Adam Selzer
Post #1897 – 20051208
December 8, 2005
Having seen you ask about the current occupants of the corner of North and Wells in Chicago, I’m depressed to say that the four corners are now occupied by McDonald’s, Starbucks, Boston Market, and Walgreens. Old Town still has an artsy vibe, but the whole area is rather gentrified now, being as close as it is to the Gold Coast/Streeterville (which is even more gentrified, though still gorgeous and even still a bit quirky). The art scene had moved to North and Halstead by the 70’s, and further west to North and Damen by the 80’s. Now the North/Damen area is still “funky,” but most of the artists seem to have moved a few blocks further West to Bucktown, where it’s still cheap.
The whole city doesn’t look like an airport yet (proud to say my neighborhood, just West of the Loop off Grand, doesn’t appear to have changed much in several decades), but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Sigh.
Daniel replies:
The long marble counter at the Nor-Well Drug Company was to me what a favorite cafe used to be to a Parisian. I never had a corn muffin and coffee there without advancing my education.
Ryan Duncan
Post #1896 – 20051206
December 6, 2005
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
How do you come up with your extraordinary character names!? Often, My teacher has trouble pronouncing them. Do you have any advice for her?
Anyway we have your book of 4 novels. We have just finished The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror. It was awesome!! We are currently reading Yobgorgle: Mystery of Lake Ontario. Also you are my favorite author.
Sincerely,
Ryan Duncan
Daniel replies:
I dunno...break them up into syllables? Practice at home? Glad to be your favorite author. You are automatically my favorite reader.
Steve Linabery
Post #1895 – 20051205
December 5, 2005
Hello Daniel Pinkwater,
Many years ago, while it was still fashionable to use reconstituted trees to communicate over long distances, I wrote to you in care of one of your publishers. To my amazement and everlasting joy, I got a response from you after a few weeks. We wrote back and forth several times; I believe it was around the time that personal computers were becoming popular because at one point you sent a dot-matrix representation of a potato–precious! You also casually threw out the observation that God might be a toothbrush. I wish I had given that possibility more serious consideration; it might have kept me from falling in with the wrong crowd. Somehow I heard otherwise and took the hook. Since then I have continued to toil away in obscurity while you have become a big-shot, household-name, international megastar. We all enjoyed your live concert from Hawaii and, to a lesser extent, your radio addresses on that underground Socialist radio network. Recently I was at the bookstore with my 6-year-old daughter, a precocious reader and general whiz kid like I and her mother were at that age. We picked up a copy of _Lizard Music_, read it to each other over several bedtimes, and I am happy to say its magic works on the latest generation of nerds. Thanks for being there for me when I was a little outsider. I never would have worn that banana around my neck to middle school without your encouragement. My daughter, Sophie, would really think I was cool if you sent her a picture of a potato. I assume you have upgraded your potato rendering software.
Your old pal,
Steve
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the account of a life marred by early exposure to cheap literature. I regret that contractual considerations make it impossible for me to send your daughter a representation of a potato directly--however you may be in touch with webmaster and art-dealer Ed on this topic.
Kids from Lititz, PA
Post #1893 – 20051128
November 28, 2005
joshua: HOW OLD R U plz tell me i need for class report Plzzzz
cody: hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what gave you the idea for the hoboken chicken emergency?
Daniel replies:
Joshua: Very, very old.
Cody: It's a true story. I just changed some of the names.
Kids from Milwaukee
Post #1892 – 20051128
November 28, 2005
Janasha: why did you want to become an illistrater.
Virnette: Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
i am in fourth grade.
Rashard: It’s fun to read your books. I read The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. Henriette is very big to us in America.
Avery: hi i’m avery i love your book the hoboken chicken emergency.
Daniel replies:
Janasha: It's indoor work.
Virnette: I was in fourth grade myself, so I know how it is.
Rashard: She's a popular big chicken.
Avery: Thank you. I love hearing that.
Robin Yim
Post #1891 – 20051127
November 27, 2005
Hi Mr. Pinkwater.
I’m 42 years old and my son is 9. On Monday, the Monday before Thanksgiving, we bought your book of 4 novels, Borgel being the first, and before we got home he was through the first chapter. I had promised him in the store he would like your writing. Sometimes he listens. Sometimes he doesn’t. This time he did.
At home before bed we read chapter 2 and then I tucked him in. When the next bedtime came around I started on chapter 3, but he stopped me and told me he was on chapter 5. I was outraged. How could he do this to me. I began reading chapter 3 anyway. I wanted to find out what happened. He said it was ok. Now he’s on the third novel in the book (it is Friday after Thanksgiving) and I’ve finally wrestled the book away from him so I can do some reading in it myself; Borgel just stopped for rootbeer.
I had never read your stories having only heard them on Chinwag Theater–Lizard Music, I think. Now I have a great reason to buy your books if only I can keep the kid from wearing them out before I get to them.
Thanks for writing such silly stories. I need that.
Blessings on you, your wife, and your dogs!
Sincerely,
Robin
Daniel replies:
I wonder if authors who write stories not generally regarded as, ""silly,"" get emails like yours. Nothing is nicer than hearing about some kid devouring my stuff faster than his parent can read it to him--not to mention much faster than I can write more. There's another, similar, collection called 5 Novels, plus a few stand-alones--and more on the way. I love my job.
Gene Schwartz
Post #1890 – 20051125
November 25, 2005
Just bought “Hanukkah Lights” and was happy to see your name on a story.
Years ago you told a wonderful story on NPR, I think it was about pastrami but could have been some other 95% fat, great tasting Deli food. If memory serves, you were remembering something from childhood. Do you remember the story and is it possible to read &/or hear it again.
Last. I have been trying to find a story from the NPR Hanukkah lights series years ago that outlines the old argument of Hillel versus Shammai about the number of candles to light the first night; eight per Shammai-one per Hillel. Many requests to NPR got me no answer. To my joy the story is on the CD that goes with the “Hanukkah Lights” book. An early Hanukkah gift for me!!!
Thanks for many hours of fun listening and reading. Enjoy the holidays.
Daniel replies:
Ah, the good old days when NPR, and I, were way less boring. Since practically all my stories were about pastrami and other dangerous foodstuffs, I can't remember any individual ones. They never air my pieces any more--they just sit there--so I stopped sending them in. God save us from 100% serious people.
Steven J DeYoung
Post #1889 – 20051122
November 22, 2005
Have you ever considered the possibility that “Cool Hand Luke” would be more compelling, if it were about a metallurgist, sent to an Inuit village to do community service, to repay massive Girl Scout cookie debt? Is “minty” a mood?
Daniel replies:
I don't know how you found out the plot of my current work-in-progress, but I assure you I am taking steps. And don't try to deflect my vengence with trying to be cute. You're in trouble.
Josh Berg
Post #1888 – 20051121
November 21, 2005
Mr. Pinkwater,
It appears that all of your books for kids mention chickens. Is this correct? Can you please explain why chickens are funnier than other animals? Also, why is New Jersey funnier than other states?
Daniel replies:
There is nothing funny about New Jersey.
Doug Mulaire
Post #1887 – 20051121
November 21, 2005
Hi
I found this site from a Bill Watson search. Do you know what became if him after WBAI? I have a few hours of tape but I would love to have more. Enjoy your radio work as well.
Daniel replies:
Bill is currently broadcasting from the nether world. He was unique, and we will not hear his like again.
Steeve
Post #1886 – 20051119
November 19, 2005
What music prefer?
Daniel replies:
Polkas, sung by large choruses.
Bill Janes
Post #1885 – 20051118
November 18, 2005
My son and i have been fans of yours for years, so, it is with great satisfaction (and some pride) that i share with you the publication of my son’s first children’s book, Naptime for Thaddeus, published by Simply Read Books.
We began listening to you on NPR, then on tape as we traveled ’round. Your love children’s literature, stories and illustrations is contagious. And, now, twenty years later, the first book.
Thank you,
bill (adam’s dad)
Daniel replies:
Congratulations on the first book! I hope there will be many more.
Stuart Edward Sudekum
Post #1884 – 20051117
November 17, 2005
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
When I stumbled upon this site, it occured to me that you should know: I have a cat named Wuggienorple. He is orange and stripey, like in the book. When he was a kitten, he was very tiny, the runt of the litter. He was also very sick, and no one but me thought he would live. No one wanted to give him a name, for fear of getting attached. No one was allowed to touch him, even though he obviously needed love and missed his mother terribly. I siezed the oppertunity to give him the very best name possible and love him more than any other kitten had ever been loved. Long story short, he live. He even grew, though not to the size of an elephant, or even a regular sized cat. He is old enough for “senior” cat food now, and the past few years, he has been the only constant in my life. He is a very good cat. I think having a very good name must have helped. Thank you.
PS– I have a WWAMD wrist band, with little plastic stars. It glows in the dark.
Daniel replies:
I'm guessing he has a soul as big as an elephant. You are a fine person.
Cam McCovey
Post #1882 – 20051116
November 16, 2005
Hey, I’m a big fan. I’m twelve years old and i’m in the 7th grade. How tall are you?
Daniel replies:
Standing, sitting or lying down?
