Jill Craig
Post #1028 – 20000119
January 19, 2000
Hey Daniel,
I love your books and didn’t realize you’ve written so many. I found your web site by accident. A real serendipity! Every year I read Lizard Music to my third grade class. They love it and it makes them think. One year we even had a Lizard Music day with three grades. What fun! We made thunder cakes, had lizard juice, and made a Memory House and the House of Egg. The kids and teachers had a blast.
Do you have any recommendations for other books suitable for third grade? They liked Fat Men From Space.
Thanks for your time.
Jill Craig
Daniel replies:
I long ago gave up trying to figure out what books are suitable for what age. I would write something I was certain no one under 14 would appreciate, and I'd get intelligent letters from 8-year-olds. And then there are full-fledged adults who like the picture books. It's beyond me.
Jennifer Iverstine
Post #1026 – 20000118
January 18, 2000
Hi Daniel:
I was in Seaside Florida for New Years and I came across some of your artwork in a glass shop. Your delightfully colorful hanging lights really caught my eye. I knew right then that I must have them!
The problem is that I lost the card of the store. Please help me!
Jennifer Iverstine
New Orleans, LA
Daniel replies:
Why thank you! I'm glad you like Pinkwater Glass, notwithstanding that I have nothing whatsoever to do with it. There used to be a link to the makers on this very website--or you can do a search for pinkwater glass. I have seen some pictures on the web, and it is extremely nice work.
Jo Yanow-Schwartz
Post #1025 – 20000118
January 18, 2000
Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
I am writing for my neice, Tacora Wood, who is eight years old. We listen to your readings on a local PBS sation Friday evenings. She has no parents;and wishes that she “had a grandfather just like you.”
Are there tapes of your telling your stories? The local radio station didn’t think so but I imagine they are misinformed. If I am correct, you might contact WMHT (Albany or Schenectady?) and tell them the scoop.
If you could respond to the youngster on this email, that would be wonderful. And, we look forward to the information about your recordings. I also know very little about your books. Can you supply a book list?
Your work is wonderful and I thank you.
Cordially,
Jo Yanow-Schwartz
Daniel replies:
This is what you do. Maybe your radio, or home stereo has a cassette deck built-in. Or you might consider buying such a radio. (They can be quite inexpensive at local discount stores). Buy some cassettes that are 60 minutes in length, (30 minutes on a side). You can record Chinwag Theater right off the radio. We can't offer tapes for sale at this time. But anybody can record off the air. Makes a nice project for you and your niece, don't you think?
Ms. Seubert
Post #1027 – 20000118
January 18, 2000
Mr. Pinkwater,
Hello from PS 149 in Queens, NY. The children in Class 2-321 have read a few of your books and we are very interested in what gave you the ideas for them. We will continue to read and would like to mail you some responses to your books.
Thanks for reading,
Ms. Seubert of Class 2-321
Daniel replies:
Ms. Seubert and the mighty readers of class 2-321 -- I am proud that my books are being enjoyed in the great borough of Queens. Ideas are everywhere--like germs. The thing is whether and how one can develop them. Most ideas are lousy when you first stumble on them, but with care and nourishment, and lots of fresh air, they can become bigger and better.
Charlie Press
Post #1024 – 20000117
January 17, 2000
Do you know where I can get a copy (Wuggie Norble)? It is my girlfriend’s favorite book of yours (she’s 31 years old but enjoys your books much more than so-called “adult authors”) and I wanted to get her a copy for our anniversary. I figured checking with the author would be a good start!
Thanks.
—Charlie Press
Daniel replies:
Clearly you have a superior girlfriend. _The Wuggie Norple Story_ is undoubtedly out of print, but you should have no trouble finding a copy. I'd start with Cattermole 20th Century Children's Books http://www.cattermole.com and books@cattermole.com
Coss Rubio
Post #1023 – 20000116
January 16, 2000
Dear Mr. Pinkwater: I really liked the book Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror. Sometimes I think of myself as Walter. I have a friend who I think of as Winston. My name is Coss Rubio. I am 10 years old.
When will you be writing more about the Snarkout Boys?
Daniel replies:
I dunno. Sometime, maybe. I have to write another in the Werewolf Club series, (it's about werewolves), and another after that...and a couple of novels that don't have the Snarkout Boys in them, and some picture books, and radio pieces. It may be a while.
4 Loyal Listeners/Readers
Post #1020 – 20000115
January 15, 2000
Dearest Daniel,
We shall surely perish if we don’t get the recipe for mock blintzes which you so generously shared with your listeners on Chinwag Theater a short while back. We were traveling in the car, listening to the show, and alas, had no pen nor paper to help us remember the recipe. Please help us out in any way you can, as we would love to continue to enjoy your work!!!!
Daniel replies:
You would perish if you tried mock blintzes. What's the problem with making real ones? I don't remember the recipe, but it didn't sound any simpler than the real thing. Or are you just mocking me?
Carla Fink
Post #1019 – 20000115
January 15, 2000
HI Daniel –
Hearing you on the radio – especially with Scott Simon – never fails to make me happy. I’m not sure what it is about your voice, but when I heard the story about your family going to California (like a while ago), I had to pull over in hysterics (in my car). So, I was thinking this morning that I would happily pay my public radio station $100 if you would record the message on my answering machine. Personally, I think Kark Cassel, although I’m sure he’s an extremely nice man, sounds like he has pebbles in his mouth. But your voice on my machine would cause people to leave MUCH MORE POSITIVE messages, I feel sure.. Anyway, I thought maybe this would be a good fund-raising gimmick for public radio. But at any rate, maybe you’d be willing to do it for me for a contribution. Maybe not. What do you think?
Thanks for your funny sensibility and finding such wonderful children’s stories.
Carla Fink
Framingham, Massachusetts
Daniel replies:
Pay your public radio station $100? What have they got to do with it? I'd record your answering machine message for $100. Heck, for $300 Charity Nebbe and I will come to your house and do Chinwag Theater.
Daniel Niels Hauser
Post #1022 – 20000115
January 15, 2000
My name is Daniel Niels Hauser I am 10 years old, I really like your books, can you write another SnarkOut Boys book with fat guys from space, by the way some kid in my class think your books are weird do you know why? Daniel
Daniel replies:
I have always thought I might write another Snarkout book. Maybe one in which they are grown up, or almost grown up? I'll get around to it.
Daniel, people with limited imaginations and/or vocabularies often say ""weird,"" when they mean, ""funny,"" or ""surprising."" Be kind to people like this--they are often confused, and sometimes enraged after buying something they didn't want at all because they saw a commercial. This is what you should say to them: ""There, there...everything will be all right.""
Glenda Everett
Post #1021 – 20000115
January 15, 2000
Mr. Pinkwater,
several years ago I came across your book BORGEL in the middle school library where I teach 7th grade. Recognizing your name from NPR, I decided to check it out and have been reading it to my classes ever since. It’s a great book, one that appeals to a wide range of students, and one that students beg to hear (it’s sparked a reading interest in many a student resistent to reading). Thanks for writing a book that’s well written, funny, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. By the way, which of your books is your favorite or was the most fun for you to write?
Daniel replies:
Borgel, long out of print, will be in the 4 Fantastic Novels collection, to be published in spring 2000. Along with 5 Novels, this gives you most of my long fiction for much less than $20, which is an incredible deal, even if you don't like half of them. I don't know that I have a favorite book, or which was the most fun to write. It's more complicated than that for me--I'm not sure I can even convey the weird changes I go through, but once a book is done, I hardly think about it again, and even have trouble remembering what's in it.
Ian Stoba
Post #1017 – 20000114
January 14, 2000
Congratulations on getting your picture on the front page of the Poughkeepsie Journal today. This is an honor second only to having your picture hung in the post office, isn’t it?
Daniel replies:
I'd say second to being featured in an emergencyclopedia. The point of the picture, (which they've used before at my urging), is what a cool-looking dog Jacques was.
Daniel Feldman
Post #1018 – 20000114
January 14, 2000
Dear Mr. Pinkwatwer,
I began reading you about fifteen years ago when I was in fourth grade. I began writing to you shortly thereafter. Gettting a letter from you was a real treasure back then. They were usually short postcards (with you waving on the front), but they meant A LOT to me back then. My friends and I took to snarking out, every once in awhile I will run into one of them who remembers those times and cherished them as much as I did. Your influence lives on! I read and really enjoyed Fish Whistle, do you have any plans to write anymore “Adult” books? Or can you recommend any kids books that older people would like? It was cool to read things about your own life.
Anyway, Hello again and keep up the good work!
Daniel replies:
I don't know what I may write in the future. It depends a lot on what publishers are willing to buy, (in case anyone has wondered why there has only been one kids' novel since 1988).
Ron Murray
Post #1016 – 20000113
January 13, 2000
Sir,
I found your website purely by accident and have been reading the comments and replies with interest.
I hail from a small town in England and have to confess, I had never heard of D.P. until now, but reading the comments I shall hotfoot it along to the local library and have a gander.
Are your books readily available in the U.K. ?
faithfully,
Ron Murray
Daniel replies:
What do you call readily? Come back and tell us what you found.
Joolsveg
Post #1014 – 20000111
January 11, 2000
Daniel,hello.My mother is your niece.She called you in the last year I believe.(Marcia Pinkwater).The purpose of this letter is to entertain you,as you have entertained me over the years.If you’de like,go to www.mp3.com/lucypinkwaterexp and enjoy.I think you will really like “Artists and Chefs” and “I feel thin today”. If you dont get this email…whatever
Later…Joel(Joe pinkwater Jr)
Daniel replies:
Are we talking about the Edinburgh Pinkwaters? Those are the ones I'm related to. Check with your mother. She may be someone else's niece.
