Becky Whidden

January 1, 1997

Mr. Pinkwater,

My name is Becky Whidden and I manage an independent children’s only book store just outside of Boston. I must say that I was so very pleased to see 5 NOVELS from FSG!!! I am such a big fan– one of my favorite novels of all time is in fact YOUNG ADULTS. I make every one read it.

Let me just say that your books fill a number of niches– humor, fantasy, realism– in ways that make them great for just about any one. I have no problem selling your books to any kid who walks in the door. They just eat them up. Your wife’s illustrations are the perfect complement to your stories. Thanks so much for doing what you do. You are one of those people who make working in the book industry worthwhile.

Nate & Kathy George

January 1, 1997

Mr. Pinkwater:

I heard your commentary with Scott Simon on 7/5/97. I was driving and could not record the information regardong the books you were reviwing. could you please post that information on this page?

author publisher etc?

thank you

m2bmann

January 1, 1997

How do you make up such great stories about fat space men?

Sadie Zea

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I just found 5 Novels at the bookstore yesterday, mercifully rescuing me from several years of getting my Pinkwater fix from a copy of “Baconburg Horror” I found in a used bookstore in Chicago a few years ago. As I read Alan Mendelsohn today, I couldn’t help but cheer outloud at the line, “What in the world is the Mad Guru doing here?” despite the fact that I am 22 years old and was, at the time, alone in an apartment in Queens. What I would like to know is, is there any approximation of the Dharma Buns coffee house that I could maybe go visit sometime soon? And if not, somebody out there should open one. Please! You make New Jersey sound like fun.

Love,

Sadie Zea

ps– I am a very pretty 22 year old girl and I would gladly stand in for you as a bookcover model should you ever become less scrupulous about journalistic ethics.

Gary Myerberg

January 1, 1997

Daniel,

I just listened to you on NPR, I have always been a great fan of yours and now NOW we have both discovered that “you are what you eat.”

I was at the end of my rope healthwise with a chronic lower gut condition that was killing me, no doctor could help so I decided to go vegan. I used this stuff called “The Ultimate Meal” as you are using ratatoie(excuse the spelling gulp!) and I am cured!! lost the weight I needed and im feeling like King Kong myself! After 15 years of struggle it was that simple. This stuff I found is amazing and believe me I do not have any intrest in this company but I feel you should try this stuff it has everything you need and provides optimum health 1-800-the-meal.

All The Best, your biggest fan

Gary Myerberg

Draynen

January 1, 1997

Defacement of Charicter and Dhrama Six shooters.

First off, I would like to say that I believe that I was the subject of an earlier message on this page, involving a rather peeved reader and stolen library books. I was the only person I am aware of who mentioned stealing a library book from none other than a library, though be it accidentaly. I did not mean to steal this book, it just happened. Second, I am a he, not a she, and the person being refered to was called a she, so I could be wrong about being the topic of the letter, but even if I am not, I am still writing this to defend the others on this page who may have “stolen” library books. The way I see it, you cant ever steal a library book, its always just, “over-due”. And there is nothing wrong with over-due. Third, I would also like to thank Mr. Pinkwater for defending me, and other library offenders. Where would we be with out you? At the whim of people, and I use the term people loosly, like Mantra boy, who so slandered my name, and others of my kindred. One day they will awake to find their teeth carefully removed with the sharpened end of a green number two fiber castell pencil, and the holes in their gums filled with avacado paste. This is an idle threat, please take it as such. I am accustemed to making idle threats, and have been known to get in trouble for them(remember barry lukidus? One of the first in a series of school shootings? Ahh, but that is another story. Needless to say, I had no intent of harming anybody, and the school counselers really over reacted.).

Ahh yes, those were the days, in fact, they still are. Well a mighty big thank you to Mr. P, who so selflessly defended my “crimes” and told me first, of all people, that The Afterlife Diet would be on the web. I laughed, I cried, I found a new diet plan, and to you I say, good day.

Josh Lurie

January 1, 1997

My name is Josh Lurie and I have read many of your books. I am doing a report for school on The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. I would like to know if you have ever received a Newberry Award for any of your writings.

I have a question: in the Snarkout Boys and the Avacado of Death did Walter ever get caught snarking out to the movies or to Ed and Fred’s Red-Hots? Were the hot dogs at Ed and Fred’s really twice as big as regular hot dogs, and was it just the light making them as red as they were?

Thank You very much.

Josh Lurie

P.S.: I also liked Lizard Music, and Fat Men from Space. I look forward to your next books, and hope you will write more about lizards or fat men.

Eric Iverson

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I’ve been meaning to write you for quite some time. Nearly 20 years, in fact. A few years ago, when I saw the cover of _Young Adult Novel_ I couldn’t help but think I was looking at a modified photo of my highschool chums and me. There were all the elements I recalled… skinny white boys, bananna necklace, a guy with gray hair (although I was 19–2 years out of HS when I dyed mine). Quickly scanning through the book I found references to the Club Hoi Polloi (of which I was a member) and the DaDa Ducks (some kind of Devo reference?). Sorry if I’m getting “reality” mixed up with fiction here, but it’s been a while. 🙂

It occurs to me that the circa 1980 correspondence my pals Russell Johnson and Thomas Unterberger wrote to you about our fascination with your books and other cultural matters may have contributed in part to this literary work. If this is true, I would consider any acknowledgement of that as a kind of prize in itself and will be very happy! I say that of course because I supressed the urge to ask if there were any prizes in it for me if I was right. 🙂

If you’d like to pass along any words to the guys, or if you want to hear what the young adults are up to as just plain adults, say the words and I’ll make the connections.

Seeing a copy of _Fat Men From Space_ on my bookshelf at work today, and having an internet connection on my destop, made me wonder if I could find the info I was after on the web. I’m glad I took a few minutes to find out!

The Principal doesn’t exist.

Ryan Hardman & Mom

January 1, 1997

I love your books Mr. Pinkwater I am reding “Lizard muisc”I have read most of your childrens books.

love ryan

ps:- As Ryan’s mother (who heard the NPR 15 MBs of fame piece and loves all of your commentaries) I love reading your books to my children. My favourite is the 2nd grade werewolf one – it shows you can still think like a 2nd grader when required. Please keep writing.

Yours,

Molly Hardman

David

January 1, 1997

Hello.

I am just writing for some advice. I have never read any of your books, indeed, I had never heard of you until a week ago.

Well, to make a short story even better (i.e. shorter), let me just say that a girl I know told me of her undying love for you and your work. And, needless to say, I wish to impress this girl by reading at least one of your books. So I just want to know which book you recommend, and if you think I am foolish to try to woo someone by so obviously and deliberately attempting to find a common bond.

Thank you for your time.

Dave B

January 1, 1997

Daniel,

I enjoy your NPR commentaries but did not realize just how many books you had written until I came across the unofficial Web page. I notice that some of your works mention Hoboken. As a longtime resident of the Mile Square City, I was curious if you ever lived in Hoboken, or visited there, or just liked the name. Also I’d be interested to know if some of your stories take place there.

Dave B

Hoboken, NJ

P.S. I love the ratatouille recipe

Uma Krishnaswami

January 1, 1997

Daniel Pinkwater, thank you for the forays into kidlit on Weekend Edition. And that is one cool birthmark you have on your hand. By the way, regarding publishers who do interesting kids’ books, you might want to check out Linnet Books, North Haven CT, 203-239-2702, or email them at SSPBooks at aol.com. Small list, small press, gems like “Wolf Story,” “The Boy Who Could Do Anything.” They were also nice enough to publish something I wrote, but I thought highly of them before that!

Jeff Williams

January 1, 1997

Hello Daniel,

As an advid listener of _All Things Considered_, I had to visit this web-site after your short commentary. I love your commentaries and remember the one where you gave the ingredients of the best mashed potatoes you had ever had. Some guy in a Chicago deli made them; I think. I lost the “recipe,” as I remember you did not have how much of what went into the mashed potatoes, only the ingredients. If you post the “recipe,” I’d be grateful.

Congratulations to Aileron,(ed.–thanks!) who has done a very good job, and congratulations to you, Daniel Pinkwater, for becoming a world citizen of cyberspace.

jeff

Willy & Bret

January 1, 1997

Dear Daniel Pinkwater,

Our names our Willy Dobud and Bret Seraile. We’re reading “The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death.” We think it’s funny and we want to try it. We think your books are funny.

This is Willy. Hello. I’m in Jeremy Cutler’s reading class at Norwood School in Maryland. I’m in 5th grade.

Hello. This is Bret. I’m in the same class as Willy. He is a good, funny friend of mine. I like how you think it’s awesome to be fat. One of our good friends is fat also. He doesn’t care, either.

Library Lady

January 1, 1997

I, too, am a Pinkwater fan of long standing. I love the Snarkout Boys and Lizard Music and Alan Medelssohn and Slaves of Spiegel and most all of your books! Big Orange Splot is a favorite picture book. I love the fact that you have strong smart characters that are FAT and special. Having been fat all my life, (and smart) I identify with the characters in your books, even though I am a female. I am a Children’s Librarian and recommend your books to kids a lot. I read your interview in FAT?SO! and though t it was great! I am tired of feeling bad about the fact that I am heavy (…you have such a pretty face, it would be so good if you could lose weight, etc.etc.etc.) I have a husband who loves me and I love him (even though he is not fat) and children and I have often thought that someone should write a love story where the heroine is FAT and someone falls in love with her because she is fun and witty and sexy and smart and has great eyes, etc. because in real life that can happen! ANyway, keep on writin’!