Mau He's sure it's time to in say ‘goodbye’ By Jit Lewis WO YEARS AGO ARMISTEAD MAUPIN WAS SURE OF ONE THING WHEN HE BEGAN ‘WRITING SURE OF YOU, THE NEWEST BOOK IN HIS TALES OF THE CITY SERIES. AFTER FIVE BOOKS IN THE SERIES, HE WAS SURE THAT THIS WAS THE LAST ONE. The books were born from his column, “Tales ‘of the City,” whieh first appeured in the pages of the San Prancteco Chronicle in 1975. In '76 and ‘77, there was a daily dose of the current happenings in the liver of Maupin's characters, from Mary Ann and Michael, to Mrs, Madrigal and Mena. For some readers it was possibly like an addiction; even for those who were exposed to only a few days worth of reading. In 1977, “an editor from Harper and Rew came here for a vacation and saw a few of my columns," Maupin said. When this editor rewrned to New York, he wrote t9 Maupin asking to see a few more installments of this witty column. “I dida’t really have to shop around with 2 manuscript at all," he added, because this ‘exchange began Maupin's long-standing relationship. with Harper and Row. The first volume, simply titled Tales of she Cay, was published In 1978, after Maupin had time to do “considerable rewriting." More Tales of the City appeared in 1980. Having given himself time to rewrite previous columas and to gather material, Mavpia returned ta the pages of the Chrontcie in 1961, for six ‘months to produce the columns that would become Aurtber Tales of the City in 1982. K was a similar scene in 1983, for 1984's Babycakes, and in 1986, the columns ‘were printed in the Sam Francisco Examiner, but the fOullae remained the same for the 1987 publishing of Significans Oubers. Even with five novels behind him, the Publishing of sure of You this October was actually fiest for Maupin in certain ways, This volume was the only of Mavpia's collections to be published oziginally ax a hardcover edition; and it was the first time the short chapters weren't sertulized in the newspaper before being bound together for the bookstores to sell ‘That meant a change in routine for Maupin. “I"m not like other writers who write for five hours a day, no matter what,” he first explained when discussing the two years between each of the first five volumes of the Tales of the City books, However, with Sure of You, “I was sparred the hassle of datly deadlines. 1: was the first dime T had to write without exieally imposed deadlines,” Maupin said. Without that pressure the author had to regiment himself, “I made myself write three pages a day,” he added. This time the labor of love produced his ‘smallest edition, but provided much relief as the ‘writing Was progressing. Not only sparred the daily deadline, "I was spared the hassles of Byzantine censorship. The censorship (at the newspaper) would change every day, depending on the editor always having to second guess my editors," Maupin said. With Sure of You, more than any of Maupin’s books, he was able to expound on gay righis and the fear of AIDS, without having to worry about bis wording, and 2 daily editor's mood. This freedom allowed Maupin to concentrate on how to appropriately say good-bye to his beloved characters — a decision he made out of loyalty to those characters and (o bis audience, “I'm not sure I could sustaia it. 1 think 7 could be in danger of getting stale. And I wouldn't want to do a disservice to my characters and to my audience,” Maupin said. ‘I didn’t want to get locked Into the characters or only have one routine. (Withwriting other material) I worry that my audience will shun my new characters, because they love these characters so much." Before the fans of 28 Barbary Lane say farewell to Mary Ana, Michael and the gang, there will be ‘certain events in the life af Maupin's fictional family to keep the fetling alive, For book lovers, it's a special hnardeover boxed set that has been mished to: print time for Christmas. “There Was a charity In Boston that wanted to _Bive out limited edition boxed sets (of all six books, im 4 hardcover edition) to people who had Worked above and beyond the call of duty in the work against AIDS," Maupin explained, Harper published 150 of the limired edition, with original plans fer 50 sets to be given to the Boston organization and the others were to be made avallable to bookstores, “There was this huge rush of orders. Harper and Row underestimated the demand, and so the entire press run went to the charity," the author continued, That's when the decision to print 2 “spectat edition” boxed set was made, The final approval on design was seached by mid-October. According to Maupin, the desiga will be harmonious with the new Jackets that were designed ‘with the release of Sure of You, and the books will be a gray-green cloth with charcoal engraving. The publisher is trying to keep the retail price to as close fo one hundred dollars as it can. Because his publisher trying to maintain such a reasonable price, Maupin once again feels that the planed priating of 1500 i stil relatively low. “I'm in an odd position because 1 feel I'm in a better position than thelr markcting department because I understand the degree of loyally there ix in San Francisco to my books. 1 know my audience." Somewhat to his surprise, *t do have a wide national and international audience, including London and Australia,” Maupin said. Even now after thirteen years of winning fans, he still has trouble believing hhow strong his audicace is, aad he kaows why, “We in San Francisco. are surprised by that because we've grown up with these characters, One time in Sydney ‘was at a book signing and this small group of people walked up to me and said, “Hi, 'm Mong; this is Michael, and this is Mrs. Madrigal,’ “ he said. “People can completely identify with the familial setting in the books. They (the books) translate to people everywhere. Because we live in San Francisco, we can picture everything, even with the landscape. 1 guess that's why it surprises me (to find his avdience Is such aa international audience)," he added. ‘ven ia London, Maupio found himself slightly astonished by a review he received (for significant Others) from the Sunday London Telegraph. Surprised, that is, uatil he road one line in the review. “The Telegrap is normally a very crusty, conservative Publication that at times is homophobic," Maupin sald. When he admitted his shock to the glowing review he received, he added, “it wasn't until T read the line In the review that fald, ‘this reviewer could sympathize completely with Booter being kidnapped by some maniac lesbian,” he understood how he earned this posliive review. As Maupin fans remember, when Booter, Dee's stepfather, was attending an exclusive allamale retreat, he accidently fell asleep Ia a rowboat, and floated downstream to where a sromen's only music festival was taking place, Maupin would aggressively support the theory that his audience Is so strong and far-reaching because of the familiarity readers can feel with his characters, ‘And what about the author himself? “I think 1 relate closely to DeDe because | came from the same kind of aristocratic background tnd had 4 much longer journey. to becoming liberated,” he noted. He also feels a kinship with Mona, the lesbian daughter of Mrs. Madrigal, "Many of my friends thought I would say | ‘was more like Michael, but when you're writing you vse the art of empathy with your characters. L try to climb into each individual character,” Maupin added. And that's why he delivers such convincing portrayals of his large Barbary lane family, and wins himself such 8 strong, loyal audience. Before Maupiz ean completely leave these characters behind there's another project in Maupia's career that will provide his readers with a new look at Bis lively stories. Because of his following in England, “1 will probably get wrapped up in the screenplay of Tales of the City," Maupin said, The British production company that was responsible for “My Beautiful Taunderee” and “Wish You Were Here, wants 10 make six films based on Maupia’s six Book series, although there currently there Is not a time-table for the project. the plan is to have the films run on British television first, then make their way to the states, more than likely, via PBS. “We haven't sold the rights yet, and we won't until a suire i's the right production.” Maupin said, The production wants to film in San Francisco and use an American cast. ‘There are “no ideis on the cast yet. 'd like to work with unknowns, But definitely, 1'l be involved with the casting and everything, because | want to make sure that it has an integrity that is tied with the books” Therefore Maupin's immediate future is still involved with the characters he's been working with since 1976. As he begins to close this chapter in his writing career he Is reminded of Sir Arthur Coaas Doyle, who eventually killed his beloved fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. “This happened until his readers demanded that Doyle bring him back from the dead," Maupin said, “I always view this as a cautionary story as well as a great tribute to an author's character.” Whst about with Maupin? Will his readers ever meet up With Mary Ann or Michael again? “I doa't know, But I've learned never to say never” @