Another Author Heard From...

PAULA CHRISTIAN, AUTHOR OF EDGE OF TWILIGHT (SEE LESBIANA, LADDER, FEBRUARY 1959) RECENTLY WROTE TO US, AND WE ASKED HER FOR SOME BACKGROUND MATERIAL CONCERNING HERSELF AND HER PURPOSE IN WRITING ON THE LESBIAN THEME. HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY:

THROUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCE AT FAWCETT, IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT A PUBLISHER (WITH THE MORAL CHARACTER OF A NATION IN MIND) CANNOT ALLOW THIS THEME TO BE PROMOTED AS SOMETHING TO BE ADMIRED AND DESIRED. NOR CAN A PUBLISHER IN THE PAPERBACK FIELD EXPECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ACCEPT A TRULY SOPHISTICATED TREATMENT WHERE THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS "DEVIATION" WITH A GREAT DEAL OF WHY'S, WHEREFORE'S AND "WE HATE OURSELVES BUT WHAT CAN WE DO." THIS MAY ACCOUNT FOR MISS ALDRICH'S TREATMENT IN HER BOOKS, BUT I'LL ADMIT | HAVE FELT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ACCURATE IF SHE HAD MADE A POINT TO INSERT THAT MANY HOMOSEXUALS LIVE QUIET, UNASSUMING AND RESPONSIBLE LIVES.

FOR INSTANCE, I WOULD BE VERY EMBARRASSED TO HAVE TO TELL MY PARENTS THAT I AM A LESBIAN AND HAVE ONLY MISS ALDRICH'S BOOKS TO SHOW THEM AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LESBIAN WAY OF LIFE.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY OWN APPROACH TO E OF T. IF I HEAR ANOTHER LESBIAN WHINE ABOUT WHY THIS WORLD IS SO CRUEL, OR THE I-CAN'THELP-IT-ATTITUDE, I THINK I'LL JOIN MISS ALDRICH'S SIDE OF THE FENCE. YET (IN MY MORE COMPASSIONATE MOMENTS) THESE ARE PRECISELY THE WOMEN WHO NEED THE MOST UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

AS DO

I WAS SO VERY SICK OF THIS BREAST-BEATING, BEAD-COUNTING UNDERTONE IN CURRENT LESBIAN NOVELS THAT I WANTED TO TRY TO WRITE A NOVEL WHICH DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO SAY WHY, ONLY WHAT IS WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE A CLUSTER OF EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED OR RETARDED TEEN-AGERS HUDDLING AGAINST THE SNOWBALLS OF SOCIETY.

YES, I WROTE ANOTHER BOOK CALLED ANOTHER KIND OF LOVE WHICH FAWCETT PURCHASED A YEAR AGO. THEY HAVE NOT AS YET PUBLISHED IT; NOR IS IT EVEN SCHEDULED IMMEDIATELY. THIS SECOND BOOK (IF | MAY SAY

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