Is Yobgorgle REALLY the Flying Piggie???????? What book are you writing now?????????????????
Sam Goldberg age 7
Is it? I ask you. I am writing The Picture of Morrie and Ray, a thriller.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I recently wrote to you from dear old Portland Oregon. I included in my letter one of my own kevin Shapiro stories. Is it possible, that you could compile into a book, all the Kevin Shapiro stories that you have recieved? (or at least those print-worthy.) It would be very intiresting.
Dear old Portland Oregon. Is it as we remember it? And you, Rachel Reynolds--had you been a lizard, you might be named Reynold Reynolds. I did publish a few Kevin Shapiro stories in Dead End Dada, and they continue to turn up and drift in. Yours quite recently. But I am too old and weak and crazy to assemble them into a book. It is an honor to have readers like you.
Hello, Mr. Pinkwater…
I live in a town where finding many/ANY of your books is an enterprise akin to finding a balsa wood model of a German airplane. Which is to say, the odds are not so good…I suspect this may be typical.
I’ve gotten to the point that my (well-worn) copy of Fish Whistle is practically a recommended read on my bookshelf, and the audiobook has achieved a status close to any random Beatles album in my car…in other words, it gets played A LOT.
Have there been any plans to re-release the Fish Whistle collection in the Seedy format anytime soon, or will I need to knock off a CD-R of the set to preserve my tapes (please don’t hate me for that; I assure you that it’s the last act of a desperate man)?
Apologies if this has been addressed in the archives…this is being written on the fly and I haven’t had time to look yet, but I didn’t see anything in amazon.com regarding the possibility. I thought I should ask the man himself.
Do good work. Be well. And thank you for all your wonderful writing. It has been more than a little bit inspiring.
Sincerely yours,
Todd Berryman – 92.3 WTTS, Bloomington/Indianapolis
I suppose you know about ""Hoboken Fish & Chicago Whistle,"" from Xlibris--that's a book. As to a new recording...there has been some talk of issuing Chinwag Theater audio stuff, but not yet, and I am sort of bored with all those old radio essays. However..........I just handed in a book of similar pieces, ""Uncle Boris in the Yukon,"" and I understand Simon and Schuster plans an audio version of that. Maybe you'll like it.
I have a strong but vague rememberance of hearing you (on the radio) describing a wonderous restaurant in the Hudson valley. I thought at the time “I must go there”. Years have since passed. Of course I can’t remember the name, the date you spoke of it, ( along time ago), or specifically who you were talking to on NPR.
I’m sure you remember. (he he he)
Maybe you’ve only talked about a restaurant in the Hudson Valley once ?;
maybe you’ve remembered it in case I ever wrote to ask ?;
Maybe it is still operating so this will not be mute ?
Hope you are well, I know you are cool.
It closed. But we now have a Dunkin' Donuts. And right proud we are. Help! Send food!
Daniel,
Love your program on NPR. Following your reading of Calef Brown’s “Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks”, my wife Shaun and I ran out and bought a copy. Upon close inspection of the illustrations for the “Polka Bats” poem, we noticed something interesting. There’s a man in the lower right of the page with a “polka-turd” falling on his head, and he looks suspiciously like a certain children’s author we all know and love.
So, this presents the obvious question — do you make a cameo appearance in “Polka Bats”, only to be smote with polka-bat guano?
Curiously Yours
Rob & Shaun Baesman
This unusual coincidence has been pointed out before, (by Scott Simon). I can only assume that Calef Brown was trying to honor me. Thanks for saying you love the program. More important to say it to the radio station on which you hear it. I bet you even know their email address.
Daniel, I am a 43 year old male who has read all of your books I could find and have literally worn out both of the early Snarkout Boysbooks and I really would like to see more of them. Also, how about a new adventure starring the crew from the Worms of Kukumlima?
Thanks for many years of enjoyable reading to break the monotony of information based books that are interesting but don’t involve one in a story that is FUN!!!
Sincerely
David Stormont
Thanks. There is stuff coming out, and I hope to write more. Keep reading!
Your closing paragraph on Uncle Boris’ early influence set me free. At 58. Thanks a lot.
I wonder what I said.
You probably get asked this frequently…but which one of your stories do you enjoy the most?
Oh, the one I'm writing presently, of course!
Hi Mr. P!
I used to write to you all the time as a young lad. I took to snarking out with my friends even. Anyway I just wanted to say hi again (its been about 15 years since I wrote), and that I still enjoy reading and listening to you blubber on like a fool. I enjoyed Fish Whistle and was surprised to see you were an artist and sculptor as a young, but hefty man. I, too wander this path. Anyway… in the interest of asking a question, have any of your books been turned into movies, or cartoons? If not, would you be interested in this venture? You look svelt nowadays by the way. Take it supersized my inspirational friend.
Less and less am I interested in filmic things. It's the class of people you meet swarming around Hollywood.
Dear Daniel,
Recently came across Uncle Boris in the Funny Times. I keep crossing your path! For the last couple years I’ve spent some of my commuting time listening to your fine public radio program. I’ve never been happier sitting in traffic on Eastern Parkway. Since Charity’s departure, I find myself changing the station as soon as that other guy opens his mouth. I hope you can send a search party to look around the drop-zone she was last reported in.
Sincerely,
Jake Maloney
Brooklyn
Grumble, grumble, grumble. I bet you wrote angry letters to the newspaper when they dropped ""Rivets."" Look, Charity Nebbe had another job she wanted to do. I didn't fire her. And nobody can prove it ever crossed my mind. Scott is a good guy. Give him a chance. Also, we have Sarah Beyer Kelly. Hubba hubba---get the picture? I bet you drive ten blocks in the wrong direction on Eastern Parkway to holler at the girl in McDonald's when they forget to give you the little coffee swizzler. Please cooperate and behave like a fan--it's hard doing a radio program.
I was just reading the questions people asked you and the saw the one where someone asked if there is going to be a Lizard Music sequel? I just wanted to know because I loved Lizard Music and would definitely read the sequel. OK thankyou.
your huge fan,
Dylan Hyland
P.S. I love all of your books and you are my favorite author
Thanks very much. I may write a sequel to Lizard Music, and I may not. I was asked, and I tried, but I didn't get anywhere. I may try again. It's hard to make a good sequel to a good book.
Dear DP,
When I was a kid, I used to blow off assigned reading in favor of your books. My parents and teachers thought I was crazy. “Talking lizards and dancing chickens!” they would scoff. “That won’t prepare you for life. You’ll see.” But I stood by my guns and kept reading.
Well now I’m a 28 year old unemployed alcoholic. They were right.
I’ll see you in hell, Pinkwater.
Respectfully,
Jason Ward
You owe me an apology. I submit that reading my stuff is perfect preparation for being an 28-year-old unemployed alcoholic. Ingrate.
Mr. Pinkwater,
I am a ninth grader, and a huge fan of your books. I own over 75 books that you have written, and I am fat and proud. Obviously, when I was asked in school to write a biography of my favorite author I chose you. Could you give me a link to a good biography and some info on your childhood? (I looked for hours and found nothing). Thanks in advance!
-Zach Aaronson
P.S. I have heard rumors that there is/will be a sequel to Lizard Music. If so, where can I get it?
You found the P-Zone! I'd say that is a huge junkshop of useful bits and pieces. As to actually writing a biography of DP, why not do what all the others have done, and make it up out of your head? If you do this after a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast, you'll be surprised how accurate it seems to be.
A couple of weaks ago, I was reading an old DC Joker comic. In it there was this character who played Sherlock Holmes on broadway. The character’s name was Clive Sigerson. Was this your inspiration for the name of your Sherlock type character, Osgood Sigerson?
Nope, but I'll bet the DC writer's inspiration was the same as mine. Care to research it for yourself?
I happened to latch onto this website, and was reminded of the many times I’d meant to write Daniel Pinkwater and thank him for a “Smithsonian” essay he did sometime back in which he featured his memories of my father, the Western film actor Tim McCoy. On this website he noted that he’d gotten my father’s autobiography through interlibrary loan. I’d certainly be happy to provide him with a copy of his own—my dad would’ve loved reading Mr. Pinkwater’s essay—he was keenly aware of the impact idols/images had on kids.
By amazing coincidence I was enjoying your father's stylish screen work only today. There's a sort of Grade C satellite network that comes in fuzzy with lo-fi sound on a local channel--and they show old cowboy movies! I'd be honored to have a copy of Tim McCoy Remembers the West--I'll send you a mailing address! Thanks for logging in.
