Earl Kemp On Reading & Writing
Continuing my talk with Earl Kemp. (Intro, on science fiction, on censorship and politics).
SPS: I was reading about Greenleaf and the apparently surprising popularity of gay works at that time... It is said now that many women are fans of such books and films -- straight women are the primary fans of written works and lesbians a large part of film sales. At the time you were producing gay publications for Greenleaf did you notice this?
Earl: I did notice how very popular the genre was, and that it was almost totally forbidden at the time. I also noticed that female writers (even straight ones) of lesbian material were off the wall possessive of their opinions that were often in conflict with our editors and our sales. Also numbers of straight male writers wrote gay novels. Also purchasers of gay material were more willing to pay for quality up to and including the type of paper the books were printed on.
These days, I find very little difference between our '60s books and modern bestsellers. Except perhaps that females use more dirty words and figure more prominently in them...as writers and readers and especially as protagonists on the prowl. Harlequin grown up and no holds barred for female readers.
SPS: Your comments about female reading materials is a bit foreign to me personally... I do know that it's said that women are the majority of book buyers, but as for that formula, it's not really me.
Earl: Locally they appear to be in the majority. Most local men would deny that they ever read any book.
SPS: What's on Earl Kemp's "must read" list?
Earl: I don't have one. I enjoy William Diehl very much. I can tolerate an occasional James Patterson but sure wish he had some Creative Writing classes and an editor and a proofreader. Some of my old friend writers still thrill me these days, notably Lawrence Block and Donald Westgate. Even Hunter did it too until he died, but in all of their books I find myself and our common past and all the things we learned how to do together.
I momentarily forgot (it's difficult to remember quickly and make snappy comments) two of my all time favorites, Elmore Leonard who can write no wrong and Larry McMurtry.
SPS: "Ahh," she said nodding.
I'm not certain I can articulate what resonates about that, nor follow it up with anything. If I were talking my thoughts, I'd open my mouth as if to speak then think better of it; then repeat the process several times. It's rare anyone can move me to such a silence.
Is this, do you think, the same for your dislike of TV, films etc... This lack of being able to find yourself there?
On the other hand, that seems a bit odd for a man who was hooked by other worlds... But then not feeling 'at home here' seems to have been a common theme I hear/read from sf authors.
I realize there is no direct question there. Just a few scattered thoughts. I might have been better off just keeping my mouth shut.
Earl: Oh, no. I always find myself there. At times even before the film begins or the novel opens. I am the original "reader identification" guy.
Of course. I was never "at home there." I was born into a foreign place with a language that I never understood among people doing nothing very slowly. A stranger and afraid in a world I never made. I didn't come alive until around the age of 30 and wasn't born a human until I was divorced. I'm still trying to shake off my teenage years and become an adult.
[As for keeping your mouth shut] You don't learn/exchange anything that way.
SPS: Given that sf was such a 'family' community before, I have to ask about Tiptree...
What did you think of her? Her writing? Did her stand-offishness affect your connection/appreciation? Did her secret affect your opinions of her &/or her writing?
Earl: I have no thoughts about her. She's after my time. I've never read anything by her.
SPS: How can Tiptree be after your time? You're still here. You're still reading. An aversion, perhaps?
Earl: Possibly. I think I explained that when I was a working editor I had not the slightest chance of reading for personal pleasure. Now I do. Now I'm very selective in who wrote it and whatever it is that I think I want to read. Currently around a novel a day with a little nonfiction thrown in for grins.
Images from Earl Kemp's efanzine: Greenleaf's The Man From C.A.M.P. series, Agent 0008 Checklist.
SPS: I was reading about Greenleaf and the apparently surprising popularity of gay works at that time... It is said now that many women are fans of such books and films -- straight women are the primary fans of written works and lesbians a large part of film sales. At the time you were producing gay publications for Greenleaf did you notice this?Earl: I did notice how very popular the genre was, and that it was almost totally forbidden at the time. I also noticed that female writers (even straight ones) of lesbian material were off the wall possessive of their opinions that were often in conflict with our editors and our sales. Also numbers of straight male writers wrote gay novels. Also purchasers of gay material were more willing to pay for quality up to and including the type of paper the books were printed on.
These days, I find very little difference between our '60s books and modern bestsellers. Except perhaps that females use more dirty words and figure more prominently in them...as writers and readers and especially as protagonists on the prowl. Harlequin grown up and no holds barred for female readers.SPS: Your comments about female reading materials is a bit foreign to me personally... I do know that it's said that women are the majority of book buyers, but as for that formula, it's not really me.
Earl: Locally they appear to be in the majority. Most local men would deny that they ever read any book.
SPS: What's on Earl Kemp's "must read" list?
Earl: I don't have one. I enjoy William Diehl very much. I can tolerate an occasional James Patterson but sure wish he had some Creative Writing classes and an editor and a proofreader. Some of my old friend writers still thrill me these days, notably Lawrence Block and Donald Westgate. Even Hunter did it too until he died, but in all of their books I find myself and our common past and all the things we learned how to do together.
I momentarily forgot (it's difficult to remember quickly and make snappy comments) two of my all time favorites, Elmore Leonard who can write no wrong and Larry McMurtry.
SPS: "Ahh," she said nodding.
I'm not certain I can articulate what resonates about that, nor follow it up with anything. If I were talking my thoughts, I'd open my mouth as if to speak then think better of it; then repeat the process several times. It's rare anyone can move me to such a silence.
Is this, do you think, the same for your dislike of TV, films etc... This lack of being able to find yourself there?
On the other hand, that seems a bit odd for a man who was hooked by other worlds... But then not feeling 'at home here' seems to have been a common theme I hear/read from sf authors.
I realize there is no direct question there. Just a few scattered thoughts. I might have been better off just keeping my mouth shut.
Earl: Oh, no. I always find myself there. At times even before the film begins or the novel opens. I am the original "reader identification" guy.
Of course. I was never "at home there." I was born into a foreign place with a language that I never understood among people doing nothing very slowly. A stranger and afraid in a world I never made. I didn't come alive until around the age of 30 and wasn't born a human until I was divorced. I'm still trying to shake off my teenage years and become an adult.
[As for keeping your mouth shut] You don't learn/exchange anything that way.
SPS: Given that sf was such a 'family' community before, I have to ask about Tiptree...What did you think of her? Her writing? Did her stand-offishness affect your connection/appreciation? Did her secret affect your opinions of her &/or her writing?
Earl: I have no thoughts about her. She's after my time. I've never read anything by her.
SPS: How can Tiptree be after your time? You're still here. You're still reading. An aversion, perhaps?
Earl: Possibly. I think I explained that when I was a working editor I had not the slightest chance of reading for personal pleasure. Now I do. Now I'm very selective in who wrote it and whatever it is that I think I want to read. Currently around a novel a day with a little nonfiction thrown in for grins.
Images from Earl Kemp's efanzine: Greenleaf's The Man From C.A.M.P. series, Agent 0008 Checklist.
posted by Silent-Porn-Star at
5:50 PM
3 Comments:
As the author of the C.A.M.P. series and countless othes (many for Greenleaf) I consider Earl the true godfather of modern gay fiction, and of course, he is one of my heroes. At the time he published The Why Not and the C.A.M.P. books, gay fiction was all about gloom and doom. He paved the way to an entirely different sensibility. Every gay writer today is in his debt.
Victor J. Banis
Oh, I totally agree with you! Thanks for stopping by, Victor... and if you'd ever like to do an interview here... *wink*
Oh, sure, I'm always up for an interview. People say all the time that I am easy. I think that's what they mean. Did I leave my contact information before. vjbanis@verizon.net
http://www.vjbanis.com
And, I neglected to say in my previous post,not only was/is Earl Kemp a brilliant visionary, but one heck of a great guy, and unfailingly loyal to his friends, among whom, after lo, these many, many years, I am honored to be included.
(If a man answers, go away, I might be getting lucky.)
Victor
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home