Elmer Cameron Hawley (September 19, 1905 – February 9, 1969) was an American writer of fiction from Howard, South Dakota. Much of Hawley's output concerned the pressures of modern life, particularly in a business setting. He published numerous novels and short stories.
Born in South Dakota, he worked as an executive at the Armstrong Cork Company; after a 24-year career, he retired and turned to novel writing.
Executive Suite
Hawley's novel
Executive Suite was the first title published by
Ballantine Books in 1952.
Ian Ballantine announced that he would "offer trade publishers a plan for simultaneous publishing of original titles in two editions, a hardcover 'regular' edition for bookstore sale, and a paper-cover, 'newsstand' size, low-priced edition for mass market sale." The publishing industry sat up and took notice, because the simultaneous hardcover and paperback editions of
Executive Suite were obvious successes.
Houghton Mifflin published the $3.00 hardcover at the same time Ballantine distributed its 35¢ paperback. By February 1953 Ballantine had sold 375,000 copies and was preparing to print 100,000 more. Houghton Mifflin sold 20,500 hardback copies. Instead of hurting hardback sales, the paperback edition gave the book more publicity.
Film adaptation
Movie rights to
Executive Suite were sold to
MGM, and
Robert Wise directed the 1954 film of the screenplay by
Ernest Lehman, also titled
Executive Suite, and featuring
William Holden,
June Allyson,
Barbara Stanwyck,
Fredric March,
Walter Pidgeon and
Nina Foch. It was nominated for four
.
A short-lived television series based on the film and titled Executive Suite lasted only six months for a total of 18 episodes. It was telecast on CBS from September 20, 1976 until February 11, 1977.
Other works
Hawley's novel
Cash McCall was made into a
Cash McCall in 1960 starring
James Garner and
Natalie Wood.
Selected bibliography
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Executive Suite (1952)
-
Cash McCall (1955)
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The Lincoln Lords (1960)
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The Hurricane Years (1968)
