Erika Holzer

Erika Holzer is an American novelist and essayist [cite web | url=http://www.aynrandstudies.com/jars/v6_n1/6_1bio.asp#eh | title="Biographies: 2004: Erika Holzer" | accessdate=2008-01-31] who was a member of Ayn Rand's inner circle. Her novel "Eye for an Eye" was the basis for a major motion picture of the same name. She has also co-authored two nonfiction books with her husband, Henry Mark Holzer.

Career

Erika and her husband "Hank," both lawyers, were students of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in New York City during the 1960s. In 1966 Erika and Rand, who was a best-selling novelist, began [cite web | url=http://www.objectivistcenter.org/cth-23-1732-GoodFuture.aspx | title="Good Future:" How Ayn Rand Contributed To Mine" | author=Erika Holzer | accessdate=2008-01-31] what would become a series of discussions about the art of writing. [cite book | author=Erika Holzer | title=Ayn Rand: My Fiction-writing Teacher | publisher=Madison Press | year=2005 ] Henry Mark Holzer became Rand's personal attorney. [cite web | url=http://sanseverything.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/from-ayn-rand-to-animal-rights-an-interview-with-henry-mark-holzer-2 | title="From Ayn Rand to Animal Rights: An Interview with Henry Mark Holzer" | accessdate=2008-02-01 ]

In the late 1960s, the Holzers managed to track down an original negative, thought to have been destroyed, of a 1942 Italian two-part film which had been adapted from Ayn Rand's first novel "We the Living". Erika helped Duncan Scott restore the film, edit it under Rand's guidance, and write English subtitles for the 1986 re-release of the film. [cite web | url=http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,1981,00.html | title="Movie review: We the Living" | author=Chris Hicks | publisher= Deseret Morning News | accessdate=2008-01-31]

Encouraged by Rand, Erika embarked upon a new career as a writer; her first novel, "Double Crossing", received critical acclaim and was a finalist for the 1984 Prometheus Award for Best Novel. [cite web | url=http://www.awardannals.com/wiki/Erika_Holzer | title="Erika Holzer" | accessdate=2008-01-31] The plot revolves around the conflict between two brothers born in the Soviet Union, one becoming a powerful official in the Soviet police and the other secretly planning his escape from the Communist regime. [cite web | url=http://fee.org/publications/the-freeman/article.asp?aid=1069 | title="Book Review: "Double Crossing" by Erika Holzer" | author=Bettina Bien Greaves | publisher= | accessdate=2008-01-31]

Her second novel, "Eye for an Eye", was published in 1993. Its plot centers on a mother who joins a vigilante group after the criminal justice system releases her daughter's murderer. In 1996 Paramount Pictures released a film adaptation (also titled "Eye for an Eye"); Erika was not involved with the film production.

She has also given interviews and written numerous essays for Objectivist, Libertarian, and Conservative Web sites.

Human rights

As lawyers, the Holzers have been involved in several "pro bono" cases, most notably the struggle of the 12-year old defector Walter Polovchak to avoid being forcibly returned to the Soviet Union. Another case resulted in political asylum being granted to two defectors from a Rumanian circus. [cite web | url=http://www.erikaholzer.com/biography.php | title="Biography for Erika Holzer" | accessdate=1008-01-31]

Published works

Articles

*Citation | last=Holzer | first=Erika | year=1968 | month=December | title="Preserve and Protect" by Allen Drury | journal=The Objectivist | volume=7 | issue=12 . Book review.
*Citation | last=Holzer | first=Erika | last2=Rand | first2=Ayn | year=1969 | month=December | title=The War of Liberation in Hollywood | journal=The Objectivist | volume=8 | issue=6 . Anti-intellectualism in Hollywood, illustrated by the movies "Bullitt", "Charly", and "".

Novels

*cite book | author=Holzer, Erika | title=Double Crossing | publisher=Putnam | year=1983 | isbn=0595176968 (2001 paperback) A Soviet doctor tries to escape to the West by exchanging identities with an American.
*cite book | author=Holzer, Erika | title=Eye for an Eye | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=1993 | isbn=0595192602 (2001 paperback) A woman turns to a vigilante group for justice after the legal system fails her.

Nonfiction books

*cite book | author=Holzer, Erika & Holzer, Henry Mark | title="Aid and Comfort": Jane Fonda in North Vietnam | publisher=McFarland | year=2002 | isbn=0786427299 (2nd Ed., 2006 paperback) Argues that Jane Fonda's activities in North Vietnam would support indictment and conviction for treason.
*cite book | author=Holzer, Erika & Holzer, Henry Mark | title=Fake Warriors | publisher=Xlibris | year=2003 | isbn=1401096751 (paperback) Subtitled "Identifying, Exposing, and Punishing Those Who Falsify Their Military Service", specifically concerning the Vietnam War.
*cite book | author=Holzer, Erika | title=Ayn Rand: My Fiction-writing Teacher | publisher=Madison Press | year=2005 | isbn=0615130410 (paperback) Insight into Ayn Rand's ideas about fiction writing; includes Erika's short stories and writing exercises.

References

External links

* [http://www.erikaholzer.com/ Erika Holzer]
* [http://www.wethelivingmovie.com/ "We the Living" movie]