Thank you so much for the visit and for your enthusiasm for Don’s work. I’m personally very interested in what you’ve done with the characters but you should know that the family has decided not to allow the characters to be used in any new stories or novels, as a rule. The consensus is that Don’s sardonic wit and unique writing style are too difficult to replicate to do justice to the characters or the storytelling. And even if his writing was replicable, it still wouldn’t be “Don.”

All that said, I’d still be interested in reading your work and sharing it with the family. If you’re still interested in sending the material, drop an email to me at pewestlake[at]gmail.com and let me know you did so here so I can be sure you weren’t caught by the spam filter.

Thanks again for stopping by and for being such a big fan. Your enthusiasm won’t go unnoticed at the homestead!

All the best,
Pw

Thanks so much for the visit and sharing your memories. I’m constantly blown away by the impact Don has had on so many published authors. You have an enviable career and it’s deeply gratifying to learn that Don played a small role in your development as a writer. Thanks very much for sharing.

If you haven’t read “Under an English Heaven,” the non-fiction history of the Anguillan “revolution,” I highly recommend it. Side-splittingly funny in a not-too-condescending manner. And the Anguillans still love it to this day.

Also, I’ve unearthed a few old titles you might want to check out. Until recently, only a few people even knew that Don had helped another writer finish a book under the pseudonym, “Barbara Wilson.” Also, the first title under the house psuedonym, “John Dexter” (a name used by several writers), was his. So it’s possible you still have more “new” Westlakes in your future.

Thanks for the visit and let me know if you have, in fact, read the whole canon!

All the best,
Pw

Yes, Gavras directed “The Ax,” but it’s best known by the French title, “La Couperet” (also “The Ax”). It’s available on DVD from Netflix and the soundtrack is available at Amazon. It’s a good movie. Hope you get a chance to see it.

Thanks for stopping by and the kind words.

Pw

Thanks again,
Pw

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your kind thoughts.

All the best,
Pw

I’m so pleased that my work here has inspired you to do a similar tribute for your dad. His was the original visualization of Parker and I always loved what he did with the hands. Great stuff! Please send anything you post my way and I’ll link to it here.

My father was dragged, kicking and screaming, into the internet age so it was long overdue by the time I got involved. He deserves a special place in American culture and I hope this little site will help keep that flame alive. And I hope your dad’s contributions are similarly preserved and extolled.

All the best,
Pw