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A Book Worth Reading

A few years back, a friend of mine - the late legendary Ted Ashley, a giant in the entertainment industry - asked if I would be interested in writing an essay for a book of recollections about how the year 1936 impacted our lives. Though a child, my long term memory managed to dredge up some rather potent material about that year, and I consented to write it. The recollections were being gathered by one of Ted's friends, Stanley K. Sheinbaum of Los Angeles.

The piece was written about five or six years ago and that was the last I heard about the proposed book. A year ago I was told by the editors at Tallfellow Press in Los Angeles that it was to be published in September.

The book, titled A Nation Lost and Found, subtitled "1936 America Remembered by Ordinary and Extraordinary People," features essays by Shirley Temple Black, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Oleg Cassini, Artie Shaw, Elmore Leonard, William Ruder and many others, including yours truly.

To help launch the book, I was the master of ceremonies at a dinner hosted by the Literary Committee of the Lotos Club in Manhattan. Speakers included Oleg Cassini, the nearly 90 year-old fashion legend and Bill Ruder, co-founder of Ruder and Finn, one of the world's largest Public Relations firm.

Aside from our own recollections of 1936, it was the year Hitler invaded the Rhineland and Mussolini invaded Ethiopia while the western democracies stood by and did nothing. Think of how many lives would have been saved if these monsters were stopped before they could wreak havoc on the world and cause the deaths of 50 million people. In many ways the period resonates with a cautionary tale as applicable today as it was then and might serve as an example of how dangerous lack of action can be in the face of obvious and impending evil intent.

This is a book worth reading. With our institutional memory of the depression era fading swiftly, we can reflect on the testimony of those who lived through what for many were harsh times.

Visit the website to read my contribution to the book A Nation Lost and Found.

What is Literary Fiction?

Publishers, like most media types, like to categorize books by genre e.g. science fiction, mystery, romance and their various sub-categories. They push writers to conform to the matrix for obvious business and marketing reasons. They then further classify novels as "literary" or "commercial." I have always been baffled by the imprecision of definitions about what constitutes literary fiction as opposed to commercial fiction. Does it mean that if literary fiction becomes commercial by virtue of high sales numbers it then loses its place in the close-knit snobby world of the self-appointed literati? There is a converse to that, but it borders on an oxymoron.

My own definition of what constitutes literary fiction is based on the old cliché of "standing the test of time." This means that only a literary creation that "lasts" and expands its universality to future generations is truly worthy of entering the canon of literary royalty. Such a definition is sure to inspire an avalanche of criticism and contempt, especially since I have dubbed irrelevant many of those who create contemporary standards of literary purity, most, if not all, of who will drop over the cliff of memory into the dark pit of oblivion.

As a writer of material straddling many genres, novels which deal with the range and subtleties of human experience and, therefore, difficult to slot, I find myself always on the razor's edge of controversy when I venture into defining the nature of literary fiction.

Recently I sat down with Alex Moore, Managing Editor of ForeWord Magazine, which is devoted to independent publishing, and during a friendly conversation expounded at length on the subject. It wasn't meant to be an interview, but our dialog triggered something in Alex's perception. He expanded on our discussion in the article titled Literary Fiction that appeared in a recent edition of ForeWord.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Alex on his perception and since he agrees with me in most areas, I believe it enhances the profundity of his editorial. Thanks, Alex.

Visit the website for Alex Moore's full article, Literary Fiction.

The Sunset Gang, the Musical

Copyright Controversy

This issue of copyright and its longevity often receives little attention by most authors. It should receive more. It is an issue of extreme relevance to any artist or writer who creates original material. Especially for someone like me, who has preserved my literary legacy through the electronic miracle of Print-on-Demand and eBooks, the issue is of critical importance.

As we speak, the extension of the copyright by Congress for 20 more years (bringing it up to 75 years after an author's death) is being challenged in the case of Eldred vs. Ashcroft which the Supreme Court will be considering in the next few weeks.

There are many people who disagree with this extension. Indeed, there are those who believe that copyright of intellectual and artistic properties should be shortened considerably. Those who favor this reduction point to lobbying by the film industry, particularly Disney, who have lobbied furiously to extend their rights and control over Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney's classic cartoon creation, which was about to expire.

Yet, despite the fact that the latest Congressional extension benefits a mega-corporation like Disney, it does not mean that authors and artists should be penalized because they happen to have become innocent bedfellows with big business.

As an author, I will fight to the bitter end to preserve my ownership of my artistic creations and defend it vigorously. There is nothing selfish, covetous or greedy in protecting one's right to one's creative work. This work is an individual vision, created usually by a single mind and designed to elucidate, communicate and, perhaps inspire fellow human beings. This is a right of property that should never be impinged or diluted. Such unique creations should be protected for the benefit of the author and artist's progeny and 75 years beyond the author's life is just about right.

Our entire backlist as well as the new novel Cult is now available just about everywhere with elegant and modern new book covers. Of course, the text remains the same and will remain so until 75 years after my demise.

E-sheets One to Ten

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Until next time, happy reading, and we hope to see you soon on the Great White Way!

Warren Adler

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November 6, 2002