Off and Away
I sent off a 4500 word essay to the publisher for use as an introduction to a pair of books by W. R. Burnett, author of classics like Little Caesar and The Asphalt Jungle. And a boatload of screenplays. The book info can be seen here.
All of Burnett is great stuff. One of the two Great Essays I may never write is about all dem authors that sold millions and millions of books but are largely forgotten today. On the other hand, as has been said, if you ask the man on the street who [insert your favorite bestselling author here] is, they most likely would not have heard of them. But W. R. Burnett, Richard S. Prather, etc., etc., make me wonder if I see the future of a Stephen King.
The other essay I'd like to write--only because I don't know if anyone else would write it--would be the story of the St. Petersburg boys from the paperback original days. Harry Whittington was born there, and Day Keene had a house on the beach I used to live near, Gil Brewer did much damage to his liver there, Talmage Powell....
Actually, that one should be a full-length book but would require a couple of years' of research. The sooner the better because we've lost all the writers themselves at this point and tracking down firsthand participants grows more difficult every day.
In the meantime, it's on to an editing project, tons of proofreading projects, and last but not least, more work on my next book which is due all too quickly.
All of Burnett is great stuff. One of the two Great Essays I may never write is about all dem authors that sold millions and millions of books but are largely forgotten today. On the other hand, as has been said, if you ask the man on the street who [insert your favorite bestselling author here] is, they most likely would not have heard of them. But W. R. Burnett, Richard S. Prather, etc., etc., make me wonder if I see the future of a Stephen King.
The other essay I'd like to write--only because I don't know if anyone else would write it--would be the story of the St. Petersburg boys from the paperback original days. Harry Whittington was born there, and Day Keene had a house on the beach I used to live near, Gil Brewer did much damage to his liver there, Talmage Powell....
Actually, that one should be a full-length book but would require a couple of years' of research. The sooner the better because we've lost all the writers themselves at this point and tracking down firsthand participants grows more difficult every day.
In the meantime, it's on to an editing project, tons of proofreading projects, and last but not least, more work on my next book which is due all too quickly.
posted by Rick Ollerman at 8:24 PM
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