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Levent Ozgur

Post #531 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Hi Mr. Pinkwater…..

I doubt you’ll remember this, but years ago, you received numerous letters from a nerdy sixth grader who was obsessed with your books. You very kindly answered these letters, thus bringing a bit of happiness into his generally lonely life, and then, abruptly, his letters stopped. The kid entered high school, had a good time, graduated and attended NYU film school for a while, until the money dried up. He then moved to Colorado, where he currently attends CU Boulder for a fraction of NYU’s cost. OK,OK, I’m guessing my talking about myself in the third person is fooling no one, for I am that nerdy sixth grader, and I’ve been waiting for years to extend my heartfelt thank you for making that difference in my life. I still look back to your books, endlessly surprised at their wit and wisdom. Hey, I really dig this website!!!!!!!

Daniel replies:

Levent! Colorado is better. NY is played out. I wonder where that Turkish recipe you once sent me is. We never tried it. Great to hear from you again!


Bernadette Noll

Post #630 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

After reading the AFTERLIFE DIET I must tell you to go to your grocery store and look for the Boar’s Head natural casing hotdogs. There are 7 in a package all connected of course by one long casing. Get out your vegetable steamer to steam your buns, slice up the Claussens, sprinkle a little celery salt and ENJOY! I am fortunate to be married to a Chicago boy and so was introduced to the celery salt concept soon into our courtship. For those of you reading, if you haven’t tried it yet, turn off your computer and get thee to a grocery store.

I am thoroughly enjoying your book. The part about the lost manuscript really explains a LOT! Thanks for your fine work.

Daniel replies:

Let's get this straight. To make an absolutely authentic Chicago-style hot dog, you need a steamed Vienna (tm) hot dog. The bun is a poppy-seed one, a little larger and more doughy than the supermarket kind. Yellow mustard, green pickle relish, chopped onions, tomato slices, 2 ""sport peppers,"" (little jalapeno-type things), and a genuine from-the-barrel kosher pickle spear, and of course the celery salt. The Boar's Head may _suggest_ the real thing--but it isn't.
Obviously you live in some Godforsaken place, like Benton Harbor and have to approximate as best you can, with materials available. It is easier to construct the New York hot dog when in the wilderness. A Nathan's hot dog, available in supermarkets, ordinary bun--lightly toasted perhaps, grill the hot dog, add sauerkraut, and Gulden's mustard--and you've got the real thing. Less ornate than the Chicago variety, but very good.
When in Chicago, risking one's health with the Polish sausage, and the Italian beef sandwiches is worth contemplating. Captain Pinkwater does not himself eat any of the dishes described in this post, but understands that others may.


Ken Horne

Post #494 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Hello Mr. Pinkwater,

If Lord Buckley were to reappear on this orb known as God’s golfball, what should we do?

Daniel replies:

Ken Horne -- I, for one, would not know whether to flip or fly.


Ken Emley

Post #500 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

I look forward to your pieces on NPR. At the conclusion of two of those features, the song “Yesterday, I read a book” with Jimmy Durante was played. As an elementary teacher, I can think of many uses in my classroom. However, I have been unable to locate that particular album, CD or ? Any suggestions you could make would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work, you always make my day.

Daniel replies:

Ken Emley -- I suggest you tape the Durante song off the radio, hoping they play the whole thing, as they sometimes do. (Of course I seem to be on the program irregularly, so you might have to listen for weeks and weeks). When the feature first started, they got as much mail asking for a dub of the song as they got about the pieces. For a while they were supplying them, but it soon got out of hand. You could try though: wesat@npr.org Maybe someone will take pity on you.


Kate G.

Post #634 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Hi. I’m 16 and just now starting to read the Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror; I feel my childhood was deprived. Well, I appreciate the characters; they remind me of my friends and I. I was thinking that this book would make a really awesome play. Anyhow, i hope this isn’t a big lie and i’ve just wasted a whole 3 mins. of my life typing this. This is really pretentious, but could I adapt a few scenes from this for drama? It could enlighten my school. thanx- kate g. sorry if this message makes little sense!

Daniel replies:

Kate, anybody can base a play on anything I wrote, if it is just for use in school, and no money is charged to see it, and no video or audio tapes are made, except for personal use, and obviously not sold for money. If you write something, I'd like to see a copy. Thanks for writing.


Stefan Jones

Post #521 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Dear Captain:

Many years ago I saw a theatrical production of _Lizard Music_ in Chicago . . . you may remember me reviewing it on your GEnie board.

Do you know if the production was ever put on elsewhere, videotaped, etc.?

Daniel replies:

Just so happens, the same company (Lifeline Theater) is reviving the show. I think it starts this fall. So you can see it again, and review it here.


Josh Cohen

Post #510 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

At my sister’s suggestion, I am informing you that, at the moment, I am Here. I do not know why she asked me to tell you this, or why you would care at all about my whereabouts, although I am a great fan of yours and currently trying to become a published children’s author (whose style is “a bit TOO much like Pinkwater,” according to one publisher), but as she pays the bills and hs insisted I inform you of my whereabouts, I must duly comply. So, if you need to contact me for any reason, please contact me Here.

Please note, though, that I do not intend to remain Here indefinitely. Tomorrow, for instance, I might be There, or possibly Elsewhere, and I have long range plans eventually to be Somewhere Else Entirely. But for the moment, you may contact me Here. Thank you.

Daniel replies:

Josh Cohen -- How can one be too much like Pinkwater? If you ask me, the main problem with this world is that too many people are not enough like Pinkwater. I think the publisher was just trying to insult you.


John Marshall

Post #501 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

My name is John Marshall. I am 10 years old. I go to school at Burton Valley School in Lafayette, California. I read the book, Mush, A Dog from Space, and I really liked it. I want to know if you are planning to make a sequel to this book. I think it would be a great idea.

Daniel replies:

John Marshall - I have written a sequel to ""Mush, a Dog from Space."" I sent it to Atheneum Books, the company that published the first book. They said they wanted to publish it, and Jill even started to do the drawings. Then they said that they could sell more copies of shorter books, picture books, so they wanted one of those instead of the Mush book. So we did a picture book instead. I still want them to publish the Mush sequel. It wouldn't make sense to take it to another publisher, because Atheneum has the first book. You can ask Mr. Lanman at Atheneum, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 if he is planning to publish it. He would be happy to hear from you.


Abe Gurewitz

Post #622 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

I am doing a school paper on a subject that I have noticed in many of your books that I have read. What I noticed was that you appear to make fun of many Jewish charecteristics. I was wondering if you could tell me about what you think and what I could use to show it.

Daniel replies:

Jewish characteristics? I'm not sure I know what you mean. There's a rabbi, Nathan of the North, in The Moosepire. He has some Jewish characteristics, in that he says blessings, eats matzoh, etc. My other characters have mostly Pinkwaterish characteristics. Jewish characteristics may be in the eye of the beholder. Someone once said to me, ""Your wife's Jewish meatballs are exactly like my mother's Swedish meatballs."" Maybe not a good example, since Swedes are so similar to Jews. But then, everybody is.


Jeff Weilburg

Post #496 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

dear mr p

several years ago, on new years eve, I heard “The Klondike Yid” on NPR; I laughed my ass off, and would love to hear it again. Where is it to be found?

Daniel replies:

Jeff Weilburg -- ""Uncle Boris in the Yukon,"" or ""The Kootenai Yid,"" will be included in a collection of short stories to be published by Simon and Schuster more than a year from now. While you are waiting, you can read everything else I wrote. 
Sorry about your ass.


Jason Ward

Post #641 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

I have been a huge fan of your stuff since I was about ten. That’s why I think you should know that I hope, make that PLAN, to be a writer JUST LIKE YOU. I’ve been trying to achieve this goal by eating one eighth of my weight in boiled pasta every day. I’ve gained 34 pounds so far, and it’s only been two months! When I’m not eating, I rest on the floor and think up ideas for stories. I’m only 5’9″ and have always been skinny, but by the end of the summer I hope to weigh at least 300 pounds. I’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, keep up the good work.

Fat people rule!!!!

Daniel replies:

Jason, you are the first person to discern the secret of my success as an author. Yes, it is maintaining weight! I learned this by accident when I flunked out of Sumo school in Kyoto in 1962. I wasn't able to make the weight for the beginning Sumo squad, and was never able to handle more than two tubs of noodles--the pros do at least three--but my prose improved. Gravitas, Jason, gravitas. Keep up the good work.


Jane Greer

Post #507 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater: Several summers ago, my husband and I were driving in the hills of North Dakota and listening to you tell a story about how your dog used to play a game with you when you drove, trying to stick his nose into your pocket. We were laughing, crying, and driving at the same time. No, we didn’t crash — but we DID go behind a big hill before your story was finished, and the radio signal was interrupted. We never heard the end of the story. Is there any way I could get a transcript or at least get you to finish the story for us? The human/dog friendship you described gave me goosebumps. If I need to send somewhere for a transcript, just tell me where. Thank you.

Daniel replies:

Jane Greer -- Amazing what people remember! The story, about my dog Jacques, the greatest Sneaky-Nose player of the age, doesn't so much end, as I recall, but sort of fizzles out. However, it seems to have struck a chord with some. My radio producer, who works on the new Chinwag Theater with me, mentioned that very piece the other day, so I guess we'll be using it. So...all you have to do is get your local public radio station to take on the program, (it's free for the first year, I believe), listen faithfully, and you will hear the Sneaky-Nose piece again. Speaking of sneaky, notice how subtly I slipped the ad into this reply?


Steve

Post #687 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

You recently talked about a deli you and your wife visited. You had a heavenly pepper and egg sandwich on fresh, crusty bread. I live in the Hudson Valley and would love to visit this deli owned by Artie. Would you please tell me the name and location? Thanks very much.

Daniel replies:

It's the Bangall Country Store, in Bangall. Check it out while Artie is still there, and then go back and see how the new administration measures up.


Matt

Post #677 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Hey!

My name is Matt, and I have read (I think) all of your books. I grew up on you and Roald Dahl (don’t worry, I’m still young), and I wrote you a letter at oh, lets say age 7. You sent me a really cool postcard of you in your driveway by your car, with multiple copies of your head floating around. I have just finished reading The Worms Of Kukumlima for probably the 3rd time, and I looked at the back flap. It told of your extensive collection of false noses, and I was wondering, just how extensive is it? I really love all of your books, and I wish you a long and happy writing career. I hope to have one myself.

-Matt Age:14

Daniel replies:

It's pretty extensive. I own the Sunday best nose of Tycho Brahe, the Prodigious Proboscis of Prague, the Sacred Snoot of Singapore, the Miracle-nose of Nostrildamus, the missing nose of the Great Sphinx, and many others.


Evan

Post #543 – 19970101

January 1, 1997

Dear Mr. Pinkwater:

My mom said she heard you review a really neat book about a rabbit who falls in love with a Brazilian girl. But she can’t remember the name of the story. Would you PLEASE send me the name, because then I can get her to buy it for me. Thank you very much.

Daniel replies:

It's Nina Bonita, published by Kane Miller books. Your bookstore can order it for you, and ask them to get you a catalog too--they have some other neat books


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