Therea Maier
Post #1823 – 20050508
May 8, 2005
thank you. my son discovered the joys of reading through (okay first there was captain underpants but we are all only 6 for a year) your books, and both my children are learning to write through your books.
Kellan is 8, and we read your books together most nights. my daughter in the next room follows along. your books are so much fun, we read long and my voice started to give out, so my son offered to take turns reading chapters aloud with me. one early morning, i came near the door to his room and stopped when i realized he was awake. i heard the sound of a page turn. peering in, i saw him on his belly, reading the book himself. now we have to trade the books around to keep up with each other.
my 12 year old daughter Shannon started writing a novel. she determined it was to be 232 pages. she stopped after three chapters because she couldn’t get it to go where she wanted it to go. she started a new novel with her brother: “writing like daniel pinkwater.”
you are a wonderful teacher for them. your writing causes them to laugh out loud. wants them to say words out loud just to hear the sound. wants them to write each night a few paragraphs that their mother thinks tell a great story. they select details that are telling, their names are bombastic, and they learn to write freely without care for anything but to move the story forward. and then, after they read me their new installation, they will let me edit with them, caring about spelling, grammar, syntax. they are learning to write.
the skills their teachers work so hard to give them has meaning.
nice gift. we thank you.
Daniel replies:
Nice email. I thank you. Make sure they see The Artsy Smartsy Club, which will be published Tuesday. You may tell them from me that writing and painting are just the same.
Scott Ralph
Post #1822 – 20050506
May 6, 2005
I listened to your reading of the Devil in the Drain (I can’t remember the real title) on This American Life, and like all of your stuff, I loved it!
I look forward to when my daughter (now 20 mths old), is old enough to read your books!
Cheers,
Scott
Daniel replies:
Oh, is that why they sent me a small check last year? Thanks for your kind words.
Tim Kerans
Post #1821 – 20050505
May 5, 2005
Dear Sir,
I noticed that someone recently asked on the forum whether any attempt had been made to make Alan Mendelssohn, The Boy From Mars into a film. I would further ask if any of your other books (besides the The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) have garnered similar interest? I know I would enjoy film versions of my favorites, especially Fat Men From Space, The Snarkout Boys, or The Last Guru, and I am curious (as I am sure you are as well) why this mountain of sumptuous material is not being transformed into the next great summer blockbuster/oscar-winning movie?
Thank you,
Tim Kerans
a.k.a. Snarek, Captain of My Own Private Spaceburger, Peanut Butter Cup Division
Daniel replies:
Has it ever occurred to you that possibly someone might not really care about a book of his being made into the next great summer blockbuster/oscar-winning movie? And why.
Normandy Helmer
Post #1820 – 20050502
May 2, 2005
I am a long-time Pinkwater fan, and also a parent and a chicken fancier. I think Daniel’s work provides important balance in an increasingly conservative and conformative society, forcing people to both see the box and then actively step outside it, stand on their head, put on weird music, and _then_ start thinking. I work in a research library where we collect, preserve, and make accessible to scholars (and normal people and kids) the work of writers and artists and thinkers and such. Daniel, if you haven’t identified a repository for your papers, please let me know. I’d sure like us to have them, but I can also help you find another institution. Your stuff is too good to lose–you need to make sure you have the necessary help to make it outlive you (and Lulu).
My son had a Bantam Cochin hen (small, round fluffy friendly creature) named Teapot for whom he wrote a series of adventures involving swords and dragons and flying motorcycles. It was glorious stuff and celebrated the fantasy life of a great, but sadly short-lived and much-mourned chicken. I credit Chinwag Theatre for twisting his mind this way. You are always welcome to visit us in Oregon. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!
Daniel replies:
I always sort of thought I would burn my papers when the end is near. The good and finished stuff is in book form, and my notes, with soy sauce stains and grocery lists in the margins is nobody's business.
Tommy Salami
Post #1819 – 20050501
May 1, 2005
Out of curiousity I googled myself and showed up twice as a correspondent on Daniel Pinkwater’s web site.
So how many Big Bob books has he written?
Big Fan
Tommy Salami
Daniel replies:
Lemme see... Big Bob and the Thanksgiving Potato, Big Bob and the Halloween Potato, Big Bob and the Valentine Potato, Big Bob and the Winter Holiday Potato...are there any more? We never got to do the Purim Potato.
Linda McKenna
Post #1817 – 20050501
May 1, 2005
Hi Daniel,
I have a question. I see that you are now selling some great tee shirts! They’re lovely. What I am looking for is a tee shirt featuring “Cloud Horse”, by Jill (you know that), it’s one of my favorite books. I gave a copy to my friend Kickii, in Sweden, for her birthday last December 20th, when I was staying with her. She’s a passionate Icelandic Horse rider. So, I’d like to get 2 of these shirts, if they exist. Do they??? And if not now, WILL they??? I enjoy your site very much- thank YOU much!
Linda McKenna (Cloud Horse Fan)
Daniel replies:
I regret that we don't own t-shirt rights to the excellent art for Cloud Horse. (And I momentarily forget the name of the artist). But if you can find her, you can inquire about a t-shirt application.
We've done the work, Cloud Horse shirts are now available here!
Robert Moody
Post #1818 – 20050501
May 1, 2005
Dear Chief Duck: I inquired a while ago whether you ever went through Canada on tour, but the message must have gotten lost somewhere. Anyway, if you do, please consider Kingston, Ontario as a possible destination. You have a bunch of readers here who would appreciate seeing and hearing you in person.
Daniel replies:
By what weird logic do these readers conclude that they would appreciate seeing and hearing me in person? No one in the town in which I reside appreciates seeing and hearing me in person. Can Kingston, Ontario be that different? I have met several famous writers in person, and every one of them was as dull and depressing as I am.
Sara Swan Miller
Post #1816 – 20050226
February 26, 2005
I want to thank Daniel for reading from my book, Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog, and for your kind words about it. Too bad listeners couldn’t see the great illustrations. This is the tenth anniversary of the publication of the book. Since then there have been more: Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat, Three More Stories You Can Read to Your Dog, Three More Stories You Can Read to Your Cat, and Three Stories You Can Read to Your Teddy Bear. Thanks to you and Lulu the sales ranking for Three Stories…Dog went from #160,725 to #65 in a few hours. And the others moved way up, too. Just goes to show that listeners listen to you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Daniel replies:
We had SO much fun with that book! Lulu really was looking at the pictures and enjoying it as we recorded the radio piece. I think quite a few of the illustrations are on the NPR website.
Denise
Post #1815 – 20050226
February 26, 2005
Dear Mr. Pinkwater, Several years ago, you shared the story of the death of your beloved dog, of how he waited to go until you told him it was OK….my eyes are welling with tears just remembering it. I would so love to hear the story again. Is it available anywhere? Thank you for the years of enjoyment I’ve received, listening to you on NPR. You are a treasure. sincerely, -denise
Daniel replies:
Thank you. Story is in Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle, available from Xlibris, or Amazon.com.
Mich
Post #1814 – 20050225
February 25, 2005
I am an’ aspiring author an’ What I wanted to know is the Casio AE-20W watch, if perchance you might have one that DOESN’T work, I need the external case for my own. My grandfather bought it for me when I was young but since has died. It’s sentimental is all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Daniel replies:
Can't do it, Mich. I owe my success as an author to that watch. Darn good thing I stocked up on them--I have just enough of 'em to last me through the great works of my old age.
Susan and Jazz Hoffman
Post #1813 – 20050222
February 22, 2005
A long time ago you read a story about sneaky-nose, I think it was about Lulu. It’s THE STORY from NPR that still makes me grin. I was hoping to find that particular story. We have a new pup. We adopted her at 18 months from the Humane Society and she has sneaky nose in her genes. At least that’s what I think. I’d love to find the story and share with everyone who meets, Jazz, our new Collie X, pup. Thank you very much.
Daniel replies:
It was Jacques who was the master of sneaky-nose. Lulu has other gifts, as some will hear/have heard on 26 Feb when she helps out on the radio program. I'm not sure where the sneaky-nose piece can be found. Maybe in Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle?
E. Pitman
Post #1812 – 20050218
February 18, 2005
My teacher is letting me write to you and I have two questions for you: 1. What are some websites that I can read 100% NOT SILY biographical information on YOU, because I’m studying you and I need to find biographical information? 2.What is the tittle of your next book?
Daniel replies:
A ""not silly"" website with information about me cannot exist. The actual details of my life are completely silly. I am no different from anyone, including your teacher, in this regard. In fact, the idea of a 100% not silly source of information is the silliest thing I've ever heard. A book of mine coming out soon is THE ARTSY SMARTSY CLUB. You can read the prequel, already published, LOOKING FOR BOBOWICZ, and the sort-of prequel to that, THE HOBOKEN CHICKEN EMERGENCY. Not silly? How silly!
Matthew
Post #1811 – 20050216
February 16, 2005
Dear Mr.Pinkwater, Can you please post some facts and hobbies of yourself on the forums? Im doing a report on you and i found out that Lizard Music is a really goood book. Thanks, Matthew Grade 7
Dear Mr.Pinkwater i find you very hilarous and I am a big fan of you and your book, oh and don’t forget to say hi to Mrs.Pinkwater for me *wink wink* 😛 -Matt Grade 7 Age: 13
Dear Mr.Pinkwater, You seem to give a lot more attention to Lulu and not Maxine2 (tell her I said hi hehe :P) Still Laughing, Matt
Daniel replies:
Matthew, this website is full of information about me, some of it true. Just look around. (Lulu demands more attention--besides, Maxine2 is her pet, not mine).
Leo Lensing & Dinah Lensi
Post #1810 – 20050213
February 13, 2005
Dear Pinkwater Forum,
I have the assignment to write a report on Mr. Pinkwater and his work for school. One of the things I need to know is which book awards Mr. Pinkwater has won. Surprisingly, this information is difficult to find. Even my father, who has a Ph.D. and thinks he knows something about German literature, has not been able to find anything definitive. This is probably due to Mr. Pinkwater’s unbecoming modesty. Whatever. It would be a great help to us all, daughter and father, if you could give us a list.
Best regards,
Leo Lensing & Dinah Lensing-Sharp
Daniel replies:
I am not modest. Just the opposite. I think I am the greatest writer since Christian Morgenstern. (I threw that in for Dad.) I am (quite) mildly gratified by the occasional honor or award--and then I forget all about them. I don't want awards, actually. It's the same principle whereby I would never buy a lottery ticket--I feel that I am so far ahead of the game that it would be tacky to win (somebody else's) millions of dollars. Let those who have need get the awards. What does gratify me greatly is hearing from readers who say positive things about my work, which I notice you did not.
P.S. A William Lensing was a wonderful philosophy teacher at my college. Any relation?
Brandon Pittman
Post #1809 – 20050209
February 9, 2005
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My name is Brandon Pittman and I am a 7th grader in Greensboro, NC. I have been assigned a research paper on an author and I chose you. Would you please e-mail so I can include it in my report. It doesn’t really have to say anything because I have researched you thoroughly and do not want to invade your privacy with questions. Say Hi to Jill (Mrs. Pinkwater – sorry). Is your dog okay?
Thank you,
Brandon Pittman
PS – My report is due tomorrow. Sorry the teacher only gave us a week and I broke my arm and wrist this week in a wrestling match.
Daniel replies:
Hello, Brandon Pittman. Jill says hello too. The dogs are more than ok. I am delighted, gratified, and impressed that you did thorough research. Congratulations, Brandon Pittman. You are clearly an outstanding person, and I am honored to be the subject of your research paper.
Daniel Pinkwater
P.S. Sorry about the arm. And the wrist. Consider another sport. Bullfighting, for example.
