Janet Evanovich Talks On The Eve Of Twelve Sharp
Book Help Web Exclusive Interview
On June 20, 2006, Janet Evanovich & Co. celebrate the release of the 12th Stephanie Plum novel at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Twelve Sharp hit #4 on Amazon topsellers list even before it was released.
Evanovich, who sharpened her writing teeth on a dozen romance novels before creating Plum, has learned how to give her fans what they love. Not only has she created a bounty hunter that readers can't get enough of, but she's surrounded Plum with vivid, entertaining characters who inspire equal devotion.
She also has earned devotion from her fans through her accessibility and interaction with them. Her daughter, Alex, maintains a website which gets more than four million visitors a month. Through the site, they sponsor contests to name upcoming books and hold drawings for new releases. They've even participated in charity auctions wherein the winner gets to show up in the next novel.
Here's what Janet Evanovich had to say about Stephanie Plum and writing:
Book Help Web: You're launching 12 Sharp at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Is there something in 12 Sharp that ties in with a casino? Can you tell us about some of the events you have planned for the launch?
Janet Evanovich: No casinos in #12. We just thought it would be a fun place for a party. Tom Jones impersonator, Balloons, fortune cookies with Plum fortunes, on stage readings and of course lots of book signings.
BHW: You wrote 12 romance novels before moving on to mysteries-and your romances have recently been updated and re-released. Now that you've just written your 12th Plum novel, do you think you'll try out another genre? If you were to, which genre would you be interested in?
Evanovich: Nope. I'm sticking with adventure. I love doing the Plums.
BHW: You have contests to name each of your books. What was your favorite title to be submitted that you couldn't use (either because it didn't match the plot or for whatever other reason)?
Evanovich: Tattle Twelve, Twelve Smelve and Twelvester.
BHW: In June of 2005, you held a raffle to benefit Crime Stoppers of Greater Trenton in which the winner of the grand prize was to have a character named after him or her. Who won and who is the character that was named after him or her? Can you tell us anything about the character without revealing a spoiler?
Evanovich: Meri Maisonet won. And it would be a spoiler if I told!
BHW: You've credited comic books for some of your literary inspiration. Which comics are currently your favorites? If you could write a single issue/episode for any comic book series, which one would it be and what would you have happen?
Evanovich: I'm an Uncle Scrooge fan. If I wrote an Uncle Scrooge episode I'd have him looking for a solid gold motor coach at a NASCAR race.
BHW: In another interview, you said that you learned how to write dialogue by doing improve on stage. Where did you do this acting and do you still do any stage performances?
Evanovich: I was living in Easton, PA at the time and took improv from a good friend, Susan Kerner. The only stage performances I do now are readings on tour.
BHW: When you re-released the romance books you did some re-writing, in particular to update the '80s language. Would you welcome a chance to re-write any of the early Plum novels? What would you change?
Evanovich: Probably I should go back some day and update clothes.
BHW: When researching your novels, what has been the most surprising or interesting thing that you learned or had happen to you?
Evanovich: The most fun research has been with NASCAR for the METRO books. I got to go to the races and to the garages in North Carolina.
BHW: You have a close-knit family who are all a part of Evanovich, Inc. Your daughter is a film graduate, is she someone to whom you might turn to make films of any of the Plum novels?
Evanovich: Sadly, no. TriStar has been sitting on the Plum novels for twelve years. They own all rights and seem to be clueless how to bring anything to the screen.
BHW: If a movie were to be made (such as the one that Tri-Star bought rights to) and you were offered a supporting role, which character would you want to cast yourself as?
Evanovich: Lula.
