A Likely Story
by Donald E. Westlake
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Tom Diskant, a writer, struggles to get a Christmas anthology published, and wishes his estranged wife would get involved with someone else so that he could marry his girlfriend.Tags
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Westlake is a prolific author of comedic crime (cf Dortmunder). Here, however, he takes the reader on a journey through the publishing business told from the author's (and philanderer's) perspective. A book about an author writing a book (about Christmas in fact...). It's actually so well done that at times it seems like a manual on how to survive the publishing business, and how not to go about managing blended families and the world of serial monogamy. There's an ironic tone to the book, with just a few moments of Westlake's comedic genius. But it's not a satire, or indeed a comedy but a kind of gentle tribute to two institutions that he seems to have some affection for. (publishing and marriage). Recommended for fans of Westlake, and show more those curious about the world of book publishing. show less
A Likely Story is another Donald E. Westlake tale from the 1970s that feels outdated now. A writer compiling a Christmas related anthology has a whole range of romantic issues with current girlfriend and former wife, and assorted children, which comes to a head at a holiday house by the beach.
Perhaps the best part of A Likely Story is the "appearance" of entries in the anthology from writers like Isaac Asimov and Stephen King; from the little I know of Asimov, I wouldn't be the slightest surprised if his response to a simple query to contribute a Christmas related article would be to bombard the author with a slew of articles on absolutely everything even vaguely Christmas.
Perhaps the best part of A Likely Story is the "appearance" of entries in the anthology from writers like Isaac Asimov and Stephen King; from the little I know of Asimov, I wouldn't be the slightest surprised if his response to a simple query to contribute a Christmas related article would be to bombard the author with a slew of articles on absolutely everything even vaguely Christmas.
a writer's trials and tribulations with girl friend, ex-wife, girl friend's ex-husband, publisher and editor
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270+ Works 27,965 Members
Author Donald E. Westlake was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 12, 1933. He attended colleges in New York, but did not graduate. He wrote more than 100 novels and 5 screenplays throughout his lifetime. He also wrote under numerous pseudonyms including Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, and Samuel Holt. Almost 20 of his novels were adapted into films and show more he created the television series, The Father Dowling Mysteries. He is a three-time winner of the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay for The Grifters. He was also named a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master in 1993. He died of a heart attack on December 31, 2008 at the age of 75. (Bowker Author Biography) Donald E. Westlake has won three Edgar Awards & was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Grifters". He lives in upstate New York. (Publisher Provided) show less
Common Knowledge
- Epigraph
- I'll publish, right or wrong: Fools are my theme, let satire be my song. Lord Byron
The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me. George Bernard Shaw - Dedication
- This is for Justin Scott Joe Gores Brian Garfield Hal Dresner Al Collins and Larry Block and for two Superb editors Lee Wright and Rich Barber
- First words
- "Never write a novel in the first person", Jack told me.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Oh, well, what the hell. Merry Christmas, everybody.
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- (3.85)
- Languages
- English
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