Sunday, March 13, 2011

ROBERT J RANDISI EXPOUNDS . . . Authors-to-Author Interactive Interview AT THE BIJOU


ROBERT J RANDISI EXPOUNDS
Authors-to-Author Interactive Interview


Absolutely*Kate AT THE BIJOU
  Mr Randisi ~ Bob ~ RJR
We're immensely enjoying your interaction and lounge shows with our RATPACKREVUE here AT THE BIJOU, especially since you're the prolific author of 6 intriguing Rat Pack Mysteries, with yet another on the way. Some of our authors wonder a thing or two about you.



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                Kate,
  
 Here are your answers. I tried not to be too short, but also not to go on for too long. I'm open to any other questions that may arise from these.
 
                                                                                                    RJR
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As for a question for Mr. Randisi ~

Eric Beetner, crime writer

You've been at this for a long time. We all know how publishing has changed and is changing under our feet but I want to know how the writing has changed, in your opinion? What is the biggest difference between a crime novel now and one, say, thirty years ago?

   
ERIC BEETNER  I commit crimes on paper.


RJ RANDISI expounds
        That's a great question. I'd like to give it more thought. But for now I think the difference is realism. And, I think, the intelligence of both the criminal element and the cops contributes to that. The writer has to reflect that in his work, so the writers have also had to become smarter, and better.  And if you're now going to ask me if I think the writers of today are smarter than those of yesterday, the answer is yes. Smarter, and better educated--but that doesn't necessarily make them better. Not as a whole.    
  



Anthony Venutolo, fictionist
I guess what I'd really like to know is ... how do you -- or do you -- work with the Sinatra family who can be notorious pains in the asses when it comes to their dad's image? Do you have to clear your stories with them?
 
BUKOWSKI'S BASEMENT  Flash fiction. Poems. Musings.



Randisi, still expounding
        Actually I contacted the Sinatra family in the beginning, through Frank Jr. and Nancy's manager.  I have sent the first two books to her, a copy for each of them, and have never heard anything back, positive or negative. So I decided to take that as a positive. Also I bought copy of Nancy's book about her Dad and sent it to her to sign. She returned it, signed, but still with no comment.



Julie Lewthwaite/Morgan
Hey, Kate!
 Loving the style and swing of the RAT PACK REVUE AT THE BIJOU. Super cool!
   I have a question for RJR, assuming no-one else has asked it ~

You said in your last piece that you have never been able to afford writer's block. I can understand that, for sure, and you are incredibly prolific. And yet most of us at some point struggle - either the ideas are unoriginal, or the dialogue flat, or the characters turn their backs on us and just won't talk to us at all. (Neil Giaiman has said that's why he generally writes more than one book at a time - so that if one set of characters shuts up, he can check out what the other lot are up to!) So, do you, RJR, have any tricks and techniques for turning the juice on if things seem to have dried up? I'd love to know!
 
GONE BAD  Tales about bad people doing bad things.


RJR ~ on a roll

        No tricks, just dedication and determination. I do usually work on two books at one time--and, on occasion, three. It is helpful to switch off, so Giaiman has a point there.  But I once wrote 90 pages of a western in one day, and still didn't have a plot. But I had to keep writing, because I had a deadline and another book to begin immediately.  In 1984 I wrote 27 books, whether I had the juice or not. When I say I could never afford writer's block, I mean that LITERALLY. 

Hold up there Absolutely*Katie,
 Me and the boys got some Q's for that Randisi to peruse. That cat's no Clyde and your RAT PACK REVUE is one helluva show. You ask him this stuff though, OK Kid?

So pally, what do you drink
when you're knocking these
books out so literally?

Yeah Mac, I wanted to tell you you've got infinite panache there under your fedora. Cock your hat - angles are attitudes. Now what music plays to set your attitudes just right?

Me? 
Hell Bob - I just wanta know
if you got any regrets . . . or have you done it all your way?

FRANK: Sammy, you pilching my lyrics again?

Aw geeez Frank. 
 I don't have many easy songs.

ABSOLUTELY*KATE: So Mr Randisi, you in? The Pack want their answers back next time you work the room. Thanks Sammy. Thanks Frank. Oh man Dean - you send me. Great questions Jools, Ant and Eric. Feel free to jump right back in on what RJR had to tell you.
 
Folks? Holler out your own ponderings for the unperplexable BigGuy under the hat. G'head, give him your rat-a-tat-tat. Watch for Kevin Michaels Author-to-Author interview later in our RAT PACK REVUE. Right now though, I hear a lot of rumbling around backstage. I think Paul Brazill is ready for his close-up. Come back and check his show out on Tuesday. 


THANKS RJR! Impressive becomes you. 

~ Absolutely*Kate, Eric, Anthony, Julie
and Kevin, Paul and Sean
with Dean, Frank and Sammy

 
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RAT PACK SHOWS 
PLAYING AT THE BIJOU

         
RATPACKREVUE

Tuesdays.

Thursdays.
Saturday Matinees too.

Be there or be square.

RATPACKREVUE 
AT THE BIJOU

Always swell to see you here.

~ Absolutely*Kate,
and our swanky staff of renown



THE PACK DON'T WANT YA TO MISS A SHOW:

Sinatra: "If power doesn't mean that you have the opportunity to work with the people that you love, then you haven't really got any."

Opening Night: "RAT PACK REVUE TO YOU"

RAT PACK REVUE: "How Did All These People Get Into My Room?"  By Robert J Randisi,
working the lounge before he hits the main room

RAT PACK REVUE: "Ain't That A Kick In The Head"  By Robert J Randisi, paying homage to Ocean's 11, the original . . . for all the right reasons

RAT PACK REVUE:  "Who's Got The Action" By Kevin Michaels, knowin' more than the night club scene  

RAT PACK REVUE:  "STAR" By Julie Morgan,  hitchin' TinselTown to a dick's star

RAT PACK REVUE:  "OH SOUL O'MIO" By Absolutely*Kate,  mirroring more than Dorsey

RAT PACK REVUE:  "DIVORCE YOUR LOVED ONE WITH DIGNITY" By Anthony Venutolo,  oozing atmosphere, over the border



RATPACKREVUE 
  
~ ON OUR SWANKY STAGE ~



BIJOU AUTHORS ~  ERIC BEETNER ~ PAUL BRAZILL ~ KEVIN MICHAELS ~ ANTHONY VENUTOLO ~ and ABSOLUTELY*KATE

BIJOU DEBUT ~ JULIE (LEWTHWAITE) MORGAN ~ SEAN PATRICK REARDON

PLUS STAGE AFTER PAGE AGAIN ~ OUR HEADLINER ~
MORE OF RAT PACK MYSTERY AUTHOR ROBERT J RANDISI

WITH A FINALE OF AN RJR INTERVIEW (or Roast?) AT THE BIJOU


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STAY TUNED. 
PLAY GOOD TUNES.
POUR. ENJOY.

~ ~ ~ ~
 
 

7 comments:

Paul D Brazill said...

Smashing interview. Mr Randisi's work rate is amazing!

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

THIS JUST IN FROM PAUL BRAZILL TO GIVE YOU A THRILL:

**************************

Hey Kate,

It's my mother-in-law's birthday today, so ...

My question for Mr R... is Charlie Sheen the new Peter Lawford?!

Na zdrowia!

PDB

**************************

PDB sent some links on what he's currently about:

My blog: You Would Say That, Wouldn't You?
http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/

My column at Pulp Metal Magazine
http://pulpmetalmagazine.wordpress.com/category/i-didnt-say-that-did-i-paul-brazill/

The Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mammoth-Book-British-Crime-Books/dp/1849015678/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300047964&sr=1-2

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Paul,

Congrats in spades and aces on being tucked into the best crime-authors in The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime, a Randisi-query that still has my grin hurting, and of course that you're being the dashing bloke at the birthday festivities. "Stolat" to your mother-in-law.

All of this harbingers well.
Thanks! You're one of my heroes.

~ Absolutely*Kate

Author said...

Terrific interview - some valuable insights there - thanks, RJR, and Kate, for making it happen.

And that PDB, he's a top class act as well. Loving the question he raised, and delighted he's enjoying so much success. Great stuff!

Kevin Michaels said...

Excellent interview - great insight from RJR and congrats to Kate for making this happen.

Sean Patrick Reardon said...

Amazing questions and man, did RJR have the answers. 27 novels in a year is mind blowing. Now, I really want the answers to the rat pack questions. Great job by all involved!!

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Well Sean, you certainly summed it up. Damn great Q's by Eric, Anthony and Julie. What RJR did with 'em is just another testimony to his prolificivity. (A word? It should be).

He slid his answers under AT THE BIJOU's projection-room door to what the RatPack wondered about. They're deserving of their own posting along with what Paul asked . . . Et tu? Mr Reardon? C'mon - we KNOW you're a mighty intellectually curious author. Ask away. RJR must take a pause in his pontiificating action to share his writing zeal with us, for indeed it comes across and makes me all the hungrier to enjoy more.

Enjoying more is definitely in store -- Wait til you see what Kevin and RJR bantered about authoring. That's coming up next in our RAT PACK REVUE following either Paul Brazill or Dino -- It's gettin' like I can't tell those two cool cats apart.

THANKS RJR!
THANKS ALL!

~ Absolutely*Kate