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WHAT OTHERS SAY
Tish Sass
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*
Appeared in Writer's Lifeline
No.
5, 1986, pages 28, 29, 30
I cannot claim to know Stephen Gill. I have been acquainted with him too
peripherally over too brief a time. I doubt, however, that anyone really does
know this unobtrusive publisher/author to any great extent, except through his
works of poetry, his essays or his delightful children's tales. It would appear
to me that the multifaceted Mr. Gill, despite his apparently convivial public
facade, keeps much of his deeper self buried in the well from which his
creative expression-- full of private suffering or celebration‑-
springs. Like a great wise owl surveying
his domain, Stephen Gill quietly gleans knowledge about life around him and
consumes only what he requires in order to thrive, meanwhile, he extracts
necessary nourishment from what he digests, and periodically registers his
profound observations for the benefit of other creatures of the forest.
What
Stephen Gill
does to promote
a novice but talented Canadian
and East Indian Writer is partly
something he does for himself. As a publisher, it
is to his advantage to put out well‑written, innovative and
intriguing volumes-- and those authors just breaking into print, grateful for
their proverbial "break", often try harder for less. But this is not to demean Stephen's
generosity or intent. Publishing is a
risky business with no guarantees of easy or even eventual profits. Publishers in general seem to be always
battling the bridge to "the red".
When Gill takes a chance on previously unpublished or
little known authors, the opposite side of the coin is that the public is
exposed to interesting works that might otherwise never get beyond the
manuscript stage in a trunk in some musty attic.
But Gill is not some starry‑eyed
philanthropist. While rejecting the term
commercial (for even classical writers such as Shakespeare and Dickens, he
points out, were popular and intended that their works make them money), he
definitely chooses to put out books that he feels will sell. While not all of the rough gems may prove to
be treasures, Stephen Gill's Vesta Publications
Limited has uncovered and sometimes helped to polish some veritable jewels of
literary talent. I am convinced that Stephen genuinely responds to noble ideas
embodied in good stories or
fine poetry and wishes to share enlightening words-- whether
those of others or his own-- in titles
he releases. But to keep a critical eye on
the profit margin which permits his publishing ventures
to operate would be self‑defeating and totally unrealistic. Stephen Gill is far too successful a
businessman to indulge in sentiment rather than in sensible financial
decisions.
On a personal
level, I am grateful for the practical good advice he has freely offered me--
as I am sure to others he has helped-- about how to become a successful
Canadian author. While poetry is for me, as I think for Stephen, what is
closest to my writer's heart, it certainly can't do much for my pocket book.
In addition to graciously sharing the podium with me
at several of his own poetry readings at the Metropolitan Toronto Library under
the auspices of the Canada Council (Gill is the only Asian so far thus honoured
as a poet), he invited me to stretch my literary sinews and write articles and
book reviews for his magazine, Writer's Lifeline. The experience and exposure which I got in
return have been well worth the effort.
It was
certainly very rewarding to my sometimes insecure creative ego to have an
editor of Mr. Gill's stature invite me to submit my writing to him.
Additionally, Stephen has been most encouraging of my efforts, which has spurred
me on to greater confidence and achievement. Early on in my career, he
actually took the time
and trouble to thank me in writing for contributing what he termed a wonderful
article. Needless to say, I was elated! I suspect that Mr. Gill has been personally
supportive of many other of his writers in this fashion. This I find somewhat extraordinary in light
of the terse or unflattering responses which some less munificent or fewer self‑assured
editors might make. I feel that Stephen at one time unfortunately learned
personally how much the negativity of
callousness or censure
can discourage a sensitive,
aspiring writer, and that he therefore determined that he would apply the
Golden Rule once he had attained "thumbs‑up" or "thumbs‑down"
editorial power. Certainly Gill seems willing to reward the deserving with
praise and expert guidance. New projects
which have emerged from my professional association with Stephen have been most
gratifying to me, especially since I do not inherit his East Indian ethnic
extraction. Universal brotherhood is a
theme which often pervades Vesta Publications, and
would appear to be one of Stephen Gill's major messages to humankind.
As I initially indicated, I cannot claim to know
Mr. Gill, if anyone indeed can.
But the purpose of this book is to introduce you to what can really be
known of him through others say about him, and through occasional quotes by
him, help define his essential philosophy and aims. During a recent visit to his Cornwall,
Ontario, home with my eight‑year‑old daughter, Christina, where we
enjoyed the attractive house with a spacious yard-‑ not to mention the wonderful hospitality of his
intelligent, lovely wife, Sarala; and the
company of his
three fine young children‑ Rekha, Ajay
and Sarita,
Stephen Gill's imposing publishing
operation, located in the
extensive basement of their residence, spoke for itself. In addition to such obvious achievement,
Stephen's success reflects in the many volumes of his writing that have been
published. Once again, these too speak for
themselves, as well as for Mr. Gill.
The self‑effacing attitude which Stephen adopts,
despite considerable reason
for pride in
his many accomplishments, was
evident to me
when it was necessary for me to request to see listing on
him in Who's Who of the Commonwealth. This book was merely tucked away
unobtrusively (as was an award for
distinguished service from the same source) in
a bookcase, and not display
prominently, as might have been the case with a man of less modesty
than Stephen Gill. He has lately
received the honour of Doctorate in Literature from the
Mr. Gill has more than twenty books to his
credit, including, poetry collections, novels and critical studies. He has contributed
several scholarly and non
scholarly articles and book reviews to various publications. His name has
appeared in many who's who titles, published in
the
The way I best like to remember the author feted in
this volume is as he
unwittingly starred in a domestic scene which impressed itself in my
mind. Deciding to
brew himself some
tea, Stephen narrated the
intricate, unusual preparation of
the beverage in a manner peculiar to the
where he was born. Regardless of the
shiny modern Western kitchen setting, something in the age‑old
custom's reenactment stirred powerful visions in me
of Stephen's fascinating roots in
Stephen Gill has been a Canadian citizen for some
years now. He is a writer, editor,
speaker and publisher. However much you
learn of his beliefs and aspirations through this book. I feel confident that
you will want to explore further
what of himself
this noteworthy contributor in
the field of literature has committed to black‑and‑white through
his writing. I trust that readers will enjoy coming to know at least something
of what Mr. Gill is
all about as
you examine these
reflections by others about their encounters with this man of no common
measure.
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*Award-winning
author Tish Sass has several articles and short
stories to her credit. She is now enjoying her retirement from civil service.
Her poetry, articles and illustrations have appeared in several publications.