贪婪的出版商

1作者: cryNthedark3 天前
贪婪的出版商为了短期利益,系统性地扼杀了严肃的、发人深省的、揭露性的小说,无论是“海滩宝贝”之类的读物,还是逃避现实的书籍,亦或是漫画书。一本发人深省的书籍,在主流出版界几乎不可能出版,除非它经过了经纪人。 那么,一个拥有鸿篇巨制的严肃作家该怎么办呢?他向公众提供预告,以激发出足够的兴趣,从而扫清当代出版业的障碍。因此,我将发布一些我名为《谁的应许之地》的戏剧性作品的预告。 最令人愉悦的 莎拉和戴维手牵着手坐在考夫曼的凯迪拉克轿车后座上,当他们目睹车流涌入露天剧场,成千上万的观众买票并冲向座位时,他们感到兴奋不已。考夫曼的豪华轿车驶离海兰大道,进入好莱坞露天剧场的贵宾停车场。戴维的目光无法从莎拉的蜕变上移开。她把一头栗色的长发翻过头顶,搭在肩上,露出了她高贵的脖颈;一件海军蓝的夹克衫垂到腰间,一条配套的裙子完成了她的装扮。戴维穿着他最喜欢的灰色人字纹运动夹克和深蓝色长裤,都是刚干洗过的。对于这两个年轻人来说,为今晚的场合打扮,开启了一扇通往成年世界的大门,以及其中尚未探索的自由。 约瑟夫·考夫曼挥手示意停车服务员,服务员正等着为莉亚开车门。他打开车内灯,把一副歌剧望远镜递到女儿的同伴面前。 “戴维,你知道我手里拿着什么吗?” “望远镜,先生。” 约瑟夫露出了顽皮的笑容,他很享受他和这个男孩在晚餐后的玩笑。“它们对你说了什么,戴维?” “是的,先生。它们说所有的鸟都蹲伏着,那我为什么会在这里呢?” “我心里想着一只鸟,一只天鹅。” “是的,先生,今晚最美丽的天鹅。” “什么鸟会加入我们的天鹅呢?” “金丝雀,先生。一只无害的金丝雀。” “如果金丝雀行为不端,该怎么办?” “我们太小了,不能打屁股,先生。” “确实如此。因此,我们把一块布盖在鸟笼上。” “你的隐喻听起来响亮而清晰,先生。”莎拉咯咯地笑着,她的母亲则难以置信地摇了摇头,评论道:“约瑟夫,够了,别再学公鸡打鸣了。我们可不想错过开场。” 在吃了凉拌卷心菜、白鱼和凯撒卷后,莎拉挽着戴维的胳膊,把头靠在他的肩膀上,看着一支百人交响乐团在舞台上就位,近到足以看清乐手的脸。接下来,祖宾·梅塔入场,走到舞台中央,赢得了热烈的掌声。露天剧场的灯光变暗,只剩下舞台;观众一片寂静。梅塔举起指挥棒,勃拉姆斯的《第一交响曲》开始了。 在第二乐章,莎拉坐在戴维的腿上。 一双警惕的眼睛 莉亚·考夫曼坐在包厢席位后约25码处,把胳膊肘抵在丈夫的肋旁,惊呼道:“莎拉坐在他的腿上。把望远镜给我。” “这只是孩子气的玩闹,亲爱的。” “我必须知道他的手放在哪里。” “看看吧。一只手放在莎拉的肩膀上,另一只手拿着你为他们准备的晚餐里的蔓越莓汁。请放心,戴维永远不会做出不当的举动。我被告知,莎拉说了算。” “如果是这样,这种权威最令人担忧。” 莎拉在戴维的腿上扭动着屁股,想引起他的注意,“戴维,我感觉有点‘小木头’。” “什么是‘小木头’?” “你只需要知道我喜欢它。” 中场休息时,考夫曼一家和他们的女儿以及戴维一起加入了包厢。 莉亚·考夫曼问道:“你喜欢勃拉姆斯吗,戴维?” “我觉得它非常令人愉悦,夫人。”莎拉微笑着,亲了戴维的脸颊。她的父亲忍住了笑。 “为了减缓年轻人的浪漫,莉亚问道:“亲爱的莎拉,你真的有必要坐在戴维的腿上吗?” “我觉得这非常令人愉悦,亲爱的妈妈。”
查看原文
Avaricious publishers have systematically wiped out serious, thought-provoking and exposé novels for short-term sales, be it Beach Bunny books, escapism books, or comic books. of a thought-provoking book; nothing worthy gets printed in mainstream publishing unless it goes through an agent. So what is a serious writer with a monumental manuscript to do? He offers teasers to the public to generate enough interest to knock down the hurdles in contemporary publishing. So, I am publishing a few teasers from a dramatic rendering I entitle WHOSE PROMISED LAND. MOST AGREEABLE Sarah and David, holding hands in the backseat of Kaufman's Cadillac Sedan Deville, feel electrified as they witness the buzz of traffic entering the Bowl and the thousands of attendees buying tickets and rushing to their seats, as Kaufman’s luxury car turns off of Highland Boulevard into the Hollywood Bowl's patron parking. David cannot keep his eyes off Sarah's transformation into a woman. She flipped her long chestnut hair over her head and onto her shoulder, exposing her regal neck; a navy-blue jacket falls to her waist, and a matching skirt completes her outfit. David wears his favorite gray Herringbone sports jacket and dark blue slacks, freshly dry-cleaned. For the two youngsters, dressing for tonight's occasion presents a door to adulthood and its yet-to-be-explored liberties. Joseph Kaufman waves off the parking attendant, who waits to open Leah's door. He turns on the interior light and holds an opera's binoculars before his daughter's companion. "David, do you know what I hold?" "Binoculars, sir." Joseph’s playful smile appears as he enjoys the repartee he and the boy indulged in after their dinner exchange. "Do they speak to you, David?” Yes sir. They say all the birds are hunkered down, so why am I here?” “There is one bird I have in mind, a swan.” “Yes, sir, the most beautiful swan in attendance tonight.” “And what kind of bird joins our swan?” “A canary, sir. A harmless canary.’ “What is to be done if a canary behaves badly?” “We are too little to spank, sir.” “That is so. Therefore, we put a cloth over the bird’s cage.” "Your metaphor sounds loud and clear, sir." Sarah giggles, and her mother reacts with an incredulous shake of her head, commenting, “Joseph, enough Rooster crowing. We do not want to miss the opening.” After noshing on coleslaw, white fish, and Kaiser rolls, Sarah takes David's arm and places it across her shoulders, her head nestling on his shoulders, as they watch a hundred-piece orchestra assemble on the stage, close enough to discern the musicians' faces. Next, Zubin Mehta enters and walks to the center stage to loud applause. The Bowl's lights go dark except for the stage; the audience goes silent. Mehta raises his baton, and Brahms's Symphony Number I begins. By the second movement, Sarah sits on David's lap. A WATCHFUL EYE Leah Kaufman, sitting about twenty-five yards behind the box seats, presses her elbow into her husband's side and exclaims, "Sarah is sitting on his lap. Give me the binoculars." "It is just puppy play, my dear." "I must know where his hands are." "Take a look. One hand is on Sarah's shoulder, and the other is holding the Cranberry juice you packed with their dinner. Be assured that David will never make an untoward advance. I am informed that Sarah calls the shots." "If so, that authority is most worrisome." Sarah wiggles her butt on David's lap to claim his attention, "David, I feel a Little Woody." "What is a Little Woody?" "All you need to know is that I like it." During intermission, the Kaufmans join their daughter and David in the box. Leah Kaufman inquires, "Are you enjoying Brahms, David?" "I find it most agreeable, Ma'am." Flashing a smile, Sarah kisses David's cheek. Her father stifles his laugh. "Determined to slow down the youngsters' romance, Leah asks, "Sarah Dear, is it necessary for you to sit on David's lap?" "I find it most agreeable, Mother Dear."