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Limestone Concerto Frequently Asked Questions: Listed below are some of the questions that readers have asked about Limestone Concerto. If you have a question, please send it to editor@mudbugpress.com. |
1. Did the John Birch Society really exist? This is a frequently asked question by readers under 45 years old. The answer is yes and it still exists today. When I was 11 years old, I wandered into a John Birch Society bookstore that was located within a few blocks of my house. I had no idea what it was. There was a charming old lady who welcomed me with a beaming smile as soon as I entered. After a short exchange of pleasantries, I started to look around at the books on display. Soon, the insignificant hair on the back of my neck tingled alarmingly. The titles of the books covered such subjects as the faking of the Holocaust, the dangers of mixed races, the infiltration of communists and Jews. To my knowledge, the JBS was never involved in any violent political action. You can find the JBS on the web today and its anti-ethnic and anti-communist (which is now a moot point) rhetoric is extremely toned down from the early sixties, but still seems to exist between the lines. I have also been told that until very recently there was a local violinist at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra who was publicly known as a member of the Society. -- WW 2. What was the inspiration for the novel? When I was 8 years old my mother, Betty Weems, married Izler Solomon the conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony. I moved with her from Colorado to Indiana, and was immersed into two radically new cultures; the Symphony Orchestra and the state of Indiana. The juxtaposition presented in that experience has always been fascinating to me. Furthermore, I had the privilege of meeting some the great musical luminaries of that time, including soviet pianist, Vladimir Ashkenazy, in 1962 before his defection ... and indeed before he could speak English. Despite the language barrier, I felt a youthful connection to him and that imprint has remained with me. Classical musicians may quickly recognize him as the basis of the Khazar character. To learn more about Indianapolis Symphony and its history there is an excellent book, CRESCENDO 75, by Tom Akins (former principal timpanist for the orchestra) available from the Indianapolis Symphony website store. -- WW 3. Do people really go stump-shooting, and if so, where can I do it? Although I have never done it, I was given the details of the procedure by a person who has done it. I don't know whether it is still done, but given population increases, it is probably even more dangerous and illegal than it ever was. I do not recommend that you do it and certainly not with Dick Cheney. -- WW 4. Where can I get a CD of the "recommended" music? I have received a surprising number of requests for such a CD. At the present time, no such compilation CD exists. To create one would be an enjoyable but difficult effort considering all the copyright issues. If book sales warrant such an effort, I will pursue it. If someone has expertise in this area, I would be interested in learning more about it. (Contact editor@mudbugpress.com.) -- WW
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