December 13, 2003

Subject: Are Canadian publishers too dependant on grants and furthering Literary Snobbery?

Dear Editor, 

Writers have long known that to be published in Canada you have to be Canadian and write literary Fiction. Why is it that the American Publishing Powerhouses all publish detective/suspense/thriller genre novels?

Shouldn't these be just as enticing to Canadian Publishers? Is it that Arts and Literature Councils, Government subsidies and grants have made genre writing all but untouchable in Canada. The fact that we Canadians can't put forth a writer like Ludlum or Clancy never mind Patterson, Morrell or Margolin is not from a writers lack of trying but rather from an overall, grant and subsidy riddled and dependant publishing industry. Or is it snobbery? Far be it that a publisher should claim to have published anything so lowly as a genre thriller set in America. After all we are Canadian and should write about Canada or at the very least it must be Literary Fiction to attract attention.

Margaret Atwood is an excellent writer however, millions of readers have never read her literary works. Millions of readers do buy and read genre fiction with ever increasing numbers. Its time our subsidized publishing industry stands up and represents all writers to all readers. I'm sure booksellers would welcome the increase in sales.

American publishers don't care who writes it, where its location is or whether it is Literary or Commercial Fiction they want books that sell. Seems like a simple enough concept doesn't it!

Steve Clackson

Steve Clackson has written The "Control Method" to successful leasing, a book of poetry, and a novel.