ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Books

‘A Writer Prepares’ Block’s memoir recalls colorful writing career

NEW YORK, June 1, (AP): Lawrence Block has fol- lowed many paths during his long career. “With not a few dead end roads among them,” notes the mystery novelist. Best known for his Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr series, Block has released dozens of pop- ular works through Harper Collins and Dutton among other mainstream publishers. He has received multiple Edgar Awards and Anthony Awards for outstanding fi ction, and his lifetime achievement honors include the Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association and Grand Master status in the Mystery Writers of America. But he has also completed dozens of works under other names, by publishers and publications long since forgotten, and, in some cases, of questionable legality. More recently, he has been publish- ing the books himself, includ- ing “Dead Girl Blues” and the Rhodenbarr novel “The Bur- glar In Short Order,” which both came out in 2020, and his current work, the memoir “A Writer Prepares.” “One big plus of self-pub- lishing is how quickly it can be managed. I can reduce waiting Block time by a minimum of a year if I publish something myself,” he explains. “The downside is not to be shrugged off. Self-pub- lished books rarely get reviewed and hardly ever show up in bookstores. ‘Dead Girl Blues’ didn’t make me This image released by BritBox shows Vicky McClure, (left), and Kelly Macdonald in a scene from the BBC police drama series ‘Line of Duty.’ (AP) rich, and neither will ‘A Writer Prepares.’ But nothing I write is going to do that, no matter who publishes it, and whatever I self-publish stays forever available in electronic and print editions, and probably fi nds what- ever audience it deserves to have.” Television Block is a longtime Greenwich Village resident, fully vaccinated and back outside, enjoying a nice big plate of Brussels sprouts during a recent afternoon in- terview at a favorite cafe. Passersby and fellow diners UK’s most-watched show of 21st century do not seem to notice anything special about this bald, plainly dressed man with the graveled voice, though at least some likely know about his books. Profession ‘Line of Duty,’ is unique cop show “A Writer Prepares” is a bit of unfi nished business for Block, who turns 83 this summer and fi rst worked NEW YORK, June 1, (AP): Actor show also stars Martin Compston, shows that formulaically lionize of- on the memoir in the 1990s, during “a positively fe- Kelly Macdonald recently got a taste Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar. fi cers as incorruptible and invariably verish week” at an Illinois artist retreat. But he had of what it feels like to have reached a The series is ingeniously created honorable while usually debasing other projects at the time and left the memoir in a ma- new level of fame. to allow fi rst-time viewers access fellow offi cers charged with investi- nila envelope in a closet near his desk. When he came upon the manuscript last year, he gave it another look She was taking a train down to while also rewarding long-time fans. gating them. and was pleased by what he saw. London from her native Scotland It focuses on an anti-corruption unit “I think the audience is more so- In “A Writer Prepares,” Block looks back to his when the conductor approached. A within the police force. The charac- phisticated than that now,” said childhood in Buffalo, New York, when he was his character actor wearing a mask, she ters in the unit remain the same each Mercurio. “They appreciate that own biggest skeptic. In 11th grade English, he was as- felt quite inconspicuous. season, but the case and perceived there has to be checks and balances signed a paper on what his future profession might be. Jenny Beavan poses with the award But Macdonald didn’t even have villain are new each time. in policing because police offi cers His theme was “uncertainty,” he recalled. He confi ded for best costume design for ‘Mad Max: to speak before she was found out. The baddie in season six seems to are capable of infl icting lethal force that he would never fulfi ll his father’s dream for him Fury Road’ at the Oscars in Los An- “He pointed at me and he said, ‘It’s be Macdonald, whose credits include on citizens, and some of those citi- to become a doctor, and that an early wish to be a gar- geles on Feb 28, 2016. Beavan de- you, isn’t it?’” she recalled. “It’s “Trainspotting,” “Harry Potter and zens who are tragically the victims bage man ended when his mother told him the work signed the costumes for the film ‘Cru- something I’m adjusting to.” the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” and of lethal force are innocent. There’s would chap his hands. ella.’ (AP) — See Page 12 The actor’s outsized fame is large- “The Girl in the Cafe,” which earned a tremendous injustice that is being He ended the piece with a disclaimer: “On reading ly due to her appearance on the BBC her a best supporting actress Emmy. perpetrated.” over this composition, one thing becomes clear. I can police drama series “Line of Duty,” Macdonald argues that anyone never be a writer.” a show which has taken Britain by Audience given power can be in danger of mis- Responded his teacher, Miss Jepsen, who gave him storm. “More people have watched She had a lot of catching up to do using it. “It’s like in any of the super- an A: “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” this than have watched anything else since she hadn’t watched any of the hero movies, it’s a worry. You can Block attended Antioch College, the setting for his I’ve done ever,” said Macdonald. previous seasons. The role as a sen- become like Lex Luther like that,” extra-pulpy novel “Campus Tramp,” but never gradu- The season six fi nale in the UK ior offi cer was strong, but it was in ated and eventually settled in New York. Ambitious said said, snapping her fi ngers. was watched by more than 15 mil- an unfamiliar project - a tense pro- As for the success of the show, she and prolifi c, he would take on the kind of assignments cedural where the pressure adds up not generally discussed at the University of Iowa lion viewers, becoming the most- has a theory: “People love to be like Writers’ Workshop or offered by the Paris Review. seen drama so far of the 21st century turn by turn. “It was sort of part of a detective themselves,” she said. Before “Lawrence Block” became a publishing in Great Britain. It’s estimated that the reason I thought I really have to “And the great thing about ‘Line of brand, he was introduced to readers as Anne Camp- more than half of all TVs switched do this,” she said. Duty’ and Jed is he keeps that going bell Clark, or Chip Harrison, or Jill Emerson, or Todd Tannehill on at the time were tuned to “Line The actor tapped into her dark like no one else.” Sheldon Lord. He wrote erotica and lesbian novels, of Duty.” side, which she refi ned on “Board- called himself Dr. Benjamin Morse as he completed “It’s really hard to explain. As a walk Empire,” where she played Also: “Sexual Surrender in Women,” and, as, John Warren content creator, as a writer, all I can a woman likely enough to level a LOS ANGELES: There are dueling Wells, turned out a bit of fi eld research titled “Tricks Variety do is do my best job in telling sto- shotgun at a foe. “I have historically biopic series ahead on Mike Tyson, of the Trade: A Hooker’s Handbook.” He wrote for ries and fi lling out the characters. played quite innocent creatures,” she but for now the boxing great is get- magazines that would cut his stories, change the title said. ting the documentary treatment in a OXFORD, Miss: The city of Oxford has You can never plan for that level of or rename a character. He might submit a story under success,” said writer and series crea- “Line of Duty” comes at a time two-part ABC News special airing one pen name and discover it was changed to another. adopted new rules limiting how loud mu- sic can be played at downtown venues. tor Jed Mercurio, whose other hits when more questions are being lev- on consecutive Tuesdays. “Mike “A Writer Prepares” captures a pre-Internet, pre- The Oxford Board of Aldermen include the medical drama series eled at police departments about Tyson: The Knockout” promises to superstore business that included such publications as recently approved a sound ordinance “Bodies” and the political thriller their offi cers’ fairness, use of force examine his career and life roller- Manhunt, Trapped and Keyhole, and some institutions amendment related to live and recorded “Bodyguard.” and honesty. coaster and address “pressing ques- that only the most cynical writer would have imagined music, The Oxford Eagle reported. “I think everybody involved in the “I think that what we’ve seen in tions about resilience and reinven- on his own. Block worked briefl y as a copy reader for Before, organizers or business owners show was taken aback and found it a recent years is that people are be- tion.” ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap and the Scott Meredith Literary Agency, whose founder were required to obtain a city permit was as elusive as the ethics of his company. kind of surreal experience that there coming much more aware of the way people in Tyson’s inner circle are for amplifi ed sound at parades or other was so much ‘Line of Duty’ mania in in which policing can sometimes de- among those interviewed in the four- events. Under the new rules, a permit is Talent not required as long as the sound falls the last couple of months over here.” part from the standards that we ex- hour documentary, which includes “Every letter we wrote was designed to manipulate, within approved limits. American and Canadian audiences pect from law enforcement offi cers,” previously unaired Tyson interview and was dashed off with a cavalier disregard for the Limits have been set for residential have a chance to check out what all said Mercurio. footage. The fi rst part airs on ABC truth,” Block writes. “My fee reports applauded the areas and the downtown spaces, for the fuss is about on BritBox, where “Line of Duty” serves as a nec- Tuesday, part two on June 1 (both talent of writers who showed no talent, condemned the indoor and outdoor spaces and live and the series is currently streaming. The essary corrective to the glut of cop nights 8 pm. EDT). plots of stories with perfectly satisfactory plots, and recorded music. were written with the singular goal of getting the poor Several business owners complained that 70 decibels — the limit for venues mooch to submit another story and pony up another corpse fl ower — so-called because of the it Monday to the abandoned building, the old Art Deco gas station and patiently fee.” with unenclosed or outdoor areas such as a patio or rooftop — is too low, while stench it emits when it blooms — after where a line of people stretched down answered the same questions again and When Meredith died, Block recalls during his inter- its owner decided to share the rare plant the block for most of the day, the San again. He estimated that by 4 pm, at least view, fellow author Evan Hunter called up friends and residents around the downtown square said the threshold was too high. with his neighbors. Francisco Chronicle reported. 1,200 residents had visited the fl ower. exclaimed, “Isn’t that wonderful, Scott’s dead?! Isn’t Solomon Leyva, a nursery owner in “I grabbed my wagon, went down to “Everyone is commenting to me that that the best thing you’ve ever heard?!” “It’s a work in progress,” Oxford May- or Robyn Tannehill told the newspaper. Alameda who deals in exceptionally my greenhouse, put it in with the help of the last time they’ve seen this was in Block’s memoir captures New York in the late “If we don’t get it right, we’ll change it. rare plants, had been posting on social a friend of mine, dragged it down here to San Francisco, and there was a barrier, 1950s-early 1960s, when it was both stimulating and There will still be issues we will have to media about his amorphophallus titanum. this abandoned building and people just and they had to wait for hours, and they affordable, enabling a young writer to start a family work out.” (AP) When he saw a lot of interest in the giant started showing up,” Leyva said. weren’t allowed to get near it,” Leyva there. The city has long been part of his work. Some ❑ ❑ ❑ blooming fl ower, he decided to wheel Leyva relaxed in a camping chair at said. “I think everyone’s tripping out that readers think of “Eight Million Ways to Die,” per- they can walk up and wiggle it and smell haps his most famous Scudder novel, as one of the NEW LONDON, NH: Some people are it.” (AP) great books about New York. Matthew Scudder lives greeted by the family dog. For Todd ❑ ❑ ❑ in downtown Manhattan, but his cases bring him all Westward, it’s a ruffed grouse. The bird started hanging out in the MELBOURNE, Fla: After years of fi ght- around the city, to homes honest citizens would be ad- ing and litigation over who can include vised not to visit. New London, New Hampshire, backyard last month with Westward while his fam- “Orlando” in the name of their central “I like to get around the city,” Block says. “Up until Florida airport, Orlando International the pandemic, my wife and I would have a thing: On ily was away on a trip, his wife, Mary Beth Westward, posted in Facebook. Airport offi cials and Orlando Melbourne Sundays, we’d research a little and we’d fi nd some International Airport offi cials have ten- ethnic restaurant in some outer-borough neighborhood Since then, the bird, named Walter, has made himself a fi xture in the yard. tatively agreed that Orlando Melbourne we had no acquaintance with and fi gure out how to get “I just thought it was a fl uke before we International Airport will change its there. It was a great once-a-week treat.” left,” Mary Beth Westward said Friday. name to Melbourne Orlando Interna- His memoir leads to the mid-1960s, to what he calls “While we were gone, this bird formed tional Airport. the end of his “apprenticeship,” the publication of his this crazy attachment. He was here every The Melbourne Airport Authority novel “The Thief Who Couldn’t Sleep.” It was the single day, all day long, following him.” announced the Space Coast airport’s start of his breakthrough Evan Tanner mystery series, Walter has perched on her husband’s new name. The name change was legally about a Korean War veteran who because of his inju- shoulder and arm, and has visited his agreed upon to everyone’s mutual sat- ries is affl icted with permanent insomnia. Block calls backyard work station. isfaction in a consent and license agree- it the fi rst book only he could have written, a break Mary Beth Westward said she’s gotten ment, offi cials said. It must be approved from the “derivative work” of his early years and the a lot of positive comments from her post, by both airport boards. start of the kinds of novels he knew he was meant to and heard some similar stories about The newly renamed Melbourne write. social grouses. Orlando International Airport is about “The stakes are higher (in a mystery novel) than She said she and the couple’s daughters 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of they are in a novel where the big plot point is, ‘Will don’t have the same bond with Walter. He Orlando International Airport, which is this professor gets tenure?’” he says with a smile. appears to chase them away. (AP) the busiest airport in Florida. ❑ ❑ ❑ The Melbourne International Airport He cites a writer friend who’s “a heavy-duty reader. Awkwafina poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an began operations in 1928 and changed its And she’s got a book that she’s reading and she al- ALAMEDA, Calif: Residents of a San actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy for ‘The Farewell’ at the 77th name in 2015 to Orlando Melbourne In- ways reads herself to sleep at night. Francisco Bay Area city fl ocked to an annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Awkwafina ternational Airport in an effort to attract abandoned gas station to get a whiff of a turns 33 on June 2. (AP) more travelers. (AP)