometimes referred to as the Dean of American Crime Fiction, is the author of more than thirty novels featuring Spenser, the famously tough but refined private detective who can just as easily bust up thugs and crime rings as curl up with his longtime girlfriend Susan Silverman and their lovely child, Pearl the Wonder Dog.
I caught up with Mr. Parker before a book signing at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California on March 13, 2005. “They make me do these things,” he said in reference to the book touring life, in mock grumble.
In this first part of the interview, Mr. Parker talks about his pre-novelist days, the magical fictional presence that is Hawk, writing “black,” the future of Spenser and Susan, and the latest installment of the Spenser series, Cold Service.
Read Part II of the interview here and Part III here.
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Eric Berlin: I don’t know if anyone’s ever told you this before, but I assumed for many years that you were a cop and/or private detective.
Robert B. Parker: The question has been raised, yes. I’ve been neither.
EB: And then, of course, I learned you have a background in academics, which sort of led me to…
RBP: Ooh! You’re gonna let that out? [Laughs]
EB: We can edit that out if you like.
RBP: I’ve gone straight. I had a job in a lot of things before I finally found a job I could hold, including academe. But the academe was in the service of writing.
I had married young and had children early, and if I had to do it over again I would have married earlier and had children earlier. It was the best thing I ever did, but I had to support them. And I can’t write in little dribs and drabs – I need a large blocks of time, so Joan [Ed. Note: Joan is Mr. Parker’s wife] prevailed upon me after I had worked for Curtiss-Wright Aircraft and Raytheon Missile Systems division and Prudential Insurance Company of America… enough to make a maggot gag. Anyway, she prevailed upon me to go back to school and get a PhD and become a professor, which I eventually did. Then I had long hours of interrupted time to write.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
Very very nice. I'll read it fully, later.
So were you talking to him while he signed books or had you scheduled something ahead? In either case, I'll have to pay more attention to authors coming through Phoenix.
2 - Knittgirl
It's Spenser - not Spencer.
3 - Eric Berlin
Temple, I talked to him for 40 minutes, so I had it all set up ahead, worked out through the publisher. Look out for installments II and III on the interview later this week!
Knittgirl - Thanks, change now reflected.
4 - Scott Butki
I'm so jealous you got to interview Parker.
5 - Eric Berlin
Thanks Scott. It was a thrill to meet him in person.
6 - Phillip Winn
Wow. I remember this interview. And I'm sure that you, Eric, remember why I remember this interview. :-)
7 - Eric Berlin
Yes, it was indeed some of my finest work...
(heh.)
8 - Scott Butki
Hmm, now you've piqued my curiousity. Why was it memorable for Phillip?
9 - Eric Berlin
On a bright spring morning, I broke the site for a while. Robert B. Parker was unwittingly involved. Long story...
10 - s. Wahrenbrock
I just discovered Robert Baker. He is remarkable. Very spare and witty. Can't wait to read ALL of his stuff. Didn't know until this interview reading that he has a Ph.d, but as an English major,It was very logical that this guy knows his stuff. Keep up the good work, Mr. Parker.