Peter Leonard, son of master crime writer Elmore Leonard, who died last week, may complete his father's 46th and final novel. It has the working title Blue Dreams and features the Stetson-wearing US marshal Raylan Givens.
Leonard, also a published novelist, was interviewed by BBC Radio 4's Sunday show Broadcasting House, following his father's funeral last week. Asked if he would complete the novel, he said: "I would, yes. I think so. It's been discussed among family members and I've talked to Greg Stutter, Elmore's long-time researcher."
"I don't know the last line, the novel was unfinished," he added. "I don't know how many pages it is." Blue Dreams was originally conceived to feature a rogue immigration and customs official, an Indian bull rider and federal marshal Givens.
Leonard, whose published novels include Back from the Dead, Voices of the Dead and Trust Me, described his father's input into his own writing career. "Just after college I wrote a short story that was six pages long. A few days later, I got his three-page critique, the gist of which was 'all of your characters look and sound the same, they're like strips of leather drying in the sun'. I didn't write another word of fiction for 27 years."
"When I think about that now, I think it doesn't sound like Elmore. He doesn't use metaphor, but he did – he was showing off."
Peter Leonard was 51 by the time he plucked up the courage to show another manuscript to his father, this time with encouraging results. "He wrote back saying, 'I'm on the edge of my seat, you really know how to write'."
On Broadcasting House, Leonard discussed his father's 10 rules for writers , quoting him as saying: "never open a book from the wind's point of view", and "the line of the dialogue belongs to the character, the adjective is the writer sticking his nose in."
Elmore Leonard died on Tuesday 20 August at the age of 87, three weeks after suffering a stroke. His funeral was held near his home in Oakland County, Michigan, on Saturday. Along with the order of service, guests given a small card that listed his famous 10 rules of writing, the Detroit Free Press reported. Leonard served as a Navy seaman during the second world war and was given military honours, including the playing of taps and a flag-folding ceremony.
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