Monday, November 1: The Scribbler
THE KING OF KINDLE
Video and song by Parnell Hall, appreciation by James Lincoln Warren
Everybody’s been writing about Bouchercon, so I haven’t had a lot to add. But then Steve Steinbock wrote to let me know that Parnell Hall’s special Bcon Edition of his latest video was up on YouTube, and he mentioned that Melodie, he, and I were all at one point or another featured in it. Well, I hope so. Parnell took a lot more footage than what showed up in the video.
There are some folks in the crime fiction writing community whom everybody loves. (Most of them are featured in the video, although I’m there, too.) Parnell Hall is among the most prominent. I first met him many years ago at Malice Domestic, where I heard him perform what may well be regarded as his theme song, “Signing in the Waldenbooks”. Then I heard him perform it at the Edgars. And then at Malice again. Hell, when something works, hang on to it.
Obviously, Parnell is a man with so much talent that it’s no wonder he shares it with the world. But that is not what I really admire about him. What I really admire about Parnell is his tenacity, his unwillingness to go softly into that good night, his astonishing ability to reinvent himself as a mystery writer time and again. I am dead serious.
Parnell Hall’s Edgar-nominated first novel, Detective, introduced the world to Stanley Hastings, a forty-something failed actor and aspiring writer who paid the bills by acting as an investigator for a shyster lawyer. Witty and atmospheric, the series was always well received critically, but when Parnell’s publisher dropped him, Parnell recognized that it was time to come up with something completely different if he wanted to stay on the bookshelves. (Not that he abandoned Stanley, whose last appearance was in 2007.) At the same time as he was writing the very funny Hastings books, Parnell also wrote a second series under the pseudonym of P. J. Hailey, courtroom dramas featuring a character named Steve Winslow. Two multiple-volume series were somehow insufficient to maintaining his career. Parnell was facing a serious crisis.
Did he give up? No. Well, yes. He gave up being Parnell Hall, at least for a while.
Enter Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady, and the Crossword Puzzle Mystery series, originally credited to “Alice Hastings”. (Hastings? Where have I heard that name before? And I don’t mean Hercule Poirot.) That’s right, Parnell not only reinvented himself, he invented an entire new genre of mystery story. (He has since expanded into sudoku.) When the Puzzle Lady books succeeded, Parnell confessed that he was actually Alice, which is almost exactly like Tony Stark admitting that he is Iron Man.
Not bad for the guy who got his start as the screenwriter for C.H.U.D. (The story for that “cult classic” came from somebody named Shepard Abbot. One has to wonder if that’s another pseudonym, but I’ve never had the guts to ask Parnell.)
Anyway, “King of Kindle” shows exactly what’s so fun about Bouchercon. One of those things is Parnell Hall. Enjoy.
I spotted Melodie twice and James once. Is that Steve sitting next to JLW? And mentioned by name!
I’m in there twice, too, but the second time you can only see my back. The first shot is at the poker table. The person next to me is Bill Fitzhugh, who provided a blurb for John Floyd’s Clockwork. (Next to him is the inimitable Gary Phillips.) The other players were Jim Fusilli, Steve Brewer, John Billheimer, S.J. Rozan, Robin Burcell, Steve Stilwell, and one guy I’d never met before, so I don’t recall his name. (Sorry!)
Leigh, you’ll also have noticed your pal Steve Hamilton at the Shamus Banquet, manipulating his chopsticks. I didn’t make the Shamus Banquet this year, but I did see Steve. I forgot to tell you that he sent his greetings.
The second shot with me in it shows the Bcon opening ceremonies, most folks seated at tables, but many of us loitering on our feet. At precisely 3 minutes and 3 seconds into the video, there I am in the middle of the frame, wearing a camel sports coat. It looks like I was talking with Barry Zeman, who was hidden behind my monstrous bulk.
Melodie also shows up twice, both times in the company of William Link, the first time with Steve Steinbock and Parnell, and the next time just with Bill and Parnell.
I forgot to mention that Angela Zeman also shows up in the video, too. She’s sitting with Parnell and Barry at a table (at :31 on the clock), just before Parnell inserts himself between Bill Pronzini and Marcia Muller.
Ah, thanks James! That helped to pick out much more. I noticed Angela, but I can’t believe I didn’t spot Steve Steinbock. It was good to see Steve Hamilton.
The unnamed person at the poker table may be Bryan Barrett. (I know he was there, but I’m not sure if that’s who James referred to as not knowing his name).
I’m not running for any office, but I fully endorse JLW’s message.
Parnell is among the nicest and funniest members of our community, and his talent (especially with regard to the “Stanley Hastings” books) far exceeds his popularity. More people should be reading him.
Your appreciation of Parnell Hall is on the money. A new Stanley Hastings came out this year, CAPER, published by Pegasus.
Thanks for the update, Jon!