MARCH 1998

Rappers of the world unite

Dear BQ:
I am a first time writer . . . I was very fortunate to come across the section called "BQ." Let me also say that I will be shocked if I get a response, but I'll be truly deeply grateful! My question is: do you happen to know how many books have been written about Tupac Shakur and his life. Could you tell me the titles of each book and the publishers and writers, pretty please?
Richard Arredondo
Sendai, Miyagiken, Japan

BQ:
Far be it from us to refuse such a heart-felt plea -- especially from a reader overseas. We will climb any mountain, we will cross any ocean . . . OK, OK, here's what we've got, three in all:

• Tupac Amaru Shakur 1971-1996, by Alan Light and Margeaux Watson (Crown)
• The Killing of Tupac Shakur, by Cathy Scott (Huntington Press)
• Rebel for the Hell of It: The Life of Tupac Shakur, by Armond White (Thunder's Mouth Press)
• And coming in August, the paperback edition of Tupac Shakur by the editors of Vibe magazine (Three Rivers Press).

What's eating Peter Hedges?

Dear Burning Questions:
Peter Hedges, the brilliant young author of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, was supposed to be releasing a new book in September of '97. Alas, the release date was pushed back to May of '98, leaving me with at least 5 more months of nail-biting anticipation.
Elizabeth M. Miller
via the Internet

BQ:
Good news -- only one more month of nail-biting anticipation! Hedges's new novel, An Ocean in Iowa, will be released in April by Hyperion.

The Ocean in Iowa is Scotty Ocean, a child who takes dramatic action to try to remain forever seven years old in protest of his mother's sudden abandonment of the family.

As for Mr. Hedges personally, he grew up in West Des Moines and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and two kids. He is also a playwright, currently with the Manhattan Class Company.

That Little Tree was obviously no cherry tree

Dear BQ:
What's the scoop on Forest Carter? Is he for real or what? I teach The Education of Little Tree in school to Native [American] students, and now I hear he could be a total hoax!
Ernie Allen
via the Internet

BQ:
Well, he was for real -- sort of.

Forest Carter, who died in 1979, was a speech writer for George Wallace. He was the man who actually coined that infamous phrase "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." He was also a KKK member but later left that organization and moved to Texas where he continued to write.

The book that he published as a memoir was not in fact a true portrait of his life. The University Press of New Mexico, who still has in print several of Carter's books, bought the book in good faith in the early '70s only to learn later that it wasn't entirely true. Carter does have Cherokee grandparents, but he was not an orphan.

We hear that a major motion picture of The Education of Little Tree is in the works.

The tri-author area

Dear Burning,
Two of my favorite authors can hardly be categorized: Tom Robbins and John Irving. I think Irving has a new one coming out, but what about Robbins? Updates on both please.

Also, any hope for another Burke novel by Andrew Vachss? All three have provided countless hours of reading pleasure.
Renee Servatt
Gainesville, FL

BQ:
This is your lucky spring. In April Andrew Vachss's new Burke novel Safe House will be released by Alfred A. Knopf. This time the righteous ex-con is on the trail of a stalker whose ally may be working for the government. And in May John Irving offers us his latest novel A Widow for One Year (Random House). (Be sure to check out our May issue for special coverage of this book.)

Now on to the man who once said "I have always been a romantic, one of those people who believes that a woman in pink circus tights contains all the secrets of the universe." Tom Robbins's publicist at Bantam tells us that the Blowing Rock, North Carolina, born author is currently at work on a new novel. Though the publication date is some years away, Robbins's publicist tells BookPage, "We believe that it will be worth the wait."

Book meets movie -- a dangerous liaison?

Dear BQ:
Is there a book about books made into movies? I love movies, I love books, and I love burning questions.
Bridgette Montgomery
Paducah, KY

BQ:
Bridgette, you're not going to believe this. We've searched high and low for an answer to this question, and one finally -- literally -- fell into our laps. The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film (Facts On File) is the book for you. It's comprehensive, educational, entertaining, everything you wanted to know about books being movietized. See inside this issue for Hollywood author Pat Broeske's take on this hot topic.

Wondering what happened to your favorite author? Gosh, so are we. Ask away: Send your cards and letters to Burning Questions, 2501 21st Ave. South, Suite 5, Nashville, TN 37212. Or better yet, e-mail us at Burning_Questions@bookpage.com.

Sadly, personal replies are not possible. And if your question is too hard, we'll simply put it in our big file labeled "We dunno."

©1998, ProMotion, inc.

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