For anyone wishing to travel with a raconteur, a true renaissance man, this volume is your ticket for the journey. Murder mysteries, comedies, investigative journalism, westerns, biographies, Mafia novels: Donald Bain has written them all in a remarkable career spanning more than 80 titles as author or ghostwriter. In this book, which is both an autobiography and a key to becoming a selling writer, Bain races the reader along on the road he has traveled-from the sands of Saudi Arabia to the quicksand of Hollywood moviemaking; from Coffee, Tea or Me?, and the best-selling comedy series it spawned, to acclaimed biographies of actress Veronica Lake, and top model and CIA mind control experimentation subject Candy Jones; from the wildly successful mystery novels based on the popular TV show "Murder, She Wrote," to the most bizarre gang wars in our nation's history during Prohibition madness; as well as books on caviar, airline safety and stock car racing. Bain leads the reader into the publishing trenches, and introduces the fascinating, often strange people with whom he's dealt, relates experiences, funny and sad, from his long career, and celebrates having survived in a profession not noted for longevity. It will be an entertaining and informative addition to any creative writing syllabus.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The author or coauthor of more than 80 books in a variety of genres, Bain is still not a household name. In this engaging look at his writing career, Bain introduces readers to the fast-paced life of a ghostwriter-a career that requires taking credit for not taking credit. Part chameleon, part businessman, Bain prides himself on his professionalism, his work ethic and his ability to keep his ego in check. Whether writing comedies, westerns, historical romance, crime novels, biographies, investigative journalism or novelizations of the popular Murder, She Wrote TV series, his attitude never changes. "Whatever I'm writing at the moment is the most important thing I'll ever write, and maybe the last." Ghostwriting was a side job until he hit pay dirt with Coffee, Tea, or Me? in 1967, a book that told the tales of two airline stewardesses and spawned three sequels. Bain's storytelling skills shine when he focuses on the people who have enriched his life and flavored his writing: e.g., the post-fame, alcoholic Veronica Lake and Candy Jones, who was his subject for The Control of Candy Jones, the controversial account of her 12 years as the subject of CIA mind-control experiments. Bain educates as he entertains by revealing his own writing habits and the machinations of the editor-publisher-agent relationships behind his writing projects. Readers will marvel at the diversity of subjects he's written on and his ability to convert nearly every opportunity into success.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Don Bain is a widely known and recognized media guest and will promote the book on radio and television and during lectures on how to be a writer. He currently resides in New York State.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love to Write? Love a Great Story? A Must Read.,
By
This review is from: Every Midget Has an Uncle Sam Costume: Writing for a Living (Hardcover)
For anyone who writes, whether you do it professionally, occasionally, or during moments of poetic inspiration in the quiet of your room, this is a must read. Don Bain is the consummate writer. If it needs to be reduced to words, he does it. Original novels, ghost-written books, editorial pieces, business writing, speeches . . . he may be the most accomplished jack-of-all-trades writer ever to click computer keys (or typewriter keys before that). Beyond the tips anyone who writes can pick up in this wonderful account of his life as a writer, there is the great, ongoing adventure that has been his life. Whether it be documenting the adventures of a couple of flight attendants, the life of a glamorous movie actress, the terrible effects of government-sponsored mind control, the mysteries of mystery writing, the inner workings of the underworld, the business of business, and on and on, Bain takes you there in a breezy autobiographical style that has been the trademark of the millions of books he has sold. Want a great read? Buy this book. Got any friends who love to write, buy it for them, too. You'll thank yourself for your good taste. They will thank you for thinking of them.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memoir gives an unique spin on the craft of writing,
By kooky Kid "Bookfiend1818" (east coast) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Every Midget Has an Uncle Sam Costume: Writing for a Living (Hardcover)
It took me a few chapters to warm up to this guy , but now Donald Bain has my heart AND ears.So many of the writing experts are either academic and high faluttin or woo woo spiritual or too acclaimed to stick their egos in the back seat and ghost write or co-write with other individuals - Donald Bain is none of these and he and his readers are richly rewarded with a breadth of work over decades...He writes stories that are a pleasure to read! Coffee, Tea or Me is a cultural icon at this point, a popular tell-all written from the perspective of two airlines stewardesses, during the glamorous heyday of air travel. Without Bain's participation, the story most likely would not have found its way into popular culture.
What won me over to this consummate professional is the chapter on working with Veronica lake on her biography . Recently I watched Sullivan's Travels and the next day searched on the internet for more insight into her life;just yesterday I discovered Bain's book - out of print and commanding unusually high prices because of its rarity.The way Donald Bain tells it, originally the publishers were not pleased with the effort because it wasn't sordid enough, it just told the story- without sensationalism. Bravo.Someday I will get a copy of this book and I am sure I will appreciate the story as written. I am looking forward to finishing this book, I have yet to read about the woman who was a mind control experiment for the CIA, or the Murder She Wrote material. Both of these topics had a HUGE impact on the consciousness at the time. This is great stuff. The craft of writing aside , even as simple memoir of a working media professional in pre- boomer America this book suffices as an engaging read.
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