Ask the Author: Leigh Perry
Answered Questions (24)
Leigh Perry
Coccyx, how did I miss this? I am so sorry!
I would love a Netflix show, and have already decided Doug Jones is the right guy to play Sid. Sadly, Netflix has not yet called me.
As for more Sid, it's out now. There's a Family Skeleton short story in the Sept/Oct issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: "The Skeleton Rides a Horse." Sid goes to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?
Longterm, I'm working on a new novel but don't have a pub date. My publisher has quit publishing fiction, so we're plotting a new approach for when the book is finished.
Thanks for writing, and I'm so sorry I missed your note.
I would love a Netflix show, and have already decided Doug Jones is the right guy to play Sid. Sadly, Netflix has not yet called me.
As for more Sid, it's out now. There's a Family Skeleton short story in the Sept/Oct issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: "The Skeleton Rides a Horse." Sid goes to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?
Longterm, I'm working on a new novel but don't have a pub date. My publisher has quit publishing fiction, so we're plotting a new approach for when the book is finished.
Thanks for writing, and I'm so sorry I missed your note.
Leigh Perry
Sure as sacrum!
For an appetizer, there's a Sid short story in the Sept/Oct issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: "The Skeleton Rides a Horse." Sid goes to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?
Longterm, I'm working on a new novel set at a summer camp for LARP (live-action role-play). I don't have a pub date yet--my publisher quit publishing fiction so we're working on how to release it once it's finished. But it's coming!
Thanks much for asking!
For an appetizer, there's a Sid short story in the Sept/Oct issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: "The Skeleton Rides a Horse." Sid goes to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?
Longterm, I'm working on a new novel set at a summer camp for LARP (live-action role-play). I don't have a pub date yet--my publisher quit publishing fiction so we're working on how to release it once it's finished. But it's coming!
Thanks much for asking!
Leigh Perry
So sorry I missed this until today.
Yes. I'm working on one now. But I don't have a contract--Diversion has stopped publishing fiction--so I also don't have a firm publication date.
I did recently sell a Family Skeleton short story to ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE--"The Skeleton Rides a Horse" about Sid and Georgia at a dude ranch--but don't know when that will come out. It usually takes a year to go from acceptance to publication, but it varies.
Thanks so much for asking!
Yes. I'm working on one now. But I don't have a contract--Diversion has stopped publishing fiction--so I also don't have a firm publication date.
I did recently sell a Family Skeleton short story to ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE--"The Skeleton Rides a Horse" about Sid and Georgia at a dude ranch--but don't know when that will come out. It usually takes a year to go from acceptance to publication, but it varies.
Thanks so much for asking!
Leigh Perry
Thank you!
As for more, definitely plans. I'm working on one now. But no contract--Diversion has stopped publishing fiction--so no firm publication date.
I did recently sell a Family Skeleton short story to ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE--"The Skeleton Rides a Horse" about Sid and Georgia at a dude ranch--but don't know when that will come out. It usually takes a year to go from acceptance to publication, but it varies.
Thanks so much for asking!
As for more, definitely plans. I'm working on one now. But no contract--Diversion has stopped publishing fiction--so no firm publication date.
I did recently sell a Family Skeleton short story to ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERY MAGAZINE--"The Skeleton Rides a Horse" about Sid and Georgia at a dude ranch--but don't know when that will come out. It usually takes a year to go from acceptance to publication, but it varies.
Thanks so much for asking!
Leigh Perry
Thanks, Pam. I will keep you in mind--I know I've heard of the Book Sirens.
And thanks for your kind works about the last book. I did think about leaving it there, but I'm still having fun writing them. Besides, what would I do with all the skeleton items around my house if I ended the series?
And thanks for your kind works about the last book. I did think about leaving it there, but I'm still having fun writing them. Besides, what would I do with all the skeleton items around my house if I ended the series?
Leigh Perry
The new story--if the editor likes it--will be out in the fall.
A seventh novel is still in the writing process, so no pub date, but I would like to have it out this year.
A seventh novel is still in the writing process, so no pub date, but I would like to have it out this year.
Leigh Perry
Hi Stacey!
I've got good news, bad news, and good news.
Good news: Last Saturday, I finished a Family Skeleton short story and sent it to an anthology publisher. If it's accepted, it'll come out in the fall. (Sid, Georgia, and Brownie go to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?)
Bad news: Diversion Books, the publisher who released the most recent three Family Skeleton books, has quit publishing fiction. So that has left me without a contract. I managed to move the series from Berkley Prime Crime to Diversion, but moving it a third time is just not feasible.
Good news: So the plan is to write another book and indie publish it with the assistance of my literary agency, which has successfully brought out books for their clients in the past. And I'm about to get rolling on it. I've been noodling over the setting for a while now, and doing my research, so I'm happy to get started!
Thanks much for asking, and I hope you're doing well in these insane times!
I've got good news, bad news, and good news.
Good news: Last Saturday, I finished a Family Skeleton short story and sent it to an anthology publisher. If it's accepted, it'll come out in the fall. (Sid, Georgia, and Brownie go to a dude ranch. What could possibly go wrong?)
Bad news: Diversion Books, the publisher who released the most recent three Family Skeleton books, has quit publishing fiction. So that has left me without a contract. I managed to move the series from Berkley Prime Crime to Diversion, but moving it a third time is just not feasible.
Good news: So the plan is to write another book and indie publish it with the assistance of my literary agency, which has successfully brought out books for their clients in the past. And I'm about to get rolling on it. I've been noodling over the setting for a while now, and doing my research, so I'm happy to get started!
Thanks much for asking, and I hope you're doing well in these insane times!
Leigh Perry
There will be another, and you can tell your sister I said so.
Leigh Perry
Can you keep a secret? The contract has not been signed, but we've verbally accepted an offer for an audio version. I have no idea when it will happen, but it should happen!
Leigh Perry
Cripes, did I need answer this? I'm so sorry. Obviously, I made it to book 6--THE SKELETON STUFFS A STOCKING came out in September. And I am planning a 7th book.
Leigh Perry
Um... Summer is over. I think I'm done!
Leigh Perry
Generally not, though we do have skeleton flamingos. Inside the house, however, we have lots of skeletons. Though not just for Halloween. They're here all year. We do put Santa hats on them for Christmas, for extra festive flair.
Leigh Perry
Pam, partially I wanted to keep it light and partially I want to avoid too much explanation of how Sid came to life. It's not something I could ever explain logically at all, so I prefer to keep it really fuzzy.
Leigh Perry
This is pretty obscure, but Robert Heinlein had a short story called "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants." The protagonist is on his way to a fair, and ends up at this amazing fair/carnival/parade. (It's explained, but that would be a spoiler.) I would love to see that parade.
Leigh Perry
A couple of things come to mind.
One goes back a long while. My maternal grandmother's brother was in the Navy during WWII, and was on a ship in San Francisco when he disappeared, only to be found dead in the Bay. Nobody knows how it happened, and since there was a war on, it didn't cause much of a stir. The family was in North Carolina and not wealthy, so they couldn't follow up either, but family lore says he was murdered. I might use that as the starting point in a novel some day.
More recently, my niece found a stolen car in our detached garage. (We never use the garage, and it's not visible from our house.) It turns out two guys with access to that area were running a chop shop, virtually in our back yard. Which goes to prove what an observant mystery writer I am! I figured if I put a body in that stolen car, I'd definitely have the start of a mystery novel.
One goes back a long while. My maternal grandmother's brother was in the Navy during WWII, and was on a ship in San Francisco when he disappeared, only to be found dead in the Bay. Nobody knows how it happened, and since there was a war on, it didn't cause much of a stir. The family was in North Carolina and not wealthy, so they couldn't follow up either, but family lore says he was murdered. I might use that as the starting point in a novel some day.
More recently, my niece found a stolen car in our detached garage. (We never use the garage, and it's not visible from our house.) It turns out two guys with access to that area were running a chop shop, virtually in our back yard. Which goes to prove what an observant mystery writer I am! I figured if I put a body in that stolen car, I'd definitely have the start of a mystery novel.
Leigh Perry
I adore so many fictional couples, but managed to get it down to two.
1) Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, in the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. He falls in love with her instantly, but it takes a long time for him to win her over, and then they have to negotiate living and sleuthing together in the most realistic, let romantic way. Sigh...
2) Amelia Peabody and Emerson, who prefers to go by his last name, in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. So many adventures, so much love, and such wild arguments. Just great fun! (And if you didn't know, Joan Hess, one of Peters' longtime friends, has completed her last manuscript and it will be published later this year. Squee!)
1) Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, in the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. He falls in love with her instantly, but it takes a long time for him to win her over, and then they have to negotiate living and sleuthing together in the most realistic, let romantic way. Sigh...
2) Amelia Peabody and Emerson, who prefers to go by his last name, in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. So many adventures, so much love, and such wild arguments. Just great fun! (And if you didn't know, Joan Hess, one of Peters' longtime friends, has completed her last manuscript and it will be published later this year. Squee!)
Leigh Perry
Thanks, Sharon--Sid sends his best to you.
The story of who Sid used to be is a big part of A SKELETON IN THE FAMILY, the first book in the series. He and Georgia have to figure that out to find out who murdered Sid himself.
The story of who Sid used to be is a big part of A SKELETON IN THE FAMILY, the first book in the series. He and Georgia have to figure that out to find out who murdered Sid himself.
Leigh Perry
I'm sorry, I never saw this on my list. I can't say anything about a new publisher--yet--but I can say I'm working on a new book. Sid's going to art school.
Fingerbones crossed for more news to come!
Fingerbones crossed for more news to come!
Leigh Perry
This is the last book in my contract for Berkley. But.... Things are in the works that I cannot talk about right now. So I'm cautiously optimistic that there will be more Sid books. (I hate to be so vague, but I have to be.)
Leigh Perry
Moira, sorry for the delay. I somehow missed this.
Unfortunately, the answer is, "I'm not sure." I am writing a new Sid book -- tentatively titled THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE, with Georgia teaching at an art school -- but my publisher has dropped me. So once I get a good chunk of this book done, my agent will be looking for a new publisher. If nobody bites, three may be in for the series.
So... Finger bones crossed!
Unfortunately, the answer is, "I'm not sure." I am writing a new Sid book -- tentatively titled THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE, with Georgia teaching at an art school -- but my publisher has dropped me. So once I get a good chunk of this book done, my agent will be looking for a new publisher. If nobody bites, three may be in for the series.
So... Finger bones crossed!
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