So Hawk came back, and it began to develop and so it’s one of the charms of not pre-planning. Serendipity. When I first began, I started outline. After a while, I realized the outlining was limiting me, instead of helping me.
I make up Hawk’s dialogue, I make up his street talk. When we did a movie called Small Vices, Shiek Mahmoud-Bey was playing Hawk, and I thought he was the best Hawk that we’ve ever had. He didn’t do it again because he was working elsewhere and we couldn’t get him for the other movies.
But he came and said, “Give me a tip. Tell me something about Hawk so I can play him better.” And I said, “Hawk’s magical.” And I guess probably he is. He seems able to do whatever needs to be done. He seems able to understand whatever needs to be understood. And I find him fascinating, too, but his role will always be somewhat limited because I have to see him through Spenser’s eyes. I’m not black enough to see him through his own eyes, or from the inside out.
Although, for a while I had the Hollywood reputation: Parker writes black good. [laughs] I mean, look at me: white Irish kid from Boston!
And when I did Double Deuce, which was about black street gangs, I made that up and I made up the language and everything. I talked to some people and did some research, but essentially I made it all up.
I was signing over here at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood, and a big black kid who was obviously a gangbanger was in line with my book. And, I was somewhat uneasy, but I was signing away, and he came up to the desk and he put the thing down and he looked and he said, “You write this book?”
And I said, “Yes, I did.”
And he said, “Well man, you nailed the motherfucker.”
And I thought, “That’s the best review I ever got.” Because the kid had obviously lived the life, and imagination’s a wonderful thing.
Hawk is what he is. And I don’t if Avery [Brooks] was ever comfortable playing him on the series [Ed. Note: Spenser: For Hire] but I like him and he’ll be around. He’s not going anywhere.
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.