Recent Questions

Below are answers to readers' questions. These questions are updated frequently so make sure to check back soon!

11/06/09

Where can i buy this whole series? one for the money...etc?  I want to buy it for a present. or do they have to be purchased individually?    

Plums 1 through 12 can be purchased in paperback boxed sets of three (1-3, 4-6, etc.).  There are also hard cover omnibus volumes containing three books each (1-3, 4-6 and books 1-3 of the Between the Numbers series).  You can get them at any bookstore or online bookseller. -- Alex

What in between the numbers book is coming out in January? What holiday will it be about?

No BTN book this January.  Instead, Janet is starting a new Diesel series that will be out in August 2010. -- Alex

I'd like to know is Ranger an unmentionable like Diesel.

To the best of our knowledge, while Ranger is a man of mystery, he's not an unmentionable like Diesel.  Though, sometimes we wonder. -- Alex

If and when a movie is made, do you think you will have any say in who playes Ranger and Lula?

There's no thinking about it.  We know we won't have any say.  If we hear anything new on the movie or TV front, we'll post it right away on the website. -- Alex

Do you or Janet have a twitter page?

Not right now, but we are working on some special Tweeting things for the future.  We did finally make it onto Facebook though.  Check it out. -- Alex

Haven't been able to find Hero At Large in any used book store, ebay, libraries in Birmingham, and Huntsville AL -- are you going to bring it back?

Yes!  It will be re-released around March 30, 2010. -- Alex

Why is it that whenever Diesel is in town Ranger is either gone or suddenly has somewhere to go?

It's just a coincidence.  Or is it? -- Alex

11/03/09

What would scare Ranger?

Grandma Mazur. -- Alex

Do I REALLY have to use white bread?  I like peanut butter and I like green olives, but I'm really having trouble putting white bread into my mouth!  How about wheat bread?  Is that okay?

There are no real rules to the art of making a peanut butter and olive sandwich.  Wheat, white, seven grain, whole olives, sliced olives, with pimentos, without pimentos, etc.  For Janet, the real key to the bread is softness.  She likes those slices mushy. -- Alex

Back on 10/16 in response to a reader's submission of a cake-in-a-cup recipe, you volunteered that you had a similar recipe for pineapple upside-down cake.  Uhhh, HELLOOOOO!

Here's the microwave cake recipe.  Not exactly in a cup, but the reader who sent it in says that you can use a regular glass mixing bowl.  Just turn a small glass (like a shot glass) upside down in the center of the bowl to make it a tube pan.

6 ounce sliced pineapple
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 tsp butter
6 maraschino cherries
1/2 box white cake mix
1 egg

Using a bunt microwave pan, spray with non-stick vegetable spray. Melt butter and pour into bundt pan. Spread brown sugar in bottom of pan on butter. Place pineapple slices around on top of brown sugar. Save the juice. Slice the cherries and place in and around the pineapple slices. Mix pineapple juice and one egg in the cake mix (remember, only half the box). Pour over pineapple slices, cherries and brown sugar. Bake in microwave on high for 9 minutes on turntable. If you don't have a turntable, turn 1/4 turn every 3 minutes. -- Alex

Is rex an unmentionable hamster?  How old is he?

Not sure if Rex is unmentionable, but he is immortal.  You never have to worry about good people, animals or cars kicking the bucket in a Plum novel. -- Alex

Do Stephanie,Ranger, Morelli, and Lula vote? If do, How?

Steph, Lula, Ranger and Morelli all vote.  They go to their designated voting locations. -- Alex

I have a complete collection of hc and sc of number and between the numbers books along with the romance and co-auth sc I just want to know where the perfectly plum book would go.

It's not on our list because Janet didn't write it.  That book is a group of essays about the Stephanie Plum character. -- Alex

Are you ever going to give the grandma in the stephanie plum novels her own book?

That's an interesting idea, but YIKES!  Give Grandma Mazur her own book?  Isn’t that sort of like giving Grandma Mazur her own Corvette? -- Alex

10/30/09

Do any of the places in the Stephanie Plum books actually exist? Besides Trenton and the burg of course.

Sure.  St. Francis hospital is real, Marsilio's is real -- they only do catering now :( -- the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk is real, and a number of other places, too. -- Alex

In the character profiles Hal is called a Halosaurus. A Halosaurus is a fish. Is Hal named after the fish or does it mean he looks like a dino?

Since the Halosaurus fish is only about 18 inches long and Hal is a hulking giant of a man, I'm sure Stephanie was making a dinosaur comparison. -- Alex

Does Joe ever take Stephanie with him on those diving vacation trips to the islands, or does he not going on them anymore?

To this point he hasn't.  Besides, if they went to a pretty, tropical place, I'm sure Joe would end up spending more time in the hotel room than in the water. -- Alex

I am loving the pet halloween pictures, some of them are a scream!

Check out the Pet Pictures page on the website today (through Sunday).  We have put up a whole bunch of new Halloween pet pictures. -- Alex

I am just curious if janet actually eats the peanut butter and olive sandwiches that stephanie eats? and if yes, how did she ever come up with that combination?

Yes, she does eat them.  She first learned about that combination in the Girl Scouts. -- Alex

I want to join the Facebook fan page, but there are 2! Which one is it that's the real one?

Actually, there are a bunch more than that.  The real Janet can be found on Facebook here. -- Alex

Will you be posting more of readers' personally designed "Sixteen" covers?

There aren't any covers left to post.  We've already posted all the covers that were entered in last month's contest.  If anyone wants to send in a new cover design, we're more than happy to post it on the site.  You can check some of the covers entered in our Design A Cover For Fun contest here. -- Alex

I've just finished Seven Up, the first book that I've read of yours.  I really enjoyed it, but cannot figure out the title.  Could you please explain?

Most of the titles have nothing to with the books.  As Janet says, she was born without the "title gene."  Starting with Four to Score, readers have been naming the books with the only requirement being the title had to have the correct number in it. -- Alex

How does Janet feel about Hawk reading her books (latest Spencer novel)?

She was pretty flattered when Robert B. Parker's tough-as-nails character Hawk mentioned that in his latest Spenser mystery.  Maybe Hawk was comparing tough guy notes with Ranger. -- Alex

Are your books published in French?  I have looked on amazon.fr and they do sell your books, but... in English.

Make sure you search in "Livres en Francais" when you look for Janet's books on Amazon.fr.  You'll be able to find the first nine Plum novels that have been translated into French.  Janet's agent is working hard to get more translated.  We'll announce any new developments on the website as they happen. -- Alex

10/27/09

Will there be any books out before book 16 in June?

Nothing "new", but the paperback version of Plum Spooky is slated to be released on December 29 and the re-edited version of Hero at Large will be out around March 30, 2010. -- Alex

When you post the date and time for the holiday sale, will you also be posting a list of items for sale?

Yes.  I will also post pages on the online store so you can at least see images of the items.  Our special items this year are...
Rex car cling (magnet)
Bob car cling (magnet)
Vintage 16 oz. hamster mug
Long Sleeve Plum Crazy T-shirt
Sally Sweet "F-f-fudge" T-shirt  -- Alex

Who is Ranger's partner in Rangeman? Is it possible that Ranger is an undercover federal agent? That would explain the never ending source of vehicles.

I asked him both questions and he just glared at me. -- Alex

In a New York vs. Philadelphia World Series match, who will Stephanie and Joe root for" New York (as in Rangers turf) or Philly (as in Tastykake mecca)?

Tough one!  You make a strong case with the Tastykakes, but typically there is some sports team rivalry with Philly. -- Alex

Where does "The Last Peep" fit between the novels?

"The Last Peep," a short story in the Mary Higgins Clark anthology, The Plot Thickens, was published between Three to Get Deadly and Four to Score --November 1997. -- Alex

I have read; Back to the Bedroom, The Rocky Road to Romance, Manhunt, Love Overboard, Wife for Hire, The Grand Finale, Foul Play and Smitten. In a few of them there is a little old woman named Elsie Hawkins. Is it the same little old woman?

Yes.  In fact, in a series' crossover moment, the gun Grandma Mazur gets in Two for the Dough is from Elsie Hawkins.  Fun fact:  Elsie Hawkins first appeared in Hero At Large, Janet's first published book. -- Alex

Are there any plans for a movie with Metro Girl? I love the book and think it would be a great movie!

There's nothing in the works right now, but needless to say, we'd love it. -- Alex

Is there a problem with distribution of "Between the Plums"?  I have not been able to find it at Walmart or Kmart in North Carolina.  I've been looking since October 1st.

Chances are you won't find it in the big box stores.  It's an omnibus re-print of Visions of Sugar Plums, Plum Lovin' and Plum Lucky -- books which all sold at those stores when first published. -- Alex

How do Lula, Steph, Diesel, Ranger and Joe like to celebrate Halloween?

Other than eating candy?  There's a big costume contest this year.  Morelli's going as Wolverine, Ranger as Zorro, Stephanie as a Butterscotch Krimpet (TastyKake), Grandma Mazur as Gene Simmons of KISS and Mooner as Harry Potter. Lula still hasn't made up her mind.  We don't know if Diesel plans to pop in. -- Alex

10/23/09

Does Stephanie ever call Ranger 'Carlos'?

Nope. -- Alex

Couldn't Steph and Lulla come to Switzerland to help R Polanski to sort out his bond problem?

I'm sure Stephanie and Lula would love a trip to Europe, but the currency differences and the exchange rate issues would probably cause some major confusion.  Plus it would probably be pretty hard to get Lula home after she discovered the cheese and chocolate. -- Alex

When are you going to start selling Rangeman gear? I want a Rangeman black on black ball cap.

You can get a Rangeman cap in the online store.  We also have Rangemen t-shirts, tote bags and car clings. -- Alex

What's with One for the Money movie being advertised as a 2009 release staring Reese Witherspoon?

IMDB updates the release year every January.  It's probably because it's in "pre-production," and has been forever.  To our knowledge, not much is happening these days on the movie front.  We'll let everyone know when and if we hear anything concrete. -- Alex

Baker and Taylor lists the Plum New Year book coming out in 2011? Surely that can't be true, can it?

Nope.  The temporary title of "Plum New Year" was for the book that became Plum Lovin'.   That title seems to be stuck in several data bases, and I suspect will continue to be until the year 3054. -- Alex.

For the readers on the West Coast - what are these breakfast fries that Stephanie and Lula seem to love?

Better known as hash browns -- the kind you get at McDonald’s. -- Alex

Has Janet finished book #16 yet or is she still working on it & how long does a Plum book usually take to write?

Janet is still hard at work on Plum Sixteen.  It usually takes her about 4 months to write the book and then another 2 months for editing. -- Alex

I travel alot and find that it is easier to have paper backs.  When will 15 and Plum Spooky be out in paperback?

Plum Spooky is slated for paperback publication on December 29, 2009.  Finger Lickin' Fifteen looks like it will probably be out in paperback on June 22, 2010. -- Alex

Are all the Plum books on cd's?

Yes.  In both abridged and UNabridged versions.  You can find the UNabridged versions of the earlier Plums at recordedbooks.com. -- Alex