From: Bill Browne
Dear Daniel,
I used your book, 'Young Adults', as part of an Extension English presentation on 'Acts of Reading and Writing'. Taking on what I imagine to be your persona, I harangued and harassed the other 'author' (Alberto Manguel) for his veneration of the author at the expense of the reader.
My argument was that your work is 'centrifugal', that is it grants power to the reader to interpret as he or she sees fit. I used the example of the sentence that 'Young Adults' ends on, "To be continued in Chapter 23456765432: The Return of Rosenschlag". With an arbitrary ending like that, the reader is free to tell the 'rest' of the story themselves.
Also, is that sentence as meaningless as it seems, or is it a heavily-veiled reference to Paul Zindel - who, Google tells me, wrote about a 'Mrs Rosenschlag'? I hope it is so, since it would serve as a final piece of meaning in a meaningless critique of a meaningless story.
The speech continued with you describing 'A Reader of Dostoevsky' as 'possibly narcoleptic', and admitting that you wrote the Shapiro Stories in 'Dead End Dada'. I'm starting to doubt that you wrote those stories, though I'm convinced Ken Kelman is a pseudonym.
The speech ended with my companion and I creeping out of the room while prearranged audience shills argued and discussed your Buttoniad 'spontaneously'.
The class got a huge kick out of the photo on the back of your 'Yogic Levitation' (also in the photo gallery).
I might not have written to you, except for your comment that "how you read it is more important than how I wrote it", and I recognised how close that is to the view that our class has adopted.
Cheers,
Bill.
Dear Bruce --
Ken Kelman is a real person, which is to say he appears to be corporeal and animated, and has a personality, and he, not I, wrote the afterword to which you refer. Also I did not write the Kevin Shapiro stories represented as having been sent in by readers--they were sent in by readers--and the practice of writing additional Kevin Shapiro chapters goes on to this day as evidenced by certain websites with which I have nothing to do. So you are right to doubt that I wrote the stories, and wrong to doubt the reality of Ken Kelman, (though many people have allowed they would feel better if he were a figment). No piece of writing is meaningless. Some pieces of writing are indecipherable. All writing is syncretic. No author should be assumed to know the meaning of what he wrote. None of this bears thinking about. In the past I have denied writing the Young Adults book. I am not saying I did, and I am not saying I didn't. Should you have occasion to repeat the performance, and "take on my persona," I can tell you that I am usually described as sweet and adorable.
From: Ian Atherton
Well Mr. DP, I hope to one day take a page out of your book, and other famous Children's book authors, (my other favorite being Maurice Sendak), and make my own book. Well it turns out I did make my own book for my senior project in high school!! Over the last year I've been reworking, revising and refinishing this heartwood trunk yearning to commandeer a vessel onto bookshelves and the public eye.
But, I've come to an impasse; it seems every large publishing company no longer accepts unsolicited manuscripts/artwork (Houghton-Mifflin even stopped in 2004 it appears). And I'm not sure where to seek an agent, or if thats even the best course of action. And self-publishing is either too expensive, or just doesn't seem worth it.
So, I face this dilemma of having a book pretty much done, and just about ready (by my standards) and no idea where to turn. Do you have any suggestions; being a published children's book author, having worked with Houghton-Mifflin, and others?
There is a whole section in the library, and in bookstores, with books about how to get published. There are endless websites offering advice, networking, commiseration and encouragement for aspiring authors. There are local writers' groups in every town and village. There is a national (for profit) organization for children's book writers and illustrators, some percentage of whom have gotten published. And there is asking people like me, who may know something about writing, but less about breaking into the business, having done it once maybe a long time ago. The only suggestion I can make is to write more than one book. "...reworking, revising and refinishing this heartwood trunk yearning to commandeer a vessel onto bookshelves and the public eye." What?!? Maybe a college writing course too?
From: Quetzalcoatl Cortes
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I was passing by a bookstore in Mountain View, Ca when I spotted your book "Yo-Yo Man". After reading it, I nearly cried with laughter.
You see, I used to a teacher, but to be more accurate, a substitute teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District. What made your story have such a profound effect upon me that moment was that on my first day of substituting, with no formal training, or instruction on how to gain the attention of a grammar school classroom, was my ability to pull a unique skill from my past to quell a rowdy class...my years as a manager and instructor of a Yo-Yo store.
From that moment on, I have been forever labeled as the "Yo-Yo" guy or the "Yo-Yo" sub. My trusty "Turbo Bumble Bee" yo-yo had become my great equalizer. This was especially evident at Paul Revere Elementary School, a public school with children of great potential. I had become a favorite sub among teachers and students alike with my string tricks.
I bought one of your books to give to that school's 2nd grade, whose teacher i have the upmost respect for and another to keep for myself as a memento of my past. Maybe I should get it autographed?
-Quetzalcoatl Cortes
p.s. I keep in the back of the jacket of the book, a picture that one of the students gave to me on that first day. I felt it fitting to share it with you.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b213/poolboss/sub%20work/DSCN1736.jpg
You were the manager of a yo-yo store? There is or was such a thing as a yo-yo store? I am trying to imagine it. There are yo-yos, of course, yo-yo books, a re-stringing section. Yo-yo clinics, classes, guest appearances by famous yo-yoists?!? The world keeps getting bigger and weirder, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
From: Joseph
Hello Daniel I haven't read any of your books yet. And eight days ago I never even knew you existed. But boy was I missing out after tons of emails to publicists I finally got an in person interview with Cory Doctorow who was promoting his new book. One of the authors he mentioned as one of his favourites was you. And that was all I needed. So I'm sure you want to know what does this babbling kid want. It's simple I recently started a blogzine and I would like you to do an email interview for it if that would be cool. I'm still in highschool so there's no pressure and I know your super busy. But if you can then my email was sent to you so maybe you could get back to me
I'm going to say.........um.......no.
From: Mary
A confession:
I, to this day, think about a book called: " The Wuggie Norple Story. "
I know, I know, I'm not the only one! But honestly, until today, I had not tried to type the name in a Google fashion...
And now I find myself typing this random message to someone I understand wrote it. Hey! for pete's sake.. I was five! How could I have known?!
Anyhow, here is the true confession:
When I went back to my elementary school for some sort of a reunion, I went to the library and tried to find your book.. Damn! it was out.
I think it was a good thing in retrospect..
I probably would have taken it (of course putting my name on the take out card and leaving it on the
Ms. Laroque's table)
Here's to a good memory,
Thanks so much!
Mary.
I _think_ a reading of The Wuggie Norple Story is available in the Audio Archive section of the Podcast section of this very website to which you
have written.
It is! --Ed
From: Jacques (the human, not your dog)
Bonjour mon Pinkwater!
Have you considered translating any of your books into a video game? Or perhaps an official MUD would better offer the possibilities in your novels (I would love to explore Baconburg as an Alien Realtor or 40th lvl Snarkout Boy).
Sincerely,
Your Millionth #1 Fan
Nope. Haven't considered. Now considering whether I will consider....again, nope. I don't know much about games, but I question whether my books would afford much amusement to players. Not enough structure for one thing. Now a game based on my actual life might be interesting...and soothing and restful.
From: Bryan Gonzalez
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
About the three wempires who appear in The Wempire are they supposed to be related to the boy (like three crazy uncles) or are they truly supposed to be wempires. If they were friends or relatives of the parents I guess he would recognize them but if they were truly wempires wouldn't the mother be even slightly scared? I've read the book severel times (excellent) but I always pause when those three show up. Keep up the good work!
Yours is an interesting reading of the book. Thing is, how you read it is more important than how I wrote it, (or read it). That is the thing about fiction. You can't have it in movies or TV because mostly the people who make those things want the most possible satisfied customers--and most people want stories to feel familiar and comfortable--in the same way that a hamburger at McDonald's in San Francisco tastes just the same as a hamburger at McDonald's in Cleveland, or anyplace else. Some book publishers want authors to make books the same way as McDonald's makes hamburgers--they feel they can sell more that way. But is it still possible to write a book that causes a reader like you to think, to wonder, and to make his/her own decision about what things in the book may mean. In other words, you are reading the book just the way I hoped you would. Congratulations. You are a good reader.
From: Augie
I first got The Neddiad when it was my 9'th birthday, and my mom said she had heard you were good. It was the best book I had ever read, and it still claims that title. A book does not define the masterpeices you create. They are more like wonderful songs. Auctuly, it's kind of like listening to The 1812 Overture, cause at first it's soft and good, then it gets louder, a little exciting, and good, then, it gets really loud, really exciting, and good, and last of all, the Grande Finalae. I was hungry for more Pinkwater, and I got ahold of some.
Alright, I guess I didn't have to go through that, because all I was trying to say is: your'e awesome, Mr.Pinkwater.
By the way, I'm 10 years old, I'm in 4'th grade, I read everywhere(even recess), and one day(while reading) one of my classmates said to me "Augie, your'e such a bookworm!". But I was not mad, I was Proud. Because that is who I am. I also like pumpkin pie with cool whip.
Bye! Augie
OK, everybody take notice. THIS is the kind of reader I get! So, does that make me the most remarkable writer on the planet? Yes. It does.
Augie, you are a splendid kid. You make a person proud to be a genius. I am honored that you like my books.
From: CTKH
Having been raised on the gospel of Pinkwater, I think it is about time I showed a lil' written gratitude to the word-cook himself...so here ya are...I have just had my 26th birthday and am as big of a fan as I was when I was 6...I am currently finding most of my work as a sign painter, but in reality I do a wide variety of things to keep my belly full.
Having been blessed with parents, not only cunning enough to discover your books, but wise enough to make them a steady part of my literary diet, I feel obligated to share the knowledge of your existence every chance I get. Eat Pudding.
These same extremely cool, dog loving parents also, fortunately for me, have encouraged all of my artistic endeavors, which has made my life a whole lot less than answering to clocks and chasing a bagged lunch...so I would like to offer my drawing and painting abilities for collaboration anytime. I dont have a traditional portfolio(just hasnt been my schedule yet), but I'd be more than happy to send a selection of things I've done over the years and see if any of it grabs you in a workable way.
At this point money is not a huge concern(despite my lack of)for me because I am so motivated by the possibility of the experience. If you have a noodle of interest in seeing a couple of things, just send word and I will joyfully put something together.
I would like to end by saying 'The Neddiad' is magic and I cant wait for the upcoming...
Thanks for succumbing to the words and sharing them with us.
-CTKH
You seem a happy person. Since you seem to be seeking a work connection, you would have to show your stuff to my agent, and if she deemed it suitable for me to see, then I would see.
From: Andrea Grenadier
Dear Daniel: What I have to say for myself is how much I love and appreciate yourself, especially when you read books with Scott Simon on "Weekend Edtion Saturday." My brilliant nephew (but that's another story) grew up reading your books, and he is now 17.
Here's my question, and you must get this a lot. My friend Ben, a real conservation crusader (and incidentally, a lawyer), has written a wondrous children's book called "Sockapus," about a creature that lives in a dryer and steals socks, and his relationship with the little boy who lives in the house. Although I'm a writer, children's books are not my realm (unfortunately, since they're ever so much more entertaining than most books for grown-ups). I don't know quite how a children's book gets published: if authors must find their own illustrators, or if publishing houses contract with the illustrator they think would be the best match for a particular story. We've heard that both approaches are possibilities. Any thoughts you could share would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Andrea
Oy. I have decided not to give a course in how children's books get written and published. For one thing, I have no idea really. For another, there are a ton of resources, online, in books, in the machinations of a children's writers' society that is a combination of Girl Scouts and Tupperware--and a large number of people who do nothing but contemplate and answer the questions you raise. I just do it, I don't teach it. Others are waiting to welcome you with open mouths.
From: Hilde Festerling
Have been meaning to look you us for some time- like about 16 years. Just always wanted to let you know that Lizard Music was absolutely the best book i read in my first ten years of life, certainly the most influential and i probably read it ten times. thanks so much.
I guess it was a good thing for everybody that I was such a lousy sculptor and became a writer. Thanks for telling me.
From: Andrew Weiss
I heard your commentary on NPR about the eyeglasses you bought on the internet. I am an author and meditation teacher, and to keep the income coming in I also work as a licensed dispensing optician. The work we opticians do is considerably more sophisticated, and requires more training, than you might think.
I'm curious: do you know how to measure the distance between your pupils? Do you know how to verify your prescription, or how to determine whether the centers are properly set? Do you know how to align and adjust your frames? Do you know how to replace a screw, or a nose-pad? Can you trouble-shoot down a problem with your internet-bought progressive lenses? And, if you don't get your glasses from an optician, or even the optical department of your dandy optometrist's office, do you think we opticians will be around to do that work for you? We need to get paid, too, and like you, we want to earn a living wage.
The price you pay for eyeglasses at an optical shop or at your optometrist's office includes brick-and-mortar overhead, but it also includes all those intangibles I listed above. Internet eyewear purchases could, in the end, force the knowledgeable folks like me out of the profession because we won't be able to be paid reasonably for what we do. Is that the result you really want?
Thanks for listening.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I, myself, do know how to measure the distance between my pupils, align and adjust frames, replace screws and nose pads, and also measure and mark lenses with pupil and bifocal height, am aware of matters of curve and tilt--most of this I learned by reading instructions from online opticians. As to verifying prescriptions, and whether centers are properly set, I have recourse to the optometrist and ophthalmologist. I do not insist that everyone should use internet opticians, nor that there are not deficiencies and problems apt to arise if you get your eyewear this way. But for the average prescription, their work compares well with that from the mall store--and many customers of these chains have stories to tell of wildly inaccurate prescriptions, and being advised by clerks, not professionals, to "wear it for a week or two -- you'll get used to it." (With the exception of new wearers of progressive lenses, there should be no period of acclimatization necessary if the lenses are made correctly). And if Global Eyeglasses (using overseas labor with lower labor costs) can provide a good quality frame with brand-name progressive, photochromic CR-39 lenses, AR, UV and scratch-resistant coating for about $100, does the overhead of a brick-and-mortar optical shop really justify a price of $600 for something of the same quality? I am taking a wild guess that Global's cost would not exceed $50 for these glasses. Let's say the shop in the mall's all-in cost including overhead is $100--they buy the lenses and frames from the same source as Global does. (Both estimates are probably high). I'd think $200 might be a fair retail price. $600 strikes me as a monopolistic rip-off. I think there's a niche for a kind of square-deal optical shop, which would charge less than, "what the traffic will bear," and offer the one important feature the onliners can't adequately provide--the ability to try on frames, and receive personal advice and guidance from trained personnel. There are a few stateside opticians who offer service like this, at fair prices, notably Eyeglass Lens Direct, and Replace-a-Lens, and guess what--they are online opticians too!
From: Mark Rowan
Hello again, esteemed Mr. Pinkwater.
I know that you're not particularly fond of using your message board for commercial messages, but I thought you might like to remind the potential Lizard Music thief of the existence of websites like www.abebooks.com. On Abe Books, I found five different copies of Lizard Music for one dollar each (plus shipping, of course). No word on the relative pinkness of each cover, sadly.
I would like to thank you, as well, for the Audio Archive. This is truly an excellent idea, and makes my evangelism regarding all things Pinkwater even easier. (I also am quite taken with the idea of a graphic novel, so long as you retain creative control.)
Thanks for this. My dynamic agent is looking into finding an artist suitable for graphic novelization at this moment. As to creative control, it will be my pleasure to write the script, and let the artist do his/her thing--I do not let others control my creative, and having found the right one, I do not presume to control theirs. I did not see, or ask to see, D. B. Johnson's brilliant vision of the new and improved Bear's Picture for my comment or guidance, 'cause he is a master, like myself. It will probably be the same, if we ever find the right person to do Lizard Music or whatever text(s).
From: Nina Hoffman
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I have just spent three months being bald. Now I am going to talk to librarians. Do you know what librarians want to hear?
Love,
Nina
P.S. I liked hearing about your spectacular spectacles.
I have spent 36 years being bald. Librarians are unusual among groups of people grouped by profession or interest in that they are actually interested in that interest by which they are grouped. So, in my humble opinion, librarians want to hear about books--reading books, writing books, making books, buying, selling, storing, stacking, transporting, translating--everything about books. When you talk to librarians, you can't go wrong if you talk about books. That is my opinion. Hi, Nina!
From: friggle
I am but a mere banana. I exept nothing but the truth,so tell me the exact date you married your wife.Eat your Meow flakes,worship gorillas, save the chickens. Good bye. Could you publish that line in one of your books.
-Friggle,the Banana
Bananas are the backbone of America. You are not mere. Truth excepted, I married my wife after exactly 38 dates. Meow Flakes. The only thing that could prevent me from using that line in a forthcoming book would be that I forget.
From: Giordano Lahaderne
When I was a kid I read Lizard Music and it CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER!!!
I used to always ask the librarian to help me find the book on the shelf, and I would feel embarrassed because she always seemed so annoyed with me.
I am now a high school English teacher and I want a nice copy of Lizard Music to call my own! The one with the neon pink cover like I remember! I search the local Goodwills and Salvation Armies but to NO AVAIL!
Anyway, I think I will steal a copy from the local elementary school! I wanted to share this with you because I blame you for the crime I may commit! THAT IS ALL!
Giordano Lahaderne
So you tell me this why? You want me to condone your swiping a book, (and an out-of-print and difficult-to-replace one at that), from a place where actual kids may find it and get the same benefit you derived? I have done what I can. I have caused a free-of-charge reading of the book to be available in the Audio Archive, connected to the Pinkwater Podcast section of this very website. I have asked my agent to to find a publisher to reprint it, and also to look into bringing it out as a graphic novel. I am making myself accessible to movie producers who want to adapt it. And, in fact, there is a copy of the original hardcover with the lurid red cover and the linoleum cut art out there on Ebay, or in the next used bookstore, and you can buy it for a trifling amount and not be a criminal. Let us keep this matter on a high moral plane.
From: Tomi Krugel
Mr. Pinkwater,
I hope that you received the book I sent you. My name is Tomi Krugel, K-9, and my brother Serpico also sent you a book. I hope you enjoy what I had to say. My Dad (human) is a big fan of Scott Simon and you. Remember ... we, dogs, will inherit the earth ... but we will and do not want to rule it.
God Bless America,
Tomi Krugel, K-9
Dogs write to me! Yes, got the book. Thank you. Of course it doesn't fall into my area for writing or talking about, so what we will do is enjoy it, and then make sure it goes into deserving and appreciative hands. I'd pass your message on to Lulu, but she is a huge flirt, likes dogs in uniform, and has already gotten our local K-9 to ignore commands when she is in view. (He now recognizes my car!)
From: Harrison
I am a student at a k-8 school and al of my frends and teachers love your books.The people who I don't like also like your books.Will you please come to my school?
No, I will not come to your school. Schools smell funny, and the little kids are full of germs. If you want, you can send me a cassette with questions, and and blank cassette, and a pre-paid return mailer, and I will record the questions and my replies on the blank cassette and send it back. This will be better than me coming there in so many ways. Or you can write your questions to me in an email, and I can email back answers, or even record and email an Mp3 file to you. No charge for this--but if I came to your school I would expect thousands of dollars.
From: Maggid Jhos Singer
Comrade Pinkwaters--
So much thanks you for great literature writing! Ooh, sorry, I was abducted by my eastern European alter ego there for a moment, shake it off... So, my two 10 year old sons and I are thinking about going on a Pinkwater inspired adventure. We have heard that there are many bizarro and excellent eateries just off the New Jersey turnpike, and thought we might throw all gastronomic caution to the wind, in the style of our heros Walter Galt and Winston Bongo, and fly across country to sample these delights. Can you give us any recommendations? White Manna burgers sounded particularly Haimish McTavishy.... Thanks for the years of inspiration and salavation--Jhos, (and Michael and Gabe) Singer PS-Phooey on Chez Panisse!
Do not confuse literature-making with foolhardiness. I have always avoided the New Jersey Turnpike, whenever possible, and in general have been extremely cautious about venturing into the interior of NJ. You're lots closer to Route 66, (read The Neddiad), which in addition to being closer has the immense advantage of not being in New Jersey.
From: P Bliss
Hi Mr. Pinkwater,
I am an elementary school librarian and I have been able to interest children who were boared with chapter books and reading to "rekindle the flame" for reading - using your books - haha!!
Do you ever make tours through Texas? we would love to find out how to be in contact with you.
Thanks!
You are in contact with me now. I was conceived in Texas, and haven't been back since. One of the things my books are good for is reading--I am gratified you noticed.
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