Nina
Post #3420 – 20130524
May 24, 2013
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I don't know if this is still your email address, but I emailed you an "Ode to Pink" (a set of clips of you and others speaking about you on NPR that I remixed) in 2007, and you used it in your podcast. Six years later, I still love your work (I'm now 18), as do several of my friends. We all credit reading your books (particularly The Snarkout Boys, Borgel, Robert Nifkin, and Alan Mendelsohn) with playing a significant role in the development of our appreciation for the surreal, our strange, shared sense of humor, and our appreciation for good food. (I love good food to such an extent that it's inspired me to become an activist for food justice, sustainability, and hopefully even an organic farmer. I have chickens in my backyard, and named one of them Henrietta the Giant Chicken.) We all live in New York City.
We also recently discovered The Squirrel Cage by Gene Ahern (through trying to figure out what "Nov Shmoz Ka Pop" is in Borgel). Turns out my friend's Georgian music teacher is trying to re-publish all of The Squirrel Cage comics, since they're largely unavailable! Pretty funny coincidence. My friend wrote a post about it on this blog about you: fuckyeahdanielpinkwater.tumblr.com/post/50039204054/nov-shmoz-ka-pop-borgel-and-the-squirrel-cage
Anyway, all of this introduction is leading up to our request that perhaps you allow us (me and my friends Sunny and Emma) to come visit you wherever it is that you live and speak with you for a little while. We are interested in understanding your influences, having discovered what seems to be one of them in The Squirrel Cage.
Being that we live in NYC, we would of course bring good food. I live in Brooklyn near one of the best bagel bakeries in the city, the Bagel Hole; I also regularly buy smoked salmon, babka and other delicious Jewish food from Russ & Daughters, an incredible family-run appetizing that's been open for over 100 years on the Lower East Side. I assume your preference for bagels based on your decision to have Borgel compare space to a poppy seed bagel, but if you would prefer something else, please let us know. Any requests, food or otherwise?
We are all free on June 6, if that would work for you. We don't have a car but we can take a train and then bike to meet you wherever you want.
Thank you,
Nina
P.S. I tried to send this to your email address, in response to our old email correspondence, but because it's six years old I guess you don't use it anymore.
Daniel replies:
I sort of remember the Ode to Pink. I think it's usually a bad idea to meet artists you like. They tend to be boring--especially me. Anyway, I am sort of busy on June 6th, and the period before and after, so the matter of a visit is moot for now. I know all about Russ and Daughters--I bought things there 100 years ago. I am happy to learn that you are still a cool person and probably destined to be cooler still.
fiona
Post #3417 – 20130517
May 17, 2013
hi! im ten and i have read the neddiad, the yggyssey, and
adventures of a cat whiskered girl. i was just wondering if escape to
dwerg mountain really exists. if so, where can i find it? if not,
should i just go on to bushman lives?
thanks alot, fiona
Daniel replies:
Escape to Dwerg Mountain does not exist. I thought it would, and then it didn't. Things like that happen with books. Do go on to Bushman Lives, and I hope you like it.
Jennifer
Post #3418 – 20130517
May 17, 2013
My 3 year old daughter just announced that she is going to be a polar bear, like Larry, for Halloween.
Daniel replies:
As long as you do not live in a place where there are actual polar bears it is a good idea.
Beth Thompson
Post #3416 – 20130517
May 17, 2013
Have you read Gary Paulsen's dog books, specifically "My Life in Dog Years", "Winterdance", "Woodsong", etc. ? If you haven't you should because I know you are a true dog lover. I am not even a big dog lover and his (as well as yours, specifically Fishwhistle) have given me a tremendous appreciation for them as intelligent life forms. They are amazing. Have you met/spoken to Gary Paulsen?
Daniel replies:
Already on my ""to be read"" list. Thanks for making sure I know about him.
Kim Schafer
Post #3412 – 20130512
May 12, 2013
Hi Mr. Pinkwater,
Yesterday we were reading "The Artsy Smartsy Club" when our music teacher walked in as we met Hilangully Ryder. She started singing the song "Hill and Gully Rider." Now we're curious, is that song what inspired that character's name?
By the way, we've read all the books in this series and we love them!
Thanks,
Mrs. Schafer and her 3rd graders
Daniel replies:
The song is half of what inspired the character's name. Maybe the art teacher will know what inspired the other half.
Dan Ellis
Post #3407 – 20130502
May 2, 2013
I'm interested that the police in New Yap Yap City are Labradors and mean to kids, and the police in Apokeepsing were bird-headed and menacing. I hope the police in this plane are better.
My son wants to know if Escape To Dwerg Mountain will also have a sequel.
Thank you for telling us about the Hudson Valley mythical creatures. We spend a lot of time in Woodstock.
DAn.
Daniel replies:
Sure, the police in this plane are mostly people. There are more mythical Hudson Valley creatures than you may think.
Abby Miller
Post #3406 – 20130428
April 28, 2013
A long time ago when I was camping in the middle of no where and had a book in my hand with a flashlight under my sleeping bag, I was reading something you wrote. I've searched everywhere but I cannot figure out which book it was. All I can remember is that there is a park in the book where anyone can say what they want because a dead guy wanted that and the park is a memorial to him. 8 years later, I still think about this book a lot, and vaguely remember what was on the cover. Please let me know if I am crazy or if this publication actually exsists!
Daniel replies:
I think that park is in a few of my books. You're probably thinking of The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, or maybe The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror, or maybe The Education of Robert Nifkin. Tell you what, just read all my novels.
diane
Post #3404 – 20130426
April 26, 2013
Hi Daniel Pinkwater,
My family and I just finished drawing you some pictures and writing you letters that we are getting ready to send off, but I didn't leave room on mine to say and ask these things:
If you have never read "Way Station" by Clifford Simak I recommend this to you. There are parts of it that remind me of Uncle Borgel. And "Wonder" is another great read. Could you recommend a favorite read (or three) of yours?
I hope you, Jill and your dogs are doing very well!
Thank you. Your Fan,
-Diane Froelich
Daniel replies:
I am happy to tell you that you can hardly go wrong picking any book of mine at random. Out of the whole bunch, there are only two or three actual stinkers--and those seem to have mostly dropped out of sight. I look forward to seeing the pictures, and reading the letters.
Brooklin leigh
Post #3402 – 20130425
April 25, 2013
I positively LOVE your books! i read The Neddiad and adored it!
I have to do a school project over anything in the book and I wanted to do a report over the inspiration. That is if you mind sharing it…
If you don't mind i want you to know that i appreciate it.
thanks,
Brooklin
Daniel replies:
Inspiration, huh? Hm. People often ask about that. """"What inspired you to write that?"""" they ask. What happens to me is I get _interested_. I'll have a little idea, or part of an idea, and I will think, """"this is interesting."""" Then I'll start fooling around with the idea, or part of an idea, and it might get more interesting. Then, in the case of a long book, like The Neddiad, I'll start working with characters, and giving them things to think and say. Then it gets really interesting. Once in a while the characters may start saying and thinking things that surprise me! Then it gets more than interesting. Maybe that's inspiration--I don't know--by the time that happens, I'm so busy writing that I'm not likely to notice.
Daniel replies:
I know nothing about that giant head. Just because it was floating in my part of the river does not mean it has anything to do with me. Why are you mentioning the giant head to me? I have not been anywhere near the river. Lots of other authors have written about giant heads. Please don't talk to me about a giant head. Thank you.
Scott Hassall
Post #3382 – 20130418
April 18, 2013
Why did the animals eat the Pineapple?
Daniel replies:
I hope and pray to God that this is someone trying, (and failing), to be funny and not an indication that some kids are being subjected to that stinking test again.
bh in bethesda
Post #3381 – 20130418
April 18, 2013
Hi Mr. Pinkwater,
i just want to say thank you (for myself, and i’m sure i am also speaking for lots of other people out there) for taking the time to personally respond to all the messages you get here on this forum. Thanks, Mr. Pinkwater! your replies, like your books, are wonderfully creative!
Daniel replies:
Hardly takes any time at all. Think of the actually successful authors who maintain blogs, and twitter sites, and follow and are followed by thousands, including many idiots. I don't know how they do it, or why. I mean, I make over a million dollars a year, just responding to smart people here. Thanks for the thanks.
Robert L. Summers
Post #3380 – 20130414
April 14, 2013
Our class is half-way through, The Neddiad, and everyone is suspicious of Seamus Finn. We think he is up to something evil.
Daniel replies:
Do you? Isn't reading fun?
Lee Hollman
Post #3376 – 20130408
April 8, 2013
Hello,
I’ve been a fan since age 6, and haven’t looked back. I’m 42 now, teaching special education to students in the Bronx. I try to interest them in you whenever possible. I see you’re in upstate NY, not far from my in-laws. If you have time this summer, can I get you a sandwich or something? I know you likely get many requests from fans, so I’ll understand if a persona meet-and-greet isn’t in the cards.
I only thought of you because, well… I’ve been feeling a bit blue lately, and The Big Orange Splot made me happy. It was a nice memory re-lived.
Thanks,
Lee
Daniel replies:
It's usually disappointing to meet an artist you admire. In my case, when fans meet me they usually wind up looking like they feel sorry for me. With this in mind, if you still want to say hello you can give me a call when you're in the neighborhood. Not saying I'll necessarily be available to meet. OK?
