Horns And Halos

How hard can it be to get a book published? According to writer James H. Hatfield (author of biographies on Patrick Steward and Ewan McGregor) and editor Sander Hicks, it is nearly impossible. At least if you're treating certain subjects. In October of 1999, respected New York-based publishing house St. Martin's Press got mixed up in its so far most controversial affair - the release of Fortunate Son: the Making of an American President. The book was a not so flattering biography of Texan governor and future President of the United States George W. Bush which perhaps attracted most of its attention because of the allegation that Bush had been arrested 30 years ago, charged with snorting cocaine. The media didn't need much time to uncover ghosts from the writer's past. Hatfield had served five years in prison after being sentenced for preparatory murder. St. Martins Press withdrew the book which resulted in heavy economic loss. The following year, Sander Hicks' radical left-wing publisher house Soft Skull took charge of the book with the hope of creating a stir in the forthcoming presidential elections. Meanwhile, independent filmmakers Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley got on the train to document what happened. The result is a shocking though objective insight in contemporary political journalism. STEFAN NYLÉN