Bob Levinson
Post #3640 – 20140301
March 1, 2014
Mr. Pinkwater,
I heard you on Bob Edwards this morning and, once again, you were a delight.
I really enjoy hearing you on NPR when you're on there as well.
I am 4 years younger than you (not that it matters at this age) and could not agree with you more about comis books and our mutual history with them. They were great and were OURS-no parents, no adults, no 'authorities,' as you put it today. And, I too, and still do, spend more time at the library (though my hands always need washing) than anywhere else and, my greatest job ever, working part-time at a bookstore for $ 5.50 an hour in the late '90's when money was really bad in the house?
Last thing. I read the Mr. Plumbean story book to my son more than all other books combined. I wanted him to know that MUST express himself, that he could do whatever he wanted, be whomever he wanted to be as long as it made him happy and injured no one. The hell with whatever anyone and everyone else thinks or says.
He got a scholorship to Yale became a writer-working for an company that helps kids in school who are struggling, could not asked for more.
You deserve some of the credit for that.
Live to be 200 and never stop writing.
My best,
Bob
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the kind words. I so much enjoy working with Bob Edwards and his capable helpers. I don't think you'll be hearing me on NPR...not sure if it's policy still, or ever was, but at one point anyone so much as having lunch with the satellite radio folks used to be excommunicated. Washington DC, you know.
Lew Freeman
Post #3638 – 20140228
February 28, 2014
Several years ago you told a story of when you were playing piccolo in the high school and were to play the solo part in the "Start and Stripes Forever" at a 4th of July concert. As I recall, you never could get it right and when the event arrived, you didn't show up (I guess calling in sick). But, when the concert was played on the radio, you played along at home . . . perfectly. Is that story available on line – in print, or better yet, in podcast? I'd like to share it with someone who had a similar experience when in school. Thanks.
Daniel replies:
It may be in the collection Fish Whistle, available as an ebook from Amazon, and also from other places. Or in Chicago Days, Hoboken Nights, or in Hoboken Fish, Chicago Whistle which I think you can get from Xlibris. Thanks for your interest.
Merlin Gil
Post #3639 – 20140228
February 28, 2014
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
There is one matter in two of your books which befuddles me.
In The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, and the accompanying novel, The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror, is Mr. Galt really Osgood Sigerson, and is Osgood Sigerson Mr. Galt? There is a lot of evidence to support this. Also, will Mister Wallace Nussbaum ever terrorize the pages of your books again? He was a frightfully good character.
Daniel replies:
I had planned to write a third book, ""I Snarked with a Zombie,"" in which your questions might have been answered. Alas, the publisher let me down, pointing out that while the first two books made a profit, it was not an obscene profit, which is the American way. Thus I had no incentive to write the Zombie book, unwealthy and relatively unknown as I am, and was obliged to turn my attention to books about cute bunnies and the like. I suppose I could discuss your concerns with you now, but it might depress me. Thank you for your interest in my work.
barnaby holmes
Post #3637 – 20140228
February 28, 2014
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
You are a longtime favorite author of mine. Some years ago I determined to write a young adult novel, inspired by your own style, in which a major plot point involves the protagonist hearing voices in his head. Several years later but now also some years ago, I picked up your book "Adventures of a Cat-Whiskered Girl", and read up until the very point where the protagonist mentions the voices in her head. I put the book down, never to pick it up again and also dropped my own plans for writing. If I were to pick up only one of these things, which would you recommend?
PS ~ I am not through with you entirely. I did read Mrs. Noodlekugel, with relish.
Daniel replies:
I don't understand. Why would you put the book down? Why would you stop writing your book? Do you have the idea that only totally new and original things, uninfluenced by anything else, should be written, or if you see an idea in a book, you can't have the same idea in a book of your own? That's not the way things work. They work in the opposite way. If I read something I like, I am likely to write it--and plenty of stuff of mine appears in books by other writers...some of them happily admit it, and I am flattered.
David Smith
Post #3633 – 20140220
February 20, 2014
Between the convex mirrors you can see. Concave deer herd!
Daniel replies:
Deer me, I've never herd of such a thing.
Otto Frederick Rohwedder
Post #3629 – 20140212
February 12, 2014
A shooting star is omni-present, much like candy.
Daniel replies:
But the shooting star has no effect on the teeth.
E. Nuss
Post #3626 – 20140207
February 7, 2014
I wonder if you ever knew someone named Gluckstern and Mazzocchi? While at the University of Maryland there was a Chancellor and Professor of physics named Robert Gluckstern and a Professor of Chemistry named Paul Mazzocchi. Both names are used in the Hoboken Chicken Emergency.
Daniel replies:
I used to frequent cheap Italian restaurant in midtown Manhattan known as ""Professor Mazzocchi, Inventor of the Spaghetti System."" Probably not the professor you knew. Gluckstern is pure coincidence.
Lynne Faulkner
Post #3627 – 20140207
February 7, 2014
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
I just found this forum and am DElighted! Wait, does that word mean that my light has been removed? Ah, the language. What I mean is: I am very happy to have found you here.
I've not heard you on NPR for quite some time.
I miss your conversations with Scott Simon.
You are music to my heart!
Lynne
Daniel replies:
I am having conversations with Bob Edwards on SiriusXM satellite radio these days. I doubt the NPR folks know I'm gone. If your heart misses me, you can also tune in to radiomozart.net.
Rhonda
Post #3625 – 20140205
February 5, 2014
Hello! First of all I love your books (I've checked them out of the library so much that they were eventually just given to me by some kind librarians). Needless to say I'm a huge fan. Anyways I have a favor to ask you.
I'm an 8th grader in my last year of middle school. This year we have a unit on our future and what sort of jobs we'd like to pursue. I chose to be an author. Part of this unit is interviewing someone in your chosen field.
So, can I interview you? I've looked online for an email address but this seems to be the quickest way to contact you. I have 20 questions prepared but I didn't know if the forum was the best place to ask them. Thank you for even reading this, it means a lot. Also please reply asap (I need to know so I can arrange another interview if you can't).
Daniel replies:
What were those kind librarians thinking? How were they to know some other student might not want to check the books out someday? It could happen.
Sure, you may interview me. Suprisingly, I know a lot about being an author. You can send the questions here, and Webmaster Ed will make sure I get them.
Rhonda, we've tried to email you directly but our messages keep getting bounced back. Can you give us another email address to try? -- Ed
Melissa and Ezra
Post #3621 – 20140131
January 31, 2014
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My son and I are great fans of your books. I am particularly fond of The Big Orange Splot but Ezra (almost 5 years old) says he "likes all of them best."
Just now we were re-reading Beautiful Yetta and Ezra asked if it was true. (Not the part where they talk, but a chicken that befriended parrots.) Looking online, we found out about the real wild parrots of Brooklyn, but nothing about a chicken. Is that something you saw or did you come up with the idea yourself?
Also, Ezra asks "why is his name Pink Water?"
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa and Ezra
Daniel replies:
I knew about the wild parrots. And I have seen wild chickens. It seemed to me that they might meet up sometime. They are both nice types of bird.
My name is not Pink Water. It is Pinkwater. It is my name because it was my father's name, and we did the traditional thing.
MICHAEL
Post #3620 – 20140128
January 28, 2014
Mr Pinkwater,
I was listening to NPR this morning and heard your story about overweight animal trainers.
My family is in show business , my mother was a 5th generation preformer . I remeber Uncle Heavy's pigs when we travelled with the Ken Jensen circus in the early 60's and knew Bobby Gibbs fairly well. I would love to be able to share your story with a few friends but cant seem to find it anywhere. Is it possible to have a copy emailed to me ?
Thanks
Michael Lauber
Daniel replies:
It was on NPR? Really? Would you happen to remember what program it was on? I'd like to know.
The story is in Fish Whistle, which you can download as an e-book from Amazon, also Fishwhistle, which you can find used all over, and Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle, which you can order as a book on Amazon, or from Xlibris. And I know an audio version exists, but I don't remember where.
Bobby Gibbs used to tell people I had worked as a roustabout in his circus, and played trombone in the band--which is true, of course.
Nichelle
Post #3619 – 20140124
January 24, 2014
Thanks for the reply about Malamutes and the Heimlich. I owe Chris Crutcher a dollar, but I'm glad you've never been through that ordeal.
Your loyal fan,
Nichelle
Daniel replies:
I'd just like to say that I have never experienced anything I regarded as a crisis involving Malamutes. This is probably because when I had them I was still in my Sergeant Preston of the Yukon/Jack London period, and had the functional stupidity of youth. The last time I had occasion to break up a fight between two large dogs single-handed, I was a mature human being, and felt a little rush of sweet nostalgia.
Nichelle
Post #3615 – 20140121
January 21, 2014
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Young adult author Chris Crutcher made the following claim today on twitter:
"I'm the only author I know who ever Heimliched a Malamute."
Well if anyone else has, I figure it must have been you, so I'm writing to find out.
Best wishes,
Nichelle
Daniel replies:
It never arose. You see, I taught my Malamutes not to wolf their food.
Rick Shaw
Post #3616 – 20140121
January 21, 2014
I was wondering if you would be able to tell us about the culinary preferences of robot canines. Can they flourish on a diet of used lawn mower oil? Also, what should you say when your robot dog greets you with the words Klaatu barada nikto?
Daniel replies:
If you feed your robot dog used lawnmower oil, I will turn you in to the SPCR.
