New Hellmann thriller set against tumult of the '60s Entertainment
Evanston Review
January 27, 2011
By LILLI KUZMA Contributor
"I love going back in history. I've always been extremely interested in
how the past impacts the present," said Libby Fischer Hellman of
Northbrook.
Hellman is an award-winning author, whose recently published seventh
novel, Set the Night on Fire (Allium Press, 2010), deftly alternates its
time period from the late sixties to the present day. A thriller, it
follows a group of young idealists, whose lives decades later continue
to be affected and haunted by the past, with cover-ups, murder,
relationship nuances, and political intrigue.
Hellman's vivid descriptions of Chicago and the turbulence of the
earlier time is more than a backdrop to a riveting story full of twists
and turns, not to mention explosions, car chases, stalkers, and spies,
romance and heartbreak.
Past to present
She fully develops the characters in their youth, with all the arrogance
and sureness of the moment, but then propels the story into the present,
with an historically relevant assimilation that delivers a brilliant and
taut page-turner.
The title is taken from the lyrics in "Light My Fire" by The Doors. Set
in Chicago, Hellman's novel liberally names towns, landmarks, and events
well known to Windy City natives, something the author feels comfortable
with, given that she has now lived in Chicago for over 30 years.
"Politics are so absolutely brazen here," she said, chuckling.
A native of Washington, D.C., Hellman grew up with politics all around
her, and the dominant topic of conversation in the household. As a young
woman living in a Georgetown apartment, she spent one summer working for
"Quicksilver," an underground newspaper in D.C., recalling this as a
time when everyone was so angry about the assassinations of John F.
Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.
"These three things happened in such a compact time frame, and it seemed
like the government didn't do anything," she said.
"I have a lot of understanding about this time period, but I also had a
lot of unresolved feelings and disillusionment, and the book is kind of
my exorcism," Hellman continued. "I've felt a profound sadness about the
way things turned out. Some people lost their lives. They were doomed.
There was so much passion, commitment, and energy. We were looking to
change the world. But neither succeeded -- not politically or with the
alternative lifestyle."
Some progress
Hellman paused, and noted: "But we did make progress on issues like
women's rights and the environment. And I'm now thinking of this time
with more clarity. I've enjoyed finishing the era. I'm certainly not
about to go back and live in a commune."
Asked how different the sixties would have been if the likes of Facebook
had been available, Hellman said:
"With Facebook? Oh, there would have been huge demonstrations. The
(Vietnam) war focused people so much, you did not have to be a radical
activist to be against it."
Set the Night on Fire is notable as Hellman's first 'stand alone' novel,
as her prior six novels were mystery series with female sleuths, Ellie
Foreman and Georgia Davis. Hellman's publishing credits also include her
editing of Chicago Blues (October, 2007), an acclaimed anthology of
crime stories, and Nice Girl Does Noir, her own two-volume collection of
short stories published for E-readers in May, 2010.
Hellman is also active as a blogger with The Outfit Collective at
www.theoutfitcollective.com. She is a past National President of Sisters
in Crime, the organization of female mystery writers. Hellman has won
numerous writing contests and awards, and her new book has been
nominated for "Best Thriller of the Year," to be decided at the upcoming
"Love is Murder Mystery Conference" in Rosemont.
For more information on Libby Fischer Hellmann's work, see
www.libbyhellmann.com.
--
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/entertainment/3037940,entertainment-nort
h-hellmann-012711-s1.article
Via InstaFetch
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Sixties-L" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
