Joseph’s Comments (group member since Jul 26, 2013)

Joseph’s comments from the Ask Joseph Finder and Barry L. Levy - August 5th! group.

Patrice -- No, I've never considered writing outside the suspense genre. But I think the genre is incredibly broad and not at all constricting. So it's not a sacrifice on my part. I write what I read.

Patrice wrote: "Hello Joseph! Have you considered writing in any other genre beside thrillers/suspense and if so which one?"

I became a thriller writer because I love reading them. Just to name a few: Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen, Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly . . .

Dana wrote: "Hi Joe! It's Dana, official Heller's Angel here. Just wondering when you read for pleasure which categories do you enjoy? Any favorites?"

By the way --I hope you all plan to see "Paranoia" the first weekend it opens. It's a terrific movie and a lot of fun. (My daughter, who's a teenager, says it's the perfect date movie.)

Dennis - Thanks. I'm glad you like The Moscow Club. The book I've just written is always my favorite novel. And indeed the one I've just finished a week or so is, I think, my best. But I have a fondness in my heart for PARANOIA, because it was great fun to write, and I did it my way -- some humor, not much bloodshed, first person . . .

Dennis wrote: "Hi Joseph! I'm a big fan of your work. I still think Moscow Club is my favorite.

I know you probably cannot pick a favorite novel among your works but is there one that you are most proud of? ..."

PS: a little insider detail here -- Rindge, HH appears fictionally in BURIED SECRETS, but that's where I did the research for the exciting final sequences...

Deb wrote: "HI Joseph we meet at the Rindge, NH Lib. when Buried Secrets came out. I hope it has been optioned. Would you like Barry to be the screen writer for it?"

Charity -- you're not the only one who pictures me as Nick . .;-)

charity wrote: "Deb wrote: "Eric wrote: "How difficult is it to turn a 400 plus page novel into a screen play? Are you worried that fans of the book will not see the movie? Jack Reacher fans were not happy seeing ..."

Hi Eric -- Thanks for writing in. I'm not worried that my readers won't see the movie. Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Liam Hemsworth -- how could you not want to see it. But the movie will feel quite different from the book, and it should! The story is the same, though, and Liam is a GREAT "Adam."

i>Eric wrote: "How difficult is it to turn a 400 plus page novel into a screen play? Are you worried that fans of the book will not see the movie? Jack Reacher fans were not happy seeing Tom Cruise as Jack Reache..."

Sorry, I hit send too fast.
I didn't actually work in any way with Rob Luketic. But I got to watch him work. I watched him direct a classic scene between Gary Oldman and Liam Hemsworth, beautifully shot and acted and quite powerful. Rob did one of my favorite comedies, "Legally Blonde," and I consider him a super-talented director.

charity wrote: "Hi Joe and Barry (and everyone else)!
I am so excited to see how the movie plays out in comparison to the novel.

Barry what would you say was the most difficult scenario/scene to take from novel..."

Hi Charity! -- No, unfortunately I wasn't offered a cameo in PARANOIA. It was a blast to be an extra in HIGH CRIMES and hang out with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd and the other actors. It is hard work making a movie--don't let them tell you otherwise!

charity wrote: "Hi Joe and Barry (and everyone else)!
I am so excited to see how the movie plays out in comparison to the novel.

Barry what would you say was the most difficult scenario/scene to take from novel..."

Oh, and major congratulations on winning the trip to the movie premiere! I'll see you on Thursday!

Merle wrote: "Aloha Joe and Barry!

First of all, I would like to offer my congratulations on Paranoia, releasing on August 16! I am so excited about Paranoia hitting the big screen!

I have read Paranoia and am..."

Hi Merle -- Greetings to my #1 fan!
I'm very excited about PARANOIA the movie coming out. It's funny, you ask about how it feels to have the characters "come to life," but in my head, PARANOIA was already a movie -- in my head. This feels like a different movie. In some ways cooler and more amped up. I sort of think of the movie as my book turned up to 11.

Merle wrote: "Aloha Joe and Barry!

First of all, I would like to offer my congratulations on Paranoia, releasing on August 16! I am so excited about Paranoia hitting the big screen!

I have read Paranoia and am..."

Deb wrote: "Susan wrote: "Lee Child recommended your Nick Heller books and I am glad I listened because I loved them. My only problem, when is the next one going to be released?"
they r awesome I am also waiti..."

Deb -- thanks for being patient. With PARANOIA being re-released, we should recruit a bunch of new readers for my next one, which I hope will be out next year. But I'll have an announcement soon.

Susan wrote: "Lee Child recommended your Nick Heller books and I am glad I listened because I loved them. My only problem, when is the next one going to be released?"

Thank you! Fear not, I've finished my next book, and it should be out next year. Plus I've got the next one half done. So after this brief pause I'm back. Thank you for being patient. I won't keep you waiting again.

Deb wrote: "HI Joseph we meet at the Rindge, NH Lib. when Buried Secrets came out. I hope it has been optioned. Would you like Barry to be the screen writer for it?"

I'd be lucky to get a screenwriter of Barry's talent to adapt BURIED SECRETS. It hasn't been optioned but only because I'm not ready to sell the rights to my series character Nick Heller.