Lucinda Durstewitz
Post #535 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I can’t tell you how great it felt to have stumbled upon this web site!! I was one of those kids in school that never liked to read. When I was in 4th grade, I transferred to The Mustard Seed School in Hoboken. It was there that I was first introduced to your books. Somewhere in between Lizard Music and CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I became an avid reader. For that, I thank you. You may or may not remember this but our class had an ongoing correspondence with you… (until you were kidnapped by Reynold and we had to send in a gazillion soda can tabs for ransom!) Anyway, I’m a mother now and I’m just counting the days (more like years, he’s only two) until I can share your books with my son.
Daniel replies:
That I had a part in getting you to like reading is such a joy to me. I can't say it's what prompts me to want to write--but it's a fantastic by-product. I understand the City of Hoboken has constructed an enormous illuminated hand with a pointing finger to indicate the spot where I consumed clams and thought up so many of my books (the interior of the hand is rented out as advertising space to defray costs--but it's there to commemorate my artistic activity). A touching gesture, as it were, but not so heartwarming as a post like yours.
Dave Barber
Post #586 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear DP,
I was happy to hear you had a website. I want to thank you for all the great stories you have told over the years on the NPR evening show. During my long alone car ride home, I can see all the visual images you describe. Like the time you trashed the ferry, the time someone next door set off fireworks and they rained down on you, or you went to a special store just to get a polish dog. ( I almost starved to death before I got home. I live on a lake about 90 miles north of Houston, Texas and look forward to your next story. Thanks, Dave Barber
Daniel replies:
Thanks. I enjoy doing the radio job. I'd do it more, and write longer pieces, if they'd air them. atc@npr.org is the address of the program. I don't know why I mention that. Just occured to me for some reason.
Michael Cornett
Post #623 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Gosh, once I can say something besides “Gosh, I really love your books”, I will….Well, maybe that I read “Lizard Music” as a kid of 12, then started reading the rest when I was 30, and I think I appreciate them even more now than I would have as a kid. Keep writing, Dan, keep writing. Oh, and I really loved “Norb”!!!!!!
Daniel replies:
Thanks! I'm writing, I'm writing. Just about to finish and hand in THE EDUCATION OF ROBERT NIFKIN. Total of six books, incuding the 5 NOVELS collection, a paperback reprint of something (I forget at the moment) and 4 new books illustrated by Jill, in fall 97.
Margaret Eifert
Post #554 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I’ve been listening to you on All Things Considered for a long time and always love your commentaries. Have you done a compilation of your NPR talks? I’d really like to have copies of the ones you’ve done about animals – Jill and the wolf, the raccoons on your porch, etc. I would especially like the ones from 1988 about your dog that died and Jill finding the new dog at the pound. I had to have my 17-year-old cat, Gretel, put to sleep shortly before those pieces and they really hit home, (I still cry). My cat, Ishtar, (she’s a Somali – looks like a tiny mountain lion with a fox tail and she’s definitely a goddess), was born a month before Gretel died but she managed to get Gretel’s soul somehow* Your stories are always worth listening to – Thank you!
Daniel replies:
Thanks! Fish Whistle, (which contains the dog stories), and Chicago Days, Hoboken Nights are mostly collected NPR pieces. I regret they are rare books already, and you have to hunt for them...or you can purchase one from me, through this website, for a ridiculously high price--but not as riduclous as some booksellers charge. I have based my prices on how few I have, and how impossible to get more--but that doesn't mean a copy isn't sitting in some shop for five bucks.
Emile Barrios
Post #533 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Mr. Pinkwater:
Heard your interview yesterday on KPBS in San Diego, and I was appalled to find that you had gotten into trouble over imitating your father’s voice.
Here’s one fan who thinks you should do MORE of that type of material. Your NPR commentary that begins “My father spoke no known language…” is my all time favorite. I laugh out loud whenever I hear the now-legendary line “Sonnye, I vant you should invent a fishtvistle so ven you blows de vistle comes de fish, like ven you call de cow ‘Compass, Compass, Compass'”. In fact, I laugh when I THINK about that line.
Thank you for your wonderful work. I hope your new compendium is a best-seller (I’ll do my part).
Daniel replies:
Thanks for your kind words. The new compendium (5 Novels) will be a (modest) success only if people order it. The publisher, like most publishers, actually has no idea how to market a book that is not by Danielle Steele, (whoever that is)--so you're unlikely to see it in stores.
The story, from which Fish Whistle gets its title, is more or less true, and I laugh when I think of it too.
Doug Gamrath
Post #540 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
I too am a great fan of yours but have not read your books. I will search them out.
Your comments on NPR always brighten my day. You wouldn’t believe what happened when I for this page by only typing “pink” to search on.
My best to you,
Doug Gamrath
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the kind words. Why didn't you type ""Pinkwater?"" If you want to get an idea of the trash I write, try ordering ""5 Novels"" right on this website. It's, what, under nine bucks with the discount. Such a buy! Even 5 lousy novels at that price, you can't possibly complain about.
John Seroff
Post #611 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Certainly no one book has had a greater influence on me than alan mendelsohn boy from mars. coming from a jewish background in the astoundingly goyish world of goodlettsville tennessee i was beginning to wonder if i was some sort of yid freak… what better way to discover that i WAS… and that this was good. Currently rereading everything i can find and was absolutely blasted to tears by fishwhistle. I can’t imagine ever growing tired of your work. In the midst of the last guru, borgel and ovid’s art of love (a pretty damn funny piece in and of itself. just felt the need to take the time to tell you how important you and your stories have been to me. Nobody does it better. Thank you for the life you’ve led and the words you write. Any chance of another book of NPR commentary soon?
yer everlasting gobstopper pal
john seroff
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the kind words. No plans at present for another collection of NPR pieces. For a while publishers were bringing out every imaginable kind of NPR-related book. Most of them didn't make money--which, in present-day, Hollywood-style, business terms doesn't mean they didn't show a profit...but that they didn't show a HUGE, OBSCENE profit. See, just making back your expenses, with something left over, is considered a failure. So no publisher is anxious to do an NPR collection. Recently, a movie producer told me the whole company was depressed because their last film only cleared 40 million. Poor babies. Now all the other greed-head idiots will laugh at them.
Josh
Post #680 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Hi
My name is Josh. I am doing an author study report on you. I have to read 3 of your books Alan Mandelson The Boy From Mars, and Fat Men From Space so far. I’ve never been really in to reading but I’m a good writer, so my friends tell me. Alan Mendelson was THE Best book I’ve ever read!! It makes me want to read more of your books. I can’t really find a lot of information on you, and was wondering if you could help me out.
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you liked Alan Mendelsohn. Check some of the others out--you might find more you like. Did you happen to notice that this website is lousy with information?
Thomas Scott
Post #527 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
I really enjoyed your recent report about the radio station that plays old 78s. I would love to get some cassettes of their broadcasts if it is possible. Can you provide the station’s address, phone number, or email address so I can contact it?
Daniel replies:
Thanks for saying you liked my radio piece about WHVW. I will explain what it is here, for those who didn't hear it:
In Poughkeepsie, New York, of all places, there is an AM radio station (950 AM...you can hear it all the way to Yonkers and almost all the way to Albany). It is run by a guy named J.P. Ferraro--he plays old hillbilly, old blues, and old rhythm-and-blues--much of it on the original 78's. This goes on all day, and then it changes to classical music (sometimes on 78's too!) for a few hours at night. The music he chooses is really remarkable, and there's a wonderful mix. I think he could be talked into making cassettes, if there is demand. He's a nice guy. Call him up. (914) 471-9500. I'd like to see college and public radio stations take some programming from him, or maybe on the internet. Living here in the Hudson Valley has become a lot more pleasant since he started broadcasting.
WHVW
316 Main Mall
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Ian Stoba
Post #597 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Here are some comments from my students who were hanging around talking about _The Big Orange Splot_ recently when they should have been doing their homework instead:
“The Big Orange Splot is the raddest book in the world” –Miles, 2nd grade.
“I love the Big Orange Splot. It’s the greatest book in the whole wide world” –Nathalie, 2nd grade.
“I haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure I’ll love it.” –Justin, 3rd grade.
“I liked it. It was fun.” Spencer, 3rd grade.
We even have a Big Orange Splot bulletin board up right now that has been very popular. The alligator is the coolest part.
Daniel replies:
Thanks for passing along the discerning and insightful comments on Big Orange Splot. What can I say? They're right.
David Brooks
Post #612 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dr. Mr. Pinkwater: I just wanted to send off a quick note to thank you for the many years of pleasure you’ve given me with your writings. How many authors can I think of that have actually make me laugh out loud over and over? Canada’s Susanna Moody and Stephen Leacock and YOU.
Your wit and turn of phrase is always a joy to read. As I mentioned, I’ve been reading you for years and have introduced your books to many friends who have also come to love your style.
Many thanks again for bringing so much entertainment to your many, many fans.
Pudding.
David Brooks
Toronto, Canada
Daniel replies:
Thanks for introducing my books to your many friends. If only Canada had a larger population...but that's not your fault. I appreciate your effort on behalf of culture.
Suzy Tsien
Post #708 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Your book is great! My class is reading it and we all love it! I love how you put it in the perscriptive of a teenage boy! I’ll write you back when we finish.
Daniel replies:
Thank you. Especially difficult since I am a teen-age girl.
Brad Sondahl
Post #671 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
I work parttime at a library which is so small it still uses those cards you stick inside. Anyway, there’s always a Pinkwater book checked out, and not by those jerks in the overdue section (RL Stine wins that category–books for people who don’t know how to read). Anyway, I wonder which of your books have been the biggest seller. I’d guess Lizard Music because of the ALA award.
Brad Sondahl in snowy Idaho
Daniel replies:
Straight answer: the title of mine that was the biggest seller (not that any of the books have been big in the RL Stine sense), is probably Fat Men From Space, (called Fat Men from Outer Space by just about everyone).
Steve Farnsworth
Post #600 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
My wife and I are third grade teachers at the same school. We work right next to each other. And our third graders are chomping at the bit to write to you about how much they love your books. They are reading Lizard Music among other books. If my mail program is working, then they will be writing you soon. It’s so refreshing to read an author who doesn’t belittle children and who speaks to the heart of their issues.
When I grow up (I’m only 33), I want to be as good as you are at writing children’s books. I also love your warm and hilarious humor on All Things Considered. And I love hearing all about your dogs.
In Friendship,
Steve Farnsworth
Daniel replies:
Steve, have the kids write to me at [email address removed] And thanks for the kind words.
Stefan Jones
Post #493 – 19970101
January 1, 1997
Dear Captain Pinkwater:
The other day I went to the San Jose flea market. It struck me as the kind of place the Snarkout boys might go. The central aisle was a produce market, where I bought the ingredients for Ratatouille. I also, on impulse, picked up two avacadoes. The price seemed right.
So. Now I have two avacadoes. I’ve been told I could make guacamole out of them when they are ripe . . . but how does one know? Do they break open and ooze when they are ripe? Change color? Start to smell? If I use them on one of those sandwiches described below, do I shell them first, or just smear peanut butter on them and press down really hard when I put them on a roll?
You got me into this. You get me out.
-Stefan
P.S. The ratatouille came out fine.
Daniel replies:
Stefan Jones -- The thing you really have to know is that the avocado contains a large smooth pit. Do not eat the pit! You discard the pit, or you can plant it, or suspend it from the rim of a glass partially full of water by putting toothpicks (say, 4) around its horizontal center-line. Then you can have fun watching it grow roots and tendrils--and it can have fun watching you. Remember, the pit is the part you don't eat. Soon you will be one of us.
