I. J. Parker

, Female

United States

Profile Information:

About Me:: I write historical mystery novels and stories, and mainstream historical novels.
To amplify: Four novels in the Akitada mystery series and some eleven short stories on the same subject are in publication. The novels have been published by St. Martin's Press and Penguin and translated into a number of foreign languages. All the stories have appeared in AHMM.
The fifth novel in the series is due to be released September 28.
The Akitada novels take place against the background of eleventh century Japan. Their protagonist is a minor official in the imperial government who gets drawn into criminal cases either because of his official duties or because he has a personal interest in a case of injustice. One of the short stories won a Shamus award. Check out the web page for more detail.
I also recently finished a novel involving the Heike Wars and am currently working on a thriller set in eighteenth century Germany.
I Am A:: Reader, Writer
Website:: http://www.ijparker.com
Books And Authors I Like:: I like British police procedurals, as well as some of the Scandinavian ones. I also like Hillerman and some books by a number of other authors. Of the new ones, I like Olen Steinhauer and Kevin Wignall and Stuart MacBride. I'm afraid this is only a sampling.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Mostly I dislike them. I'm watching reruns of MASH and THE SOPRANOS at the moment.

Comment Wall:

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Geoff McGeachin

Hi I.J.

Thanks for the comment.

I was doing a quick search for your Sugawara books locally (love those covers) and came across this link which seems to be someone in Australia as she uses the term 'whinging’, but most definitely not in relationship to your work.
If you haven’t already seen this site I thought you might be interested.

http://home.netspeed.com.au/reguli/japhist.htm

Cheers,

Geoff

Mar 7, 2008
I. J. Parker

Thanks, Geoff. That was very kind. I know the site because I waste a lot of time searching for the novels on the internet. Pure vanity, and I'm ashamed of myself. :)

Mar 8, 2008
I. J. Parker

Thanks, Linton. It was. I like research. I also like revision. And, yes, the writing itself. :)

Mar 12, 2008
Tom Cooke

Ms. Parker,
Thanks for the comment. I guess perhaps one sentence paragraphs are a bit small.

I am currently fiddling with the query. The bass fiddle now looks more like a ukulele. I'm going to keep it up until it looks like a Stradivarius.

Thanks again.

Tom

May 15, 2008
I. J. Parker

You're welcome, Tom. Do persist, and again: Much future success!

May 16, 2008
DADavenport

Dear I. J.
I was doing what has become a Birthday tradition, buying books at my favorite Used book store with a gift certificate my Mom gets me, and I found a lovely copy of The Hell Screen!... It's an advanced, uncorrected proof, which I love collecting on the side... I recognized your name immediately and had to grab it before anyone else did. I will start reading it today.

I am ecstatic!

May 19, 2008
I. J. Parker

I hope you like it, DA. I take it that this is the hardcover St. Martin's Press one. They are out of print and hard to come by. Penguin's trade paper edition will be out in June. Enjoy.

May 19, 2008
Byron Leon McAllister

On MWF someone asked what's become of you lately. I suggested you were busy, but maybe you'd like to add to that? Byron

Jun 9, 2008
I. J. Parker

Thanks for asking, Byron. I'm flattered I've been missed. Actually I also had an e-mail from Penny. I can't get on any more. The site doesn't recognize me and no attempt at signing up again works. This happened before, and I just lost interest when the hassles started again. Give everyone my best, but I think I'll stay here now.
I hope all is well with you and any of our former friends.

Jun 9, 2008
Naomi Hirahara

Hey, I.J.--

A nice writeup in Sarah's column on the Barnes and Noble website! Hope you're doing well.

Jun 25, 2008
I. J. Parker

Thanks, Naomi. You mean physically? Yup, I'm okay. And yes, I saw Sarah's column. She's been great about supporting mystery writers.

Jun 25, 2008
Lynette Hall Hampton

Hi, I was the one asking about you on MWF. I sure miss the discussions and comments you made there, but I understand the hassel of not being able to get on. Though it's a good site now, it's not the same as the old one. There's very little activity on MWF now. A lot of the older members have drifted away and I miss them. I still check in every week or so to see if anyone has driften back. A few check in occasionally. I hope things are going well with you. How are the dogs?

Aug 20, 2008
I. J. Parker

Hey, Lynette. So good to hear from you, and so glad to find you here. I went to your site. It looks great.

Aug 20, 2008
Brett Battles

Thanks! I've been kind of under the radar here for a while, but hoping to participate more in the near future. I've told you before...I love the Akitada books!

Sep 21, 2008
Naomi Hirahara

I.J.--

I've never asked you this before--but why did you select the Heian Period as the setting for your books? I'm finishing up my fourth Mas mystery and hina dolls figure prominently, so I've had to do all this research about Japanese dolls. Have you read anything by historian Alan Pate? He's very thorough.

Nov 30, 2008
I. J. Parker

Hi, Naomi. In the late seventies, I was teaching world literature and found that I needed to include Chinese and Japanese sources. I did a lot of reading then and fell in love with GENJI. Of course, when I decided five years later to write historical mysteries, the period seemed perfect. At that time, no one else was using a Japanese historical setting. It just took me forever to research the period and learn to write novels. :) In the end, GENJI was only of limited usefulness. Alan Pate sounds familiar, but I don't think he's a specifically Heian scholar. I work with Reischauer, McCullough, Morris, The Cambridge History of Heian Japan and anything else I can lay my hands on.

Nov 30, 2008
Donna Carrick

Hi, I.J. -- Good luck with Convict's Sword! I agree with your comment about 'titles' -- badly chosen titles are a real peeve of mine. If a writer can't be bothered to select a title that reflects the work, then why should anyone be bothered to read it? At least as much effort should be put into the title as is put into the first pages of the novel itself. Best regards, Donna

Feb 9, 2009
B.R.Stateham

I.J.

I will definetly have to check out one of your Japanese historical mysteries--they sound similiar to a series concerning a Chinese official written by a Dutch ambassador back in the 50"s. (what the heck was that author's name!!)

Feb 10, 2009
B.R.Stateham

I.J. I just found out the name of the author who wrote the historical detectice Judge Dhee series. His name was Robert Van Gulik. If you haven't read'em, you should check them out.

Feb 10, 2009
I. J. Parker

Thanks, B.R., I left a comment on your page. I know Van Gulik very well indeed. He was my inspiration when I first started. His is one of the very few superb historical mystery series.

Feb 10, 2009
Brian L Porter

Hello I.J. I'm quite awre of what Crimespace is and I am a crime and psycholigical thirller writer, (I just won the P & E Best Thriller of 2008 Award, and A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper is about to be made into a motion picture), who just happens to have also released a bookof poetry, and believe me there are many crimes against mankind described in some of the works of Juan Pablo Jalisco.

Good to hear from you and my best wishes for the continued success of your series.

Brian

Feb 25, 2009
Dawn M. Kravagna

Wow! Congrats on the preorders with Amazon. That's great.

Thanks for your kind words regarding Buster. Sadly, he didn't make it. I'm going to blog about it on my page. You're right, however; animal food does not have the same FDA protection as human food, so, probably not till next year, I'll probably make all of my next dog's food. In fact, I'm horrified about what's being allowed and am considering what to do. Take care.

Mar 9, 2009
Brian L Porter

Thanks for your kind comments I.J. You have my best wishes in all yor writing endeavors.

Brian

Mar 10, 2009
Dawn M. Kravagna

Thanks very much! I really miss Buster. I've had a lot of pets during my lifetime, dogs and cats, but he was my favorite and I really adored him. He was very special: lots of personality and very intelligent, like having a 3-year-old who was always happy. It's always nice to know peopel who understand the connection with a special furry friend. Take care. Dawn

Mar 12, 2009
Lynette Hall Hampton

Hi Ingrid, haven't visited these pages for a long time. Taking the afternoon off to play on the computer. Still miss you at Mystery Writers Forum. Place is awfuly slow now, but still some old members around. Hope everything is going well with you and your writing. Best.

May 16, 2009
I. J. Parker

Hi, Lynette. See my answer on your page.

May 17, 2009
JackBludis

I liked your comment on Writers/Readers.

It's nice to see there are pubs out there doing the job or at least trying to do it.

Jun 3, 2009
JackBludis

I loved that crazy Texas barbecue place. Scared ... Mmmmm, don't remember the reason for it unless it was the bus ride across the desert. You contribute nicely to the forums.

Jun 3, 2009
Donna Carrick

I.J.I've just read Chapter 1 of The Hell Screen-- What artistry! Fabulous opening!

Oct 4, 2009
I. J. Parker

Oh thanks, Donna. I had to think a moment how that started. Some reader review did object to the violence. :) But I've always liked a bit of violence in a crime novel and women can be so effective playing those parts.

Oct 4, 2009
B.R.Stateham

Just wondering, I.J. Have you approached Bitter Limon Press? An English publishing firm that sounds to me would be a perfect fit for your Akitada series.

Nov 3, 2009
Kemosabe

Im sure youve read Barry Eisler's Rain books a lot of which takes place in contemporary Japan and the Orient, [if the PCs will let me use that word]. I was wondering what you thought of them? Also and Im bad on names but I read recently a novel about a detective in North Korea which was good. Of course I loved and I cant think of the name of it something like Samurai Richard Chamber played the Englishman in the movie. It was published some thirty something years ago. Anyway I wondered if that novel had any effect on your series. BTW Ive ordered your first from amazon and I am anticipating reading it.

Jun 3, 2010
Caroline Trippe

Just started reading "The Dragon Scroll," and I'm already hooked! This is a really refreshing change from the kinds of mysteries I've been reading lately. I have a friend (former neighbor who has recently moved) who LOVES all things Japanese (she's the one who told me about Kij Johnson's wonderful novels---"The Fox Woman" and "Fudoki," and I'm definitely going to recommend your Akitada series to her---in case she doesn't already know about them.

Jun 27, 2010
Caroline Trippe

I actually closed that thread down myself---seems you can do that with your own threads---thought it had probably gone far enough, after 98 posts, and I was starting to get overwhelmed---it was getting difficult to find the new responses. Of course I could always re-open it "by popular demand." But, life must move on---:)
The Kij Johnson novels DO deal with the supernatural---rather with legend and history---but they are so beautifully written, so moving evocative of the period, that I loved them both. "Fudoki" is a frame tale: the fable is the fabrication of an aging noblewoman, written to amuse herself as she feels constrained by her court life.
It's always hard to know which book to begin with. Our library (a very fine one, I might add) had at last 3 of your books, so I thought I'd start a the beginning. That way I can follow the development of the characters. The covers are gorgeous. And I love books that start with a little map....;)
I like your writing style: straightforward, economical and classy. (Too much gratuitous cursing and sex really bores me--and you don't need to resort to that to make your dialog come alive). I see on your website that you started writing rather late---after retirement? Congratulations! Now I have to hurry back to Mr. Akitada!

Jun 27, 2010
Caroline Trippe

I'm really bad at selling myself. :)

Not uncommon, I think, among artists and writers who are doing it mostly for the joy of it. But you have a really nice website, and the reviews of your series are glowing. I may have discovered you by chance---but at least I discovered you! And retirement provides you the TIME you need to really be creative, to bring to fruition all those years of work. Most of us (I'm no exception) have been following our avocations for a long time, while working full time.
It will be interesting to see your character grow. Is he based on anyone in particular---a historical personage, or even someone you know? I already like him. I have no objections at all to "a bit" of sex in fiction--we do have to believe in the characters, and the early Japanese, at least in the Heian courts, were very liberal about sex! (They make us look like prudes) And they wrote each other poems as part of the courtship ritual, which i think is just "so cool!" ;) Readers want a fuly fleshed out characters....they have to eat, drink and, er, make merry!
I consider myself a discerning reader---yes, I am choosy about what I read---but I believe in giving credit and praise where it's due. Artists and writers OWE it to each other to give support. Not always easy to do, not always forthcoming. But important!

Jun 27, 2010
Caroline Trippe

You said, "the protagonist is more important to me than the mystery. " I agree--the best mysteries have the strongest protagonists. I know exactly the sort of person Reginald Wexford is, for example---and Burden, too. Elizabeth George said that character is the basis for her mysteries, too--although IMHO, Barbara Havers is a stronger character than Lynley. (Although the TV series is WEAK--and their choice of cast, Havers especially, is more of a mystery to ME than anything else about it!) I read a few of that very popular series by Martha Grimes, but gave up on them because Jury never came alive for me--he was like a shadow, and the supporting cast all seemed like stereotypes to me. Character is revealed through action and dialogue mostly, and you do that very well. :)

Jun 27, 2010
Caroline Trippe

In one post I said that Adam Dalgleish didn't always seem quite real to me either; don't get me wrong---I still wouldn't pass up a new P.D. James mystery,because she really is good. Roy Marsden didn't exactly embody Dalgleish for me in the series, but he was OK. I might have envisioned someone more like an older Clive Owen, as far as physical type goes. We know A.D. writes poetry---but we never get to read any. :) Its' supposed to be "good." Yet I can't imagine what sort of poetry he writes. :) Not sure I want to know. It occurred to me that an interesting post might be to ask writers who they would envision playing their fictional detectives if they were lucky enough to get an offer for a TV series or movie. But then I thought, probably the best actors would be unknowns anyway. Who would have guessed that Joan Hickson (who appeared once as a feather-brained socialite in one of the Poirot episodes) would be the quintessential Miss Marple? Now if I were to read one of the Marple mysteries, I would ONLY see Joan Hickson as Miss M. Her abiilty to convey suspense, to "move the story along" through her facial expressions and gestures, was extraordinary! Unmatched, really David Suchet made a great Poirot too, but a bit comical. But IMO nobody could touch Joan Hickson!
A very young Toshiro Mifune might have played Tora in your series....but he'd be far too old now! He's about the only Japanese actor I'm familiar with.

Jun 28, 2010
Caroline Trippe

Adam Dalgliesh's poetry always rubbed me the wrong way, too

It just isn't entirely believable, is it! ....because if he's a poet, yeah, what's he doing in the crime field? When is he fitting in all this poetry writing anyway? Most poets I know have to set aside time every day to master their art! Why isn't A.D. a college professor of literature or something, like his new squeeze Emma? Don't know if I find her enitrely believeable either. I've got nothing against literate cops---Wexford, you know, is always quoting something, very well read man. But he doesn't write the stuff, you know? It just gives him an interesting dimension, I think. He's very human, in every way.

Jun 29, 2010
Wes Miller

Yes we do, Ingrid--I sent you the copious foreign editions of your series for a few years from JVNLA.

Hope you're well, and best of luck with the rest of the Akitada series at Severn House--and best success in general. I'm a fan.

Jul 15, 2010
cj forrest

Thank you for befriending me IJ. I thought there for a minute that you didn't like me. I look up to people such as yourself.

Jul 27, 2010
Bernard J. Schaffer

I have to say, I.J. The covers to your books are BEAUTIFUL. Are you familiar with the Lone Wolf and Cub books, by any chance?

Jan 13, 2011
King James

What company did you use for the e-book conversion?

Apr 24, 2011
Caroline Trippe

I.J., thanks again for the vote of confidence. At this time I have no plans to do anything more with the books, and don't really have an idea for a new one. Because of the painting process it sometimes takes a year ot more to complete one. I had some sketches and a partial text for Cupid & Psyche for maybe 3 years before I actually got motivated enough to start it. I've also revised Persephone three times since I first uploaded it; I suppose that's the good thing about print on demand. I changed the book format from portrait to landscape and designed a new cover. I had done some of the paintings before I knew about Booksmart; originally it was going to be a series of paintings, not a book. The process of making a book was a lot of fun, though! But it seems most people don't want to spend $45 for a hardcover or $30 for soft. I can't sell for lower than the base price, which is $29 for hard and $19 for soft for a 40-page book. If I could have been assured of volume sales, maybe---but unless people order online, it would just cost me too much, with no guarantees. Plenty of people come to my studio and look through the ones I have there, but so far I've only sold a couple. One loyal friend has ordered online. I had hoped there would be a little more support than that, but perhaps it is the wrong venue. But I can't afford to spend big bucks to have Amazon carry them. They're also previewed on my Facebook page---it doesn't help. People may think of them as children's books, but in fact, they're not. Maybe that's why adults don't buy them. One friend came into my studio, looked them over and said, "But I can't give this to my little granddaughter." Imagine!

Jun 3, 2011
Benjamin Sobieck

"Shaken" made the Fukushima Daily Update here: http://paper.li/seven_questions/1306498711#!tag-japan

Jun 12, 2011
Benjamin Sobieck

Just an FYI: Timothy Hallinan dropped me a note, saying "Shaken" isn't available for the Nook yet, but that people can e-mail him at thallinan@gmail.com after they buy the Amazon version and he'll send over an .epub that can be sideloaded into the Nook.

Jun 13, 2011
Benjamin Sobieck

Just reviewed "Shaken: Stories for Japan" and posted it here. I really enjoyed your Akitada short story about the horse race.

Jun 27, 2011
Noir Nation

Hi I.J., the discussion on the forum about social commentary in crime fiction has gotten quite a lot of responses. This has inspired us at Noir Nation to add a new section to the first issue of Noir Nation wherein writers opine on the following question: Must crime noir have a moral point? The word limit is 300 to 500 words. Include short bio, and photo. There is a $25 honoraria, payable on publication. Best five get published in Issue No. 1. Send to eddie@evegaonline.com

-- Eddie Vega, Noir Nation editor in chief

Jul 6, 2011
Ken Kuhlken

Hi Ingrid. Thanks for the kind words, and also for the reminder to stop by crimespace more often. Ken

Jul 14, 2011
Noir Nation

Hi I.J.

Thank you. You might be suprised at what qualifies as noir, we leave that up to the writer to define. Keep us in mind. Thanks,

Alan

http://noirnation.com.

Aug 22, 2011
Jack Getze

Same here. In fact, I've learned a lot from you. But I wanted to send you a private message this morning -- asking about your ebook sales -- and CrimeSpace said I couldn't because we weren't 'friends." Are we official friends now?

Sep 7, 2011