|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Inspired by your book "Slaves of Speigle", I now have my heart set upon becoming a psuedo-octopusian fandango dancer, but I haven't come across many.If you know any, please say so and I will hopefully yet faithfully check your site every day. I love your not- so -subtle humor and have read all of your books that I can find at a local public library.
I have a particular fondness for cows and wish that you would make a link (hint hint) to a site about cows that I hopefully have not gotten to, raided entirely of every single tidbit of cow information, and thendiscarded as lousy.I would like to point out that tere aren't many, but I would be eternally grateful for your effort.
Sincerely,
"Moe," A hopeful psuedo- octopusian fandango dancer from the seventh extential plane of Mars and ruler of really long names
I'm pretty sure there are some psuedo-octopusian fandango dancers in Brooklyn. Also, I saw one once on the Staten Island ferry.
Dear Daniel (and neighbor, I live in Rhinebeck): I love, love your writings and recordings. While your material on dogs is my absolute favorite (I have six mongrels of my own) I love all of your work. Having recently discovered the wonder of podcasts and finally gotten an Ipod (graduating from my college vinyl records) I am wondering whether you have considered podcasts of your work? I have also written to NPR, suggesting same, and think your podcasts would outplay Terry Gross' anytime!
Hmm, good idea! (Such smart people live in Rhinebeck!) I will ask Webmaster Ed to explain to me what a podcast is, and we can go from there.
Dear Daniel,
For years, I have loved your readings with Scott so much, that I have run out to get many of the books, even though my son is very grown up!
Here is my question: I represent the estate of a great WPA artist, Leon Bibel. I knew Leon very well and have worked on behalf of his family for many years since his passing. I found, among his papers, an amazing manuscript of a completely illustrated story called "The Stolen Concerto". It is breathtaking and completely ready to be turned into a book. This was done in the 30's, so the illustrations are quite modernist. It is in stupendous color. I would love to send you some of the images and ask what kind of publisher you think would be best suited to handle such a treasure. I would be very grateful for your opinion. All the best,
Phyllis Wrynn
Oh, I can't touch something like this, fraught with potential frustration, disappointment and tragedy as it is. While it's true publishers still do sometimes take on worthwhile things....well, I wish you luck. What you want is a literary agent, or a personal friend who has a strong connection. Again, good luck.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I have read both of The Snarkout boys storys and would like you to write more. I really enjoy reading them!
From,
Daniel Yim. age 10.
I am writing more, but not necessarily more Snarkout books (at this time). Have you looked at The Neddiad? Try Looking for Bobowicz, and The Artsy Smartsy Club too. Thanks for liking my books.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I am 11 years old and my name is Rachel. I have loved your books and find them very interesting and funny. I have dreams of becoming a writer (like a million other people-- my parents tell me) and I have recently written a small book. Would you be interested in reading it and tell me what you think of it? If you let me know, I can send it to you. Please e-mail me. Please don't post my message to the forum.
I lived in France last year with my parents and speak French quite well. I enjoy reading, writing, art, acting, singing, and dancing. I illustrate my own books.
I will wait eagerly for your reply,
Rachel
Rachel --
If you have written a book, you _are_ a writer. My suggestion is that you write another one. Then another one after that. I wouldn't go looking for other people's opinions, including mine. (I don't do that anyway). I think the trick is to read a lot, write a lot, don't worry too much about what teachers and grownups tell you--they want to help, but you're the one you have to please. That's what's great about being a writer. People tend to think that you're not a real writer until you get something published, but that's the easy part. The hard part is actually finishing something--but you've already discovered you can do that. Have fun!
Daniel
Dear Mr. Pinkwater
My 9 year old son has listen to Fishwhistle on tape so many times that he as worn it out! We are on our second copy. He loves your voice and your stories. He would like to know if you could post a picture of Arnold and of Juneau.
And, I would like to thank you. My son was a reluctant reader until Fishwhistle and now, he has started to read all of your books! Books are magic, and I thank you for revealing that to my boy.
Sincerely
Miss Mary
Cool that your son enjoys my stuff! (I don't know if there are any digital pictures of Arnold and Juno--but I think there may be some pictures on this site of Lulu, who looks a little like both of them. If they aren't here, I know there are some, and also audio of Lulu, on the NPR site).
I loved The Big Orange Splot as a kid! Now I am a high school junior speech competitor wondering what published work of yours would be most suited to memorize and use for my 8 minute(or so )'Humor' piece? I've been doing very well in competition and would love your recommendation of something of yours or of another writer's that you especially think funny.
Thank You!
I wonder how many minutes The Big Orange Splot would take. Uncle Melvin is a little hard to find, but that might work well. I dunno. You have to pick something that would fit your style etc. Let us know if and what.
First of all, let me thank you for your wonderful writings that have been loved by me and my children alike. "The Snarkout Boys..." helped foster a great love for old theaters and old movies in my kids and "I do not feel sick" has become a stock phrase of my family.
I'm currently on a play selection committee for our area children's theater and I was wondering what works of yours has been adapted to stage, especially for young companies. I'd love to bring a play of yours to the group for consideration.
There have been a few, but I don't know what their disposition or availability. Lifeline Theater in Chicago has done a couple. Or you might get in touch with the folks at the University of Redlands, and find out about the upcoming opera--I don't know if it's something kids could sing, but maybe. Possibly someone reading this will remember what I have forgotten or never knew.
Daniel - 20 years ago when I was about 10, I wrote to you about how I wanted to be a comic book writer, and you actually wrote me back! Anyway, a few years later we adopted a puppy, and you sent me a copy of Superpuppy! Unfortunately, "Skruffy" then bit a family member, and a decision was made to send Skruffy to the pound. I called information, got your phone number and called you in hysterics asking what to do. Your advice was that yes, in fact Skruffy should be put down, which freaked me out even more. There was a happy ending - Skruffy got given to a family member where he lived for 17 years - the only person Skruffy bit after that was a cable installer who knocked on the door then just walked in the house. Anyhoo, I'm now in my thirties and am a writer, of sorts (I work in PR) Just figured I'd drop you line. Any chance you recollect this?
Nope. Don't remember. And I doubt that I out and out opined over the phone that the dog should be put down--(at least I hope I didn't). More likely, I suggested that you talk to your veterinarian, possibly even get a trainer in your locale to assess the dog's potential and personality, and warned you to be prepared for euthanization as one possible outcome. Anyway, I'm glad Skruffy survived, and hope he didn't damage the cable installer too much.
Many years ago, BC (before children), my husband and I read your delightful short story about Vampires (Wempires?) in, I think, Omni magazine.
Is it available ANYWHERE?
Because of that story, we've always called our son, Ian, Sonnye Boy. He doesn't mind. We told him the story as well as we could remember it, but I would love for him to have the pleasure of reading it himself.
WEMPIRES, Macmillan, out of print, (of course), but probably to be found on ebay, or through any ethical bookfinder, such as Cattermole 20th Century Childrens' Books, and others like that. It has some nice illustrations in ink and pinkwatercolor by me!
Hilarious site you got here!
I found a clip from NPR where you talk about having dyscalculia. It sounds like you read it from a book, and I was just wondering if you could tell me what book it was?
I'm dyscalculic myself, and I run dyscalculiaforum.com, an international discussion forum. I'm always looking for stories about dyscalculia, and if you have written about this in one of your books, well, then I just have to own it. But I'm just a poor, poor college girl - I can't afford to buy your whole catalog to find out if those words are in one of your books. So, IF you for some reason have the time to answer me, I would be really happy.
Word,
Mette
That radio commentary is the only thing I have ever written about having dyscalcula--and I only got around to it after probably 700 such pieces over 19 years, so you can see how big a deal it is for me, and how much it affects my daily life. I see no reason why you should not have a link to the audio in the NPR archives on your website, which I will go and look at now.
Hello Daniel,
My son is in love with Larry the polar bear. My husband wants to take a family field trip to Bayonne. When you grow up in Staten Island, you spend a lot of time ignoring New Jersey, so I don't know the first thing about Bayonne. Do you know of a suitable Hotel Larry-esque hotel in Bayonne that we could go look at?
best
Shana
Bayonne might look different to you than to a polar bear.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Several years ago I came across a (rubber)stamp with what I assume was a "cartoonish" drawing of you. I bought the stamp, because the drawing also resembled me. Now, years later, I'd like to use the image as the logo for Joe The Book Guy, my soon-to-come web site (and sometime down the pike, used bookstore). I'll be happy to send you a photo so you can indeed see that yes, the image does resemble me, and if there are copyright fees involved, well, if they're reasonable, I'll be happy to pay them. I can't and won't use the image without your permission, but if you see the resemblance, then I think you'll agree that the image would be a fitting logo. Thank you. Joe Wesbrook
u may use the rubber stamp, and my condolences on the resemblance.
I love you, Daniel Manus Pinkwater!
And who could not automatically love anyone named Leilani Ruesink?
Hey- I grew up in Red Hook, crawling all over the Hudson Valley that we both call home, discovering all it's fantastic nooks and crannies. I never appreciated the Hudson Valley that much once I moved out to western PA for school, until I heard your piece on my absolutely most favorite restaurant, The Golden Wok. I also just read your adventure into the K-mart parking lot (good choice on location by the way).
Anyways, I just had to share my appreciation, and I thought I might add that I know some wonderful people that I can promise you'd enjoy the company of up in Tivoli. They throw great parties and the bars always open!
Cheers
Why, you young whipperflippersnippersnapper, I have known Tivoli, man and boy, for lo these going on 50 years, and remember when the people there wore animal skins, and worshipped odd-looking tree stumps. Do you ever order the daily vegetable special on the whiteboard at the Golden Wok? Yum!
Wooh boy, Mr. Pinkwater. In the interest of me not looking like a fool, can we stipulate that I spoke out of turn? How about we change it to which authors you have proclaimed "admiration" for, and not love?
The first one I remember, because it happens every December, is that someone will mistake you for Jean Shepherd, and you are very flattered.
From the NPR commentaries, I seem to remember Lafcadio Hearn and Harvey Kurtzman (a publisher, technically, rather than an author, granted) coming in for acclaim.
I also seem to recall you recommending Treasure Island to at least one young reader who demanded more YA books from you.
And of course, I caught the tail-end of your magnificent reading of "The Shooting Of Dan McGrew" on NPR, just by accident.
That's the list I can remember off the top of my head, but I have time on my hands right now, so I would happily research the issue, to remind you of which authors you have and have not complimented publicly.
(Incidentally, did you know that Art Garfunkel has never read even ONE of your books? http://www.artgarfunkel.com/library.html has a complete list of every book the man has read since 1968. Between his reading and his walking, I don't see how he has time to record.)
Mark Rowan, Honorable Vice-President Of Mexico
You don't look like a fool to me, at least any more than we all do. Funny you should mention Jean Shepherd and Harvey Kurtzman in the same post--two influential artists who appear to have shared at least one other quality or lack thereof. But I digress from my intention to further avoid getting into a "favorites list," mode. Nothing wrong with it--people love to list and rank artists, athletes, brands of candy bars, breeds of dogs. Can we leave it at: I admire anyone who can put one word after another with intent, and some who do so even more? (I think Art Garfunkel is lying).
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
I own five of your short stories, all put together in a great volume known as 5 Novels. My favorite from the five is Alan Mendlsohn, Boy from Mars. I know you have written many books, so here is a question for you: Do any of the following books have sequels or prequels?
1. Alan Mendelsohn, Boy From Mars
2. The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death
3. Young Adult Novel
On another of my several figurative hands, are there any of your books out there that would be good for a reader (who only owns the collection entitled 5 Novels) to start with?
Finally, is there a short story/novellete/novella/novel that contains a collection of Kevin Shapiro stories?
Thank you for all the information.
Snarkfully yours,
Max, devoted reader as soon as I get my hands on some more of your literature.
1. no
2. yes
3. yes
yes
sort of
Don't forget, we have a bunch of reader-submitted Kevin Shapiro stories right here! -- Ed
Do you train dogs?
Not any more. Now I educate them.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Sorry if I seem to be hogging your message board - I know I posted a few days ago - but I just want to deliver the happy news that there is, indeed, a recipe for avocado pie. In fact, there are multiple recipes, and they don't require baking. They do generally require two avocados (or one really big avocado), a graham cracker crust, lemon juice and some kind of thickener.
This recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk. This other one is fancier, as it involves cream cheese and pecans. I plan to try my hand at the simpler avocado pie recipe this evening.
On the subject of avocado fritters, I haven't found any for avocado and cheese, although I have found a couple for avocado and crab fritters. But those are a little more complicated.
By the way, I have learned that a plain old slice of avocado tastes delicious when topped with sour cream and a sprinkling of brown sugar.
Snark on,
Hannah
I'm not so sure about graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar along with avocados, but I'm not very sweet.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I am a Junior Great Books facilitator, and this week my group of 20 second graders enjoyed reading and discussing "Blue Moose." We had most excellent conversations about cold weather, cold personalities, warm beds and delicious clam chowder. It's been one of our favorite stories so far.
We ended our "Blue Moose" study by writing the postcard that the moose sends to Mr. Breton while visiting his uncle. Delightful sentiments, they are, with lots of requests for more gingerbread and inquiries into whether the townspeople are still simply saying "Yup." The students madly want to send their cards to Mr. Breton, which is problematic being somewhat fictional as he is. I thought the next best thing would be to send them to his creator. Is there a way to do this? Or might you be able to send a message back to me that I can relay to this adoring and adorable group of earnest moose lovers?
Thank you,
Mary Peters
Holland, MI
Hey! Watch who you call fictional! The webmaster will help you.
