May 5th, 2008
O Pioneers!
Catching up with those who made a difference.
In 1966 Victor J. Banis wrote (as Don Holliday) The Man From C.A.M.P., featuring gay secret agent Jackie Holmes. "Mostly because I wanted a novel about someone who was out and proud, in a book that ended happily--which is to say, a departure from the usual gloom and doom," the 71 year old Banis told PW. By 1968, he'd published eight more tongue-in-cheek C.A.M.P. novels, making this the first gay mystery series. In 2007, Running Press published Longhorns, Banis's first gay novel in nearly two decades. Last year also saw a collection of short stories, Come This Way, and the reissues of 20+ earlier works; Lola Dances and Drag Thing came out earlier this year. Says Banis, "I"ve been writing short pieces for numerous anghologies and online zines, and with speaking engagements and appearances, workshops and writing classes, I"m having the time of my life."
-Kevin Howell, Publishers Weekly
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