Daniel replies:

I wrote more.  Those books were largely made up of pieces I wrote for broadcast on NPR.  I saw a list once, and it seems I did between 600 and 700 of them over the years.  It was a side-job, provided a few extra dollars, and a nice warm-up exercise for writing fiction.  I enjoyed showing off my skill, and working with the great radio professionals, but the network's taste and tone gradually changed.  By the time I'd quit submitting, I'm pretty sure no one there knew I was gone.  I wrote some similar pieces for various magazines, when approached, and I suppose I might do it again if anyone made an offer--but you see, I'm sort of weird.  I've never really thought of myself as a professional writer, (notwithstanding that I won't write anything unless I expect to get paid, a funny contradiction).  I still have a chance to be or become an artist.  I'm glad you like the essays--my guess is there won't be any more.  Have you read any of my recent novels?