Lucy Cores
Encyclopedia
Lucy Michaella Cores Kortchmar (January 14, 1912-August 6, 2003) was a Russian-American novelist.
Born in Moscow
, Cores was the daughter of violist
Michael Cores
and the niece of violin
ist Alexander Cores
. Her family fled the Russian Revolution and arrived in the United States in 1921. She attended the Ethical Culture School and Barnard College
.
In 1942, she married Emil Kortchmar, a screw machine
parts manufacturer. They had two children, Michael and Daniel. Danny Kortchmar
is now a professional guitarist.
Cores wrote two mystery novels, Painted for the Kill (1943) and Corpse de Ballet (1944), featuring female protagonist Toni Ney, a former ballet dancer. The second book was dedicated to Cores' friend Olga Ley, the wife of science fiction writer Willy Ley
, herself a former ballet dancer and possibly the inspiration for Ney. Cores also wrote the mystery Let's Kill George (1946).
Cores wrote a number of romance and historical novels. Women in Love (1951) was based on her own experiences. The Mermaid Summer (1971) was set on the island of Martha's Vineyard
, where she moved in 1957. The Year of December (1974) was about Claire Clairmont
's time in Russia. Destiny's Passion (1978) and Fatal Passion (1989) were historical novels set during the British Regency. A story she published in the Saturday Evening Post about a magazine editor raising seven children was the basis for the television show The New Loretta Young Show
.
Cores also wrote science fiction. Her story "Deborah and the Djinn" appeared in the September 1959 issue of Fantastic Universe
. Lucy Cores also contributed a story to Beyond Time (1976), an alternate history anthology edited by Willy and Olga Ley's daughter Sandra. The story, "Hail to the Chief", features a President Richard Nixon
unhindered by Watergate who remains in office until 1994.
At the time of her death, Cores was writing a novel about Alexander Pushkin.
Born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Cores was the daughter of violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
Michael Cores
Michael Cores
Michael Cores was a violist.Born in Kiev when it was part of the Russian Empire, Cores earned a Doctor of Natural Science degree from Kiev University and a doctorate from the University of Moscow. He worked as a lawyer before moving to the United States in 1923.Cores studied music at the Moscow...
and the niece of violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Alexander Cores
Alexander Cores
Alexander Cores was a violinist and founder and first violin of the Dorian String Quartet.Born in Russia, Cores studied in Berlin and at the Juilliard School under Leopold Auer and Paul Kochanski. Cores was a member of the New York Philharmonic from 1925 to 1931. His Dorian String Quartet...
. Her family fled the Russian Revolution and arrived in the United States in 1921. She attended the Ethical Culture School and Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
.
In 1942, she married Emil Kortchmar, a screw machine
Screw machine
A screw machine may refer to a:* Screw machine , a small- to medium-sized automatic lathe that is mechanically automated via cams...
parts manufacturer. They had two children, Michael and Daniel. Danny Kortchmar
Danny Kortchmar
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
is now a professional guitarist.
Cores wrote two mystery novels, Painted for the Kill (1943) and Corpse de Ballet (1944), featuring female protagonist Toni Ney, a former ballet dancer. The second book was dedicated to Cores' friend Olga Ley, the wife of science fiction writer Willy Ley
Willy Ley
Willy Ley was a German-American science writer and space advocate who helped popularize rocketry and spaceflight in both Germany and the United States. The crater Ley on the far side of the Moon is named in his honor.-Life:...
, herself a former ballet dancer and possibly the inspiration for Ney. Cores also wrote the mystery Let's Kill George (1946).
Cores wrote a number of romance and historical novels. Women in Love (1951) was based on her own experiences. The Mermaid Summer (1971) was set on the island of Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
, where she moved in 1957. The Year of December (1974) was about Claire Clairmont
Claire Clairmont
Clara Mary Jane Clairmont , or Claire Clairmont as she was commonly known, was a stepsister of writer Mary Shelley and the mother of Lord Byron's daughter Allegra.-Early life:...
's time in Russia. Destiny's Passion (1978) and Fatal Passion (1989) were historical novels set during the British Regency. A story she published in the Saturday Evening Post about a magazine editor raising seven children was the basis for the television show The New Loretta Young Show
The New Loretta Young Show
The New Loretta Young Show, which aired for twenty-six weekly episodes on CBS television from September 24, 1962 to March 18, 1963, featured Loretta Young in a combination drama and situation comedy about a free-lance writer in suburban Connecticut named Christine Massey, the widowed mother of...
.
Cores also wrote science fiction. Her story "Deborah and the Djinn" appeared in the September 1959 issue of Fantastic Universe
Fantastic Universe
Fantastic Universe was a U.S. science fiction magazine which began publishing in the 1950s. It ran for 69 issues, from June 1953 to March 1960, under two different publishers. It was part of the explosion of science fiction magazine publishing in the 1950s in the United States, and was moderately...
. Lucy Cores also contributed a story to Beyond Time (1976), an alternate history anthology edited by Willy and Olga Ley's daughter Sandra. The story, "Hail to the Chief", features a President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
unhindered by Watergate who remains in office until 1994.
At the time of her death, Cores was writing a novel about Alexander Pushkin.