There was a time when the soul singer James Brown was known (mostly because he insisted) as "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." And that was a title Brown earned every night onstage, working up a sweat almost immediately and regularly being leg off the stage, seemingly too weak to go on, only to shed the cape he'd conveniently brought with him to rally and work the crowd up into an even higher state of frenzy.
He worked hard, is what I'm saying.
Well, I wouldn't dare suggest for a moment to challenge the late Mr. Brown to the title, but thanks to the fact that Josh is a really good agent, I'm in line to vie for The Hardest Working Man in Crime Fiction (midlist division).
Now it can be told: In addition to continuing the Haunted Guesthouse series for Berkley Prime Crime (GHOST IN THE WIND is coming in December!) and the Asperger's Mystery series for our own Terri Bischoff at Midnight Ink (THE QUESTION OF THE UNFAMILIAR HUSBAND, coming in October!), we've been able to announce that two (yes, 2) new series will begin soon, depending on your definition of "soon."
DOG DISH OF DOOM, the first in the Agent to the Paws series, will be coming to you from Thomas Dunne Books (St. Martin's Press) sometime in 2016. These books (written by E.J. Copperman) will center on Kay Powell, a showbiz kid who grew up on stages in the Catskill Mountains, performing with her parents Jay and Ellie (Jay, Kay and El) until she realized she didn't care much for performing and applied to law school. Now Kay is a theatrical agent who takes only non-human clients. That's right, she represents animals, and not the kind who usually populate film and theater casts.
In DOG DISH OF DOOM, Kay is trying hard to get her client Bruno, a big hairy mutt (he's a dog) a part in the latest Broadway revival of Annie. But just when it looks like she'll easily get Bruno the job, his human owner Trent Barclay is found with a knife in his back and his nose in Bruno's water dish. Things go steadily downhill from there.
But wait--that's not all!
Also coming sometime in 2016 (I think) will be WRITTEN OUT, the first book in what we're calling the Mysterious Detective Mysteries from Crooked Lane Books. In this series, Rachel Goldman is a midlist mystery author whose character Duffy Madison is a gifted consultant for the county prosecutor's investigation team. Duffy specializes in missing persons cases.
But one day as Rachel is putting the finishing touches on the latest Duffy Madison book, a man approaches her claiming to be a consultant for the Bergen County (did you think it would be anywhere but New Jersey?) Prosecutor's office, specializing in missing persons cases, one of which he insists he needs Rachel's help to solve.
And he tells her his name is Duffy Madison, and it is his belief that she created him.
Things go steadily downhill from there.
So with four (!) series publishing from four (!!) different publishers, my work (and of course E.J.'s) will be represented in mass market paperback, trade paperback and hardcover, as well as ebooks and audiobooks. In short, get prepared to be sick to death of me.
It's a lot of writing to do, and I'm absolutely fine with that. This is the job I spent years trying to get, so I'm going to do it as much as I can until someone tells me to stop. I'm hoping you'll follow me along on these many journeys and get some escape, some entertainment, some laughs and maybe a character or two you'll take to your heart. Expect to be hearing a lot from me as each publication date approaches, because I want to keep this gig. Readers ultimately decide which books continue to be published and don't think I ever forget that. Your voice is important to me; get in touch.
But if you think that's all... well, you weren't reading Josh's post last week.
Yes, I'm the writer he was referencing in relation to the auction that led to a very nice sale of two books to the German publisher whose name I won't attempt for fear of making myself sound foolish (as if not being able to type the name of a publisher doesn't make me look foolish enough). In fact, I'm both of the writers involved.
The first two Samuel Hoenig Asperger's Mysteries (by Jeff Cohen/E.J. Copperman), edited as I noted above by our very own Terri Bischoff, became the object of a bidding skirmish ("war" would be just too much to think about) last week, resulting in a very enjoyable phone call among Josh, Danielle Burby of HSG Agency, and me. I'm still a little dizzy from that day. Suffice it to say we'll be saying nice things about the Germans (and as it turns out, the Czechs) for some time.
So while James Brown may still hold the title of Hardest Working Man in Show Business (despite his being somewhat unable to work these days), I think I'll be toiling away pretty hard in the mystery biz for a while. It's the benefit of having a very good agent and a little luck.
Sorry, I have to go write now.
Wow. Congratulations on all your success, Jeff. You've earned it.
Posted by: Barb Goffman | May 25, 2015 at 01:22 AM
Congratulations Jeff! That is wonderful news! Yes the title is well deserved and couldnt happen to a nicer guy. Cant wait to read them!
Posted by: Elaine | May 25, 2015 at 02:00 AM
Thanks! I'm not comfortable bragging (although I do it), but I did think people might want to know.
Posted by: Jeff Cohen | May 25, 2015 at 07:56 AM
Congrats! Looking forward to all your new books!
Posted by: Stacy | May 25, 2015 at 08:01 AM
You are indeed the hardest working man in book business! Well done. So glad that you and Josh are ringing the bell. Repeatedly!
Posted by: Chris Grabenstein | May 25, 2015 at 08:09 AM
This is the best news ever Jeff! I can't wait to read them all. I'm so excited for you and of course myself. YOU ARE AWESOME!
Posted by: cgenna27@aol.com | May 25, 2015 at 08:50 AM
Awesome! Can't wait to read them all!
Posted by: KABBW | May 25, 2015 at 09:24 AM
Jeff, you are no longer simply on the list of writers I am privileged to claim as FB friends. You have just bumped Isaac Asimov to second place as my hero. You definitely deserve this; I've always loved your writing. But to be able to produce all this material is fantastic and something to be proud of - or at least highly self-satisfied. As my mother-in-law used to say, "What fun!" Congratulations!
Posted by: Robin Minnick | May 25, 2015 at 09:38 AM
Hooray, Hooray. You're providing your great writing in a giant way and my Kindle and I couldn't be happier. Such great news about so many new series. Thank you.
Posted by: bree | May 25, 2015 at 09:38 AM
Congratulations Jeff!
Posted by: Dru | May 25, 2015 at 10:18 AM
good for you Jeff! maybe we can do another signing together someday
Posted by: toni lotempio | May 25, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Alas, not at Cathy’s place, Toni. But thanks!
Posted by: Jeff Cohen | May 25, 2015 at 10:38 AM
So, so happy for you! All your success is deserved. And thank God for those Germans!
Posted by: Naomi Hirahara | May 25, 2015 at 11:29 AM
Congratulations! Looking forward to all your new books! I love the Haunted Guesthouse series.
Posted by: Linda Murray | May 25, 2015 at 11:48 AM
It couldn't have happened without a great deal of talent. So happy to hear of your successes.
Posted by: Pat Wade | May 25, 2015 at 04:48 PM
This is the best kind of news, with one of my favorite author(s) having four new books coming out in the next year or two? Two of them with new series? Wonderful. Congratulations and sit back to savor all that good news, at least for a little while or until you have to get busy writing.
Posted by: Patty | May 25, 2015 at 07:44 PM
Thanks to everybody for the good wishes! Now if I sound a little weary in the coming months, you might have a hint at why.
Posted by: Jeff Cohen | May 25, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Overnight success which only took, what, a couple of decades of honing your skills?
Well done. I will have to go have a cup of tea and a quiet lie down after reading about all the work you've got ahead of you.
And, go that agent man of ours!
Posted by: Tania Roxborogh | May 26, 2015 at 12:34 AM
I'm not complaining, Jeff, but you're blowing a hole in my book budget. Thanks.
Posted by: Donald A. Coffin | May 26, 2015 at 12:02 PM
WOW - Congratulations - I look forward to all the books - take a break every now and then so you don't keel over from too much computer time - or pen and ink time - or quill and ink time. They sound like fun reading.
Posted by: Annette N | May 26, 2015 at 01:43 PM
Great news - congrats :)
Posted by: Positive K9 Training | May 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM
Hardest working man in mystery fiction? Sounds like a challenge to me, Jeff!
Seriously - huge congrats. Isn't it great when it all comes together?
Posted by: Lynne Patrick | May 27, 2015 at 07:44 AM