I just wanted to tell you that Alan Mendelsohn is my role model. Believe me, teachers at school will have met their match with me.
Love your books,
Colette
What are you saying? You are a Martian?
The boys and I just read Fat Men from Outer Space again. It is their favorite bedtime book. I first read it when I was 11 years old, and nearly 30 years later, I still enjoy this delightful story. I’m really wondering what William ended up doing with the space jacket. Maybe he put it back on and floated to Spiegel?
We have over 1000 books in our personal library (we’re homeschoolers), and I’m proud to own my own copy of Fat Men from Outer Space. It fits nicely on the shelf with all the Roald Dahl and David Shannon books 🙂
Thanks for helping to make our world a fun place to be a kid!
Everyone calls it Fat Men from OUTER Space, but it's without the outer. Glad you enjoy it unto the next generation.
Mister Pinkwater–may I call you Daniel?
I’ve been a fan for years. I would be content to be just that, but I have recently suffered a personal disaster of the first order, and wonder if you might be of assistance.
Do you remember a little radio play entitled ‘Wampyrs’ you did for NPR, I think for Halloween 1996? Starring yourself, Ceaudreasceau, and Nina Totenberg? (Or was it Susan Standberg?)
Well, I counted myself fortunate enough to have listened to it on my way home from work that evening over ten years ago, and even more so to have arrived at home in time to record it in the following repeat segment.
But alas, a few weeks ago, as I inserted the treasured cassette tape into the ancient player to regale a friend with its transcendent wonderfulness…
(ominous piano rumble)
The tape player ate it. Ate it good. Munched it to oblivion.
I have since searched everywhere for a link, a purchaseable recording…something…but not even the NPR archives seems to have it.
It would be a shame if this funny and touching radio play was lost for all eternity.
Thank you so much,
Mark Steiner.
Sorry to have to tell you, but this funny and touching radio play has been lost for all eternity. What's more, I don't remember it at all! Must have been hilarious. And you say Codrescu was in it? I wouldn't mind having a copy myself. That network used to be such fun.
My apologies, sir. It’s a rogue operation. I’ve been scattering your books on my own, with no authorization from above–they wanted me to use conventional weapons. But I was the man at the Inner Station, and I knew what needed to be done, whatever my superiors thought. The world needed to know about Snarking Out, the dangers of Kevin Shapiro, the Aufklarung of the Last Guru, and ten thousand other things revealed in your works. One fat man had found the truth, and I was spreading his word–whether he, the agency, or the world wanted it or not. I’m not alone in this; there are others out there planting copies of “Fat Men From Space” and “The Hoboken Chicken Emergency” in seedy hotels of southeast Asia and arms bazaars in Sudan. It’s dirty work, but necessary. Hiroo Onoda understood. I suppose now they’ll send someone upriver to terminate my command. Oh well.
Sometimes an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, brings provolone and a whole wheat baguette, maybe some olives.
Hey Daniel,
Recently, all the libraries in our county closed down. The one in my city, Ashland, Oregon needed 3 million to keep running for one year.
A couple weeks before it closed, I checked out all the books in your name from the library, over 35 I belive and read ’em all. I am a huge fan. How can I read your books with no way to check them out of a library? Keep writing more books,
Sincerely, Gabe Young
""Jackson County Library Services, OR, a 15-library system, was set to close April 7, after the U.S. Congress failed to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act, which would have reinstated timber subsidies and provided more than 70 percent of the system
Mr. Pinkwater,
I just downloaded The Neddiad on “book on mp3” from audible.com and it was amazing! Apart from the Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death which is still my favorite book of all time, The Neddiad is runner up. There is no writing like yours, Mr. Pinkwater! Along with your writing, your names are so funny. I mean Wentworthstein? Sandor Eucoliptus? (I don’t know if I spelled those right, listing to to the book and all.)
Mr. Pinkwater, you rock out loud!
Your Fan,
Dan
Besides thanking you for your kind words, I have only to add that I once tried to buy a house in Topsham, Maine, but couldn't get a bank to give me a mortgage, 'cause of me being a writer, even though I earned a fair amount of money in those days. (I later caught on, and filled out an application listing my occupation as ""dog trainer,"" which is why I own my own home today). Let this be a lesson to everybody.
A few years back I proposed working on a puppet opera called Lizard Music, based on the fine tale by Mr. Pinkwater.
Mr. Pinkwater had emailed me back suggesting I buy an ice cream truck, and put on puppet operas from the side of the truck, but to stay far the hell away from using Lizard Music in this way.
Although I’m still working on the ice cream truck/puppet opera dream, I return for a second asking to perhaps work with you in developing this fine piece as a full-length puppet opera.
For more info on my music, visit www.friendlyrich.com. I would also gladly send you some of my prior works to give you a better idea.
If you’re interested, please keep in touch. Otherwise, the ice cream truck dream prevails!
Respectfully,
Friendly Rich
composer
What's so hard about getting a rusted-out old ice cream truck, and converting it to a rolling opera house that it's taken you years, and you still haven't done it? People do stuff like that every day. I'll cc: this to my agent, and she will decide if we ought to talk to you.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
I’ve long enjoyed listening to you on NPR, especially when you’re talking about the dogs in your life. My question is really more of a suggestion–there is a large animal sanctuary in Utah called Best Friends (www.bestfriends.org). They have a special program called Guardian Angels which follows “special needs” animals on line as they are rehabilitated and hopefully placed for adoption. “Special needs” can be anywhere from surviving traumatic injuries, severe behavioral problems, or in the case of Loomis, losing weight. Loomis is an awesome cat, but weighs in at 25 lbs and needs to shed a few pounds in order to remain healthy. He kept gaining weight at the sanctuary, so they found a foster home for him at a local health food store. (Here’s a link to video of him). He’s now taken over as manager of the store. To help motivate him in his weight loss goals, the sanctuary is having a song writing contest to write a song for Loomis. (Link to song contest info here)
I think with your writing skills, and possibly Lulu’s background vocals, you could have a good chance at winning this song writing contest.
In any event, I think you might enjoy reading about Loomis’ adventures.
Thank you for all of the enjoyment you have brought me over the years.
We know about Best Friends, like them, support their work, send them money, and thank you for posting about them here. How does Loomis feel about this dieting business? I've known a couple of pretty fat cats.
I’m a big fan of the Snarkout Boys series, and I was wondering if you are thinking about writing another one.
Thanks,
Galen
P.S. Loved The Neddiad
I was going to at one point, but the publisher let me down in some way or other--I forget the details. Anyway, the moment got lost. I'm writing another book set in LA like The Neddiad.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I am writing to you as guests coordinator for Vericon ’08, Harvard University’s Science Fiction and Fantasy convention. I would like to invite you to Vericon as a guest author.
Vericon ’08 runs from January 25-27. As a guest author, we’d invite you to speak on panels alongside other guests, such as Lois Lowry — in particular, we’re having a special panel on children’s and young adult books. Other events our guests have enjoyed in the past include readings of their work (either as scheduled events or at Vericon’s informal milk and cookies night) and book signing at the Harvard Book Store. Vericon would pay for your transportation and lodging during the convention.
Members of the Vericon staff enjoy your work, and we hope you can make it to Vericon 8.
Sincerely,
John Bestoso
Guests Coordinator, Vericon ’08
I thought about it. January is cold. Cambridge is what, at least 5 hours away. I have been on a panel before. It was stupid, anyway I was. I'd probably have fun once I was there--but I think I will stay home and write. Thanks for inviting me.
Mr. Pinkwater:
I know you’ve heard it many times before, but Alan Mendelsohn and the Snarkout Boys changed my life (for the better).
Thank you.
No, Zach Doig, in fact I had not heard about your life being changed (for the better), but naturally I am gratified, and wish you the very best.
I was so pleased to meet you and speak with you at the Book Expo. I showed you my book and told you how your book Ducks had influenced me as I wrote about Myron. You did ask me to have my editor send you a review copy. I called her the very next day to make this request and hope that she followed through.
Today I am writing about another book of yours and another as yet unpublished book of mine. I sat alone in my house as I read The Neddiad and laughed out loud which is a very strange feeling. It’s another wonderful book.
We are 11 years apart, I was born December 3, 1930. My rememberances of World War II is quite different from yours. My story is set during 1945, the last year of the war. It moves from the Bronx to Middletown, NY and happens to involve a travelling circus. The Neddiad has a circus, too. While researching to find if any circuses performed around Middletown during that time, I actually found 551,000 hits on Google for the Al G.Barnes circus.
There just seemed to be too much and too many common threads for me not to write to you.
Thank you for the time you spent talking with me and thank you for all your wonderful stories.
Marlene Newman
Yes, I did receive a copy of your book. It's really nice! I'd be inclined to write about it, which is not the same thing as saying I'll have that opportunity. Thanks for your kind words about The Neddiad.
Pinkwater!
I found a copy of, “Chicago Days and Hoboken Nights” on Ebay. Thanks for majoring in Art and deciding not to test and repair defective air mattresses.
RS
Someone else who bought a book not at retail. It's a good thing I get a check every month from the halvah mine my father left me.
Mr. Pinkwater,
I just wanted you to know that a few months ago I found a copy of Young Adult Novel in a used bookstore. Since that time it has been passed between my friends, and subsequently to their friends and their children. More than thirty people in our town have now read this book and we love it. We were wondering if their will be in further adventures of the Wild Dada Ducks. Speaking for all these people, I hope so. Any comment?
Hopefully,
Dave Nordin
Let me get this straight, the book was purchased in a used book store, and then it went from hand to hand, and thirty people have read it? Wait a second while I calculate the royalties. Writing is a mug's game.
Dear DP: My 7-yr-old daughter was convinced that chapter books were part of a conspiracy theory to make her read. Fair tales and picture books were the only bedtime fare allowed UNTIL “The Neddiad”! I brought it home under the cover of darkness in a library bag and made her close her eyes while I read the first chapter. Within minutes she was laughing and when she opened her eyes and saw the cover (by a family favorite illustrator, BTW) of a CHAPTER BOOK, she shouted, “I don’t care – keep reading!” Needless to say, we devoured the book, loved every moment of this high adventure and recommended it to her book club (but don’t call it that – sounds too, well, bookish). We are hosting the club in January ’08 (it’s in Oak Park, so drop by if you’d like!) and will be discussing the book while consuming our version of Hat Restaurant Hamburgers, so we were wondering if you’d answer a couple of questions: have you ever taken a cross-country train? Did you ever meet a ghost? Did you ever get separated from your parents and what did it feel like? Thanks! Your big fans from the Poulos family
There was a guy named Poulos in the Lake View High School band. Cool guy. Yes, I have taken that very train ride as described in The Neddiad. You can still take the same route, via Amtrak, but might be a good idea to bring a big picnic basket--the dining car is not what it was in the days of the Santa Fe. The only ghosts I have met have been animal ones. I have been separated from my family for years--feels ok.
