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Hemu Nayak

Post #1837 – 20050623

June 23, 2005

ear Mr Pinkwater,

How do you write such great stuff?! And I mean great. Even inspiring quite often. Thank you. I rediscovered your stuff when I was in medical school and should have been studying and then I read all of it I could find. I still learned some medicine and I had a good time too. Thanks. I hope to eventually give up this medical gig and write too and am currently working on sitting in a chair for an hour a time ( as I am currently doing) which you suggested. If you are ever in Milwaukee (where I often am) or in Connecticut ( where I am now) please stop by and have some food. PS my daughter likes looking at your picture on the cover of 4 novels. Makes her laugh quite a bit.

Rock on!

Hemu

Daniel replies:

I think doctoring would be more interesting than authoring--of course if Conan-Doyle hadn't turned writer we wouldn't have Sherlock Holmes...but he only took to the pen because no patients were turning up. Is that your problem too?


Karen Hart

Post #1836 – 20050622

June 22, 2005

My husband frequently avoids experiencing things I am extremely enthusiastic about (such as books) for as long as he possibly can; my working theory is that he hopes his evasion will keep him from catching my insanity. However, I recently tricked him into reading Author’s Day to our son, and he enjoyed himself much more than he intended to. It will not be long before he is a full-blown Daniel Pinkwater fan, I think.

Daniel replies:

I won't ask what your husband did to deserve such a dirty trick from you.


Hammen

Post #1835 – 20050616

June 16, 2005

Hello DP – I just finished the new paperback ed. of Robert Nifkin and I can say that you’ve really nailed it this time! This is perhaps my favorite of all your longer-form books, (though I’d hate to have to compare).

I’m starting to think that your work is kinda like a jazz musician who’s been playing some of the same basic songs for a while, but “did you see the time he played in frisco?” “yeah, baby, that was it”.

Plus thanks for the helpful summer reading list toward the end.

I also quite enjoyed Uncle Boris in the Yukon. More than just dog stories, I’d say. Thank god for the remainder bin! ha ha.

Daniel replies:

Yep. I keep writing the same few books over and over until I get one right. Like anybody. You remind me that when I started doing this I hoped I would someday be a Marboro author (Marboro was a remainders-only bookstore in NY. It was where I got my books--some of them pretty good--and I liked, and still like the idea).


Jan Hunt

Post #1834 – 20050613

June 13, 2005

In the Hoboken Chicken Emergency, the scientist’s name is Fritz Mazzocchi. Why is his first name Sterling in Looking for Bobowitz? Did he have to go undercover?

Thanks,

Jan

Daniel replies:

Apparently he forgot what his first name had been. This happens more than you would think.


Jim Serdy

Post #1833 – 20050610

June 10, 2005

Hi Dan,

I have often heard you and Scott Simon reading children’s books on NPR. Several weeks ago I sent “DiddleBug, A True Story” (more or less) to you and Scott at NPR, written by myself and my 2 yr old granddaughter. I thought you’d enjoy it; perhaps even choose to read it on the air. I feel like Snoopy (“It was a Dark and Stormy Night. . .”) waiting to hear from his publisher. Please, at least tell me that you threw it in the trash!”

Daniel replies:

Didn't trash it, never saw it. Probably Scott didn't either. Lots of mail gets swallowed up--busy place. We only read published books on the program, for no particular reason--but it would involve meetings and decisions and all like that were we to change anything. Still, someone should have thanked you for sending your story in. So....thank you.


Sheryl Smith

Post #1832 – 20050605

June 5, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

These internet connections are neat!–because they sometimes let you reach people whose work has given you pleasure, and drop little appreciations and thanks on them. Wah-da-da. I’ve read and reread you with continuing delight for decades as an adult. I couldn’t read you as a child because it appears we were growing up in Chicago at about the same time. I lived in Gage Park, where the CTA shut down at midnight like Cinderella, so if you snuck out, you walked: I became more mobile at night after I grew up and moved to Rogers Park. But I recognize from your descriptions many favorite places in the city, which also seemed to have been favorites of yours. Some places are gone now (those old bookstores on North Clark that carried 1940s stock into the ’60s), and others gentrified–but I walked along Lower Wacker Drive the last time I was there and its ambience remains. Still a couple of raunchy press hangouts down there, but no chicken hangouts and no chickens. But I didn! ‘t see chickens there as a kid either. Probably you see more chickens than other people.

I didn’t mean this to be a nostalgia-fest, but did want to mention the one detail of the incomparable Clark Theater that should’ve made it into your books, but didn’t. And that was the wonderful scuzzy twilltone monthly schedules, where each mind-warping daily double feature was described in a hand-crafted and equally mind-warping rhyming couplet. My memory has wisely failed to preserve any of them, but in recollection they were stupendous!! I was going to Chicago Circle, and was just beginning to develop an interest in classic films, so I went there fairly often. But I never saw a repertoire like that anywhere else. A few films, like _Shakespeare Wallah_, seem never to have existed anywhere except the Clark.

After all that, I do have a question. Are you ever going to finish _The Dada Boys in Collitch_? I’ve been reading Walter Hogan, and he seems not to like them, but they’re favorites of mine. And any sequel to _Young Adult Novel_ would have to make you the Eminem of kid litt. 😉

Thanks again for giving me so much pleasure.

Sheryl Smith

P.S. Jean Shepherd is cool, but Bob & Ray are cooler.

Daniel replies:

So we were probably in the Clark, watching Abbot and Costello meet Dracula, or some other remarkable double-bill at the same time! I not only remember the schedules with the couplets, but I have a few that someone had saved, and sent to me. I used to get them mailed to me when I was away at college--I don't remember if the Clark would mail them out, or if I had a confederate forward them--and I would pin the current one to my closet door, so I could keep track of what I was missing. You don't mention The Education of Robert Nifkin in your highly complimentary and welcome email. If you haven't seen that one, you really should--it's the undisguised Chicago.


Jay

Post #1830 – 20050604

June 4, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater –

Your books are truly beautiful. I’m fairly sure that The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death is right up there with History of the Peloponnesian War and Finnegans Wake as far as rad things made from words go.

Three questions: One. Is there anyplace even remotely similar to Beanbender’s in the continental U.S.? Two: could you recommend a good polka album? I’m not kidding about the polka album. Three: Considered reprinting Norb?

Ran across a store called Toad’s Mini-Mart today. Wondered briefly if it was manned by Hapless or a relation thereof. Would not be surprised.

I remain –

Jay

ps: Three years of undergrad have only made me appreciate your work more. You are scarily brilliant.

Daniel replies:

You think scary from out there? Imagine what it's like on the inside. Never having been able to read Thucydides in Greek, I can't comment, but Winnegan's Fake stands forever as a beacon, informing the sapient writer as to how much he can get away with. Sorry about not being in a position to recommend a polka album--there are some depths to which I have not sunk. There were beergardens not unlike Beanbender's in Chicago in my youth. Now? Dunno.


Ben Prisk

Post #1831 – 20050604

June 4, 2005

Mr. Pinkwater,

I’ve been a fan of your NPR commentaries for many years now. I was able to order your recollections of your malamutes some years back. However, another story of yours I often relate is your recollection of calling a pet psychic who related her contact with a horse who had passed away. Is this story available for purchase as well. I recently had an interesting dream about horses ( filed under: ‘How’s this…’ at prisk.typepad.com). Thanks Mr. Pinkwater.

Daniel replies:

It's possible the story about the animal psychic is in the collection Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle--I'm not sure. When the piece aired a great many people contacted me--mostly wanting to be put in touch with the psychic, and mostly wanting to ask why their cat died.


Jacqueline K. Ogburn

Post #1972 – 20050528

May 28, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater:

You read an abridged verison of my book The Bake Shop Ghost on NPR in November. I listened to it on a portable radio standing in a public park while my 11-year-old daughter ran her first 5K run in freezing weather. It was an amazing experience. You did a lovely job of abridgment. I considered sending you the cake from the book, but respect your resolve in abstaining from such things.

The broadcast had it’s usual stellar impact on sales, but it also had another result that I thought you would appreciate knowing, given your affection for Mozart. I was contacted through my website by a composer in Iowa about turning the story into an opera. After much discussion, it has turned into a muscial theater production, and will be staged in June 2007 at the Maud Powell Musical Festival in LaSalle, Illinois. I am writing the libretto and lyrics. I owe this adventure to you and I thank you for it.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline K. Ogburn

Daniel replies:

The lovely job of abridging should be credited to NPR producer Sara Beyer Kelly, who is responsible for all those pieces sounding as well as they do. The reading, drooling, and expressions of sincere appreciation were by Mr. Simon and myself. Congratulations on the musical stage adaptation! I know what fun that can be, as I too am looking forward to the debut of an opera based on a book of mine, with libretto by the author, (Blue Moose), also in 2007! I hope your theatrical success won't distract you too much from producing more wonderful picture books.


Simone Punzo

Post #1829 – 20050526

May 26, 2005

My name is Simone, I am 9 years old, I attend the 4th grade at the international school in Munich – Germany – and I am doing an author study about you at school.

I have researched the internet and read some of your books, like ‘fat men from space’, ‘Mush, a dog from space’ and ‘The magic Brezel’.

I have some questions to ask you:

1- Which your favorite book amongst those you have written? And which is the one you like the least?

2- How do you write your books? DO you write them all together, or does it take a lot of time for you to write? Have you got a special place you like to stay when you write your books?

3- When did you start writing books? When did you decide you were going to be a writer? How many books did you write?

4- If I wanted to become a writer like you, what should I do? What would you sugest me?

5- How do you manage to write so many books for kids, even if you are not a kid any more?

6- What is the place in the world you like the most?

I hope you will answer my questions as soon as possible!

Would it be possible for you to visit our school and talk to us kids?

Thanks a lot

Simone Punzo

Daniel replies:

  1. I don't even think much about books I have written. I am always thinking about the next book I will write.
  2. Sometimes I write the book straight through, sometimes in little nibbles and bits. Sometimes a long book gets written in a short time, and sometimes a short book takes a year or more.
  3. I started writing books in 1969. I decided I would be a writer in 1979. I think I have written around 100 books.
  4. If you wanted to become a writer like me, you should talk to your family doctor, your clergyman or a competent psychologist. I would suggest you then go to work as a professional fisherperson for a year or two.
  5. That is a very good question. It works like this. If you are 8 and you get to be 9, the 8-year-old does not go away. That person is complete and is part of you. With practice one can become good at visiting oneself at different ages. I do this, and think about what kind of book I would have liked when I was a certain age. Then I write that book. So, I am not a kid any more...but I am.
  6. The Hudson River Valley, in New York State. And it is also where I live! Nice arrangement, huh?
Here are your answers, and they are very good questions. 
> Would it be possible for you to visit our school and talk to us kids? 
No, because your school is in Europe, and I would not be able to get home in time to walk my dog.


Sosha Wickstrom and Carol

Post #1828 – 20050524

May 24, 2005

Mr. Pinkwater,We are a student(Sosha) and librarian(Carol) who are big fans ofyour books.We wonder if you ever do school visits.We are a very small school near Albany (130 kids) and there are no Republicans in our school.We could not pay you very much but we could pay something. Please let us know. Thank you! Sosha and Carol

Daniel replies:

No Republicans? Not even one? Why not? Do you keep them out? Wouldn't that be illegal? This sounds wrong to me somehow. I guess maybe if your school is called The Karl Marx School of Dialectical Materialism, no Republicans might want to go there. Please explain more.


Stephanie

Post #1827 – 20050522

May 22, 2005

*bows to the omniscient and omnipotent god (you)*

I was at a bookstore yesterday and mosey’d over to the children’s section to see what books they had by you. Usually it’s just Lizard Music and 5 Novels, with the occasional Hoboken Chicken Emergency. But lo and behold! A new edition of Robert Nifkin and a new book by Pinkwater? Delightful! My happy dance commenced, followed by a series of mocking children.

Changing the subject: While many of your books are comfortably at home in the children’s section, I believe that some novels, like Robert Nifkin, should be in the “Young Adult” section. Any thoughts?

Should you ever be in Boston and let the public know, my friends and I would follow you around and kiss the ground you walk on.

And to Mrs. Pinkwater– I’ve only read one of your books, Mr. Fred. I read it when I was young, and remember loving it, but I can’t find it anymore. My local library’s copy has been lost for sometime. I am trying to get my hands on more of your work. I love your illustrations as well.

Now that this long tangent (opposite over adjacent) has gone on long enough, I believe it is time to depart, and apologize for rambling on.

Daniel replies:

It is cool. I encounter a surprising number of idiots, considering that I work at home, never go anywhere, and shun social situations. Now and then I someone tells me they are enjoying my books, usually by reading them. I like this. I like it even more when they say they like stuff that Jill does--because I do too. So, thank you.


Chris Gonzalez

Post #1826 – 20050521

May 21, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I’m looking for a story that I heard on NPR 10 or 15 years ago. The tale was about a girl that had an upside down ear. She goes through a big adventure, the details of which have largely been vanquished from my senile mind. A friend told me that you may have written it or might know the author etc… Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Daniel replies:

I did not write it. I do not know the author. I do not even etc. Sorry not to be of help.


Arctic Octogenerian

Post #1825 – 20050518

May 18, 2005

For now, NOV SCHMOZ KAPOP! Via Thje Little Hitchhiker

Does any one remember him?

I do.

yar

Daniel replies:

Who does not remember the Little Hitchiker, and his incarnation as Mr. Natural, and later Norb? Nov Shmoz Kapop comes up regularly in this forum. You are not playing with kids here, old icicle-whiskers.


Anne Allis

Post #1824 – 20050512

May 12, 2005

66.218.75.214/s/space/rarediscoverynewtypeofrodentfoundinvegetablemarket

A new species of rodent discovered in Laos, looks like a cross between a squirrel and a rat/mouse. Omigawd, it’s Willie the Squowse!

Daniel replies:

I'm pretty sure I had one for lunch at a deli here in Dutchess County.


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