Do you know what you want for Christmas?
In case you’re confused, go to truenoir.co and order True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak right now – the First Act (episodes 1, 2 and 3) drops on December 20! In fact, go there and buy True Noir even if you aren’t confused.
For those of you who’ve been with me for years – some since the publication of True Detective (the specific source of True Noir) – will understand how thrilled I am to have Nate Heller, beautifully portrayed by Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville fame, brought to life in Robert Meyer Burnett’s incredible nearly seven-hour immersive audio drama from my nearly 400-page script.
(Has anyone besides me noticed that actors who play Superman and Lex Luther respectively – Tyler Hoechlin and Michael Rosenbaum – have appeared in M.A.C. productions?)
It’s been quite a trip returning to this novel to adapt it after so many years. True Detective was written in 1981 and ‘82, published in 1983, and won the Best Private Eye Novel “Shamus” award in 1984, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. It represented several years of research by myself and my research associate George Hagenauer. And I think it’s fair to say that True Detective is the novel most important in (and to) my career.
What? You think that’s Road to Perdition? Well, Road to Perdition is a spin-off of the Nathan Heller novels, particularly the first two (True Crime being the other one). I was asked by DC Comics in early 1994 if I’d develop a series essentially in the Nate Heller universe but new, something that would be specifically for DC. That’s what Road to Perdition came to be. It required some fancy footwork in my novel Road to Purgatory to keep Nate Heller from running into Michael O’Sullivan, lemme tell ya.
Road to Perdition, of course, was the project that lifted me from the doldrums of the aftermath of my then-current firing from writing the Dick Tracy comic strip (for 15 years). Another result of reacting to that firing was a novella I wrote called “A Wreath for Marley,” which became a modest but heart-felt film in 2023 called Blue Christmas. You can buy it on Blu-ray or DVD in time for Christmas right now from Amazon and a bunch of other places, including Diabolik and Hamilton Books – it’s on sale for about eighteen bucks (and you can rent it on Amazon Prime for under two bucks).
And if you saw and liked Blue Christmas, don’t be shy about leaving a review at Amazon. Right now there’s only one.
Speaking of Blue Christmas, one of its two headline stars, Alisabeth Von Presley, presented her annual Christmas show at the Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids last Friday (Dec. 13), and Barb and I were in attendance. Alisabeth, a phenomenal performer, put on a fantastic show. She’s truly a Midwestern superstar and I hope to do more movies with her (she’s also in Death By Fruitcake), if she’s interested (and if Barb lets me out of the house).
I will share a few photos here from the Von Presley Christmas show (Christmas in the Key of Pink) which will give you a sense of the spectacle she mounted for a full house at a classic old theater. Alisabeth, of course, appeared on American Idol and American Song Contest (she debuted several new songs at the show).
In other news, I’ve been reminded by a number of readers that 2026 will mark fifty years of Quarry novels. Under its original title The Broker, the novel Quarry was first published in 1976. I had planned to write a Nate Heller novel in 2025 for publication in 2026, but we – editor Charles Ardai and I – have decided to do a 50th Anniversary Quarry novel to be published in 2026 (in addition to Return of the Maltese Falcon, which will appear in January 2026).
So the next Nate Heller, God willin’ and the crick don’t rise, will be a 2026 project and a 2027 publication. I may go ahead and write the Heller this coming year, since at my age putting things off isn’t the best idea.
I’m just starting to noodle with the idea for this special Quarry, and I’m leaning toward another one that has him older, and nearly my age. I really did enjoy writing Quarry’s Blood and Quarry’s Return. He doesn’t seem to be any less lethal past 70.
As for making any more of my indie movies, I have two ideas (one already scripted), but it’s complicated by money matters and by Barb’s unwillingness to participate (she has grandkids to spoil). The idea of making a movie without Barb at my side is a painful one, and perhaps impractical, because she has been an indispensable part of every movie I’ve made. The “money” factor I mentioned has to do with whether Blue Christmas and Death By Fruitcake are successful enough to justify continuing on this quirky cinematic path.
A few bigger-time movie projects are perking, but frankly that kind of thing only comes to fruition rarely.
Here’s an interesting write-up on my Mike Hammer graphic novel, The Night I Died.
And a nice look at Road to Perdition the movie.
This is a look at Paradox Press and how that now-defunct DC imprint published Road to Perdition and other noir-ish graphic novels.
Happy holidays, everyone!
M.A.C.
Tags: Blue Christmas, Dick Tracy, Quarry, Road to Perdition, Road to Perdition Movie, True Noir, True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak, True Noir: The Nathan Heller Casebooks
A third Old Quarry would be fine – but may I suggest it be set between The Last Quarry and Quarry’s Blood with our man in marrried bliss? (Yes, with Janet at his side.) You mentioned travels abroad – maybe having a “case” along the way.
As for more Quarry: Well, a while back, a possible Quarry/Nolan crossover was mentioned … just sayin’.
And happy holidays to you, as well.
After a lot of thought — including considering another flashback novel to the Broker’s list days — I think I’ll stay in the current continuity. I am noodling with the idea of Quarry going back home to where he was raised (QUARRY’S RETURN takes him back to Port City where his first recorded adventure takes place). The charater has always been a sort of left-handed autobiography, which makes me more interested in him in his seventies than earlier. Also, that hasn’t been done much (if at all) in other mystery series.
Oh, as for a Nolan/Quarry crossover, that remains possible. That almost happened when I had a Nolan contract to fulfill at Popular Library (who took over Curtis Books) and the book first published as THE BROKER hadn’t sold after several years of effort, and I considered writing a sort of Nolan envelope to the first-person Quarry novel as written. Probably not a good idea, more a desperationg play.
I listened to the True Noir preview that went up a couple of days ago for the Kickstarter backers and it was wonderful – can’t wait to hear the rest of the series. It’s been nearly 40 years since I read True Detective (and True Crime) for the first time, but listening to the recording brought it all back.
By the way, Rob Meyer Burnett did a great interview on the Word Balloon podcast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycGWMVVFtY) and I’m sure your ears were burning. Thanks for being so involved in this production!