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Ann Southcombe

Post #2180 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

Hi Daniel,

You are one funny guy! I love to listen to you and Scott on Morning Edition! I have just discovered your prolific writings and feel I missed something by not finding them until now. I have no kids but my neices and all the kids who have passed through my life would have enjoyed me reading your stories to them (not to mention my joy!)

On a personal note for you, I think of you as the Children’s Book Guru. I don’t have the imagination to write such books but a pet squirrel of mine did!! I just thought I would ask you for advice if you think it would make a good kids book and could be published.

It is on my website www.kinshipwithanimals.com should you ever have the time to take a peek. If you think you could help me, I will send you a book.

I will be buying some of your books just for me. I could use some giggles in my life.

Thanks for your talent and humor.

Take Good Care,

Ann

Daniel replies:

You know, I think I have run across your website before, all on my own! 
About giving advice to do with unpublished books. I don't do that. First of all, you don't want advice from me or anybody--people just tell you what they would do, and in so many cases they are not you. If you want to find out if your book is publishable, the best thing would be to send it to a lot of publishers and see if any of them want it. Good luck!


Phyllis

Post #2184 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

Dear Daniel and Jill and Lulu and Maxine Too! I think that Lulu is an excellent reader! I know that Maxine is learning TOO! What a wonderful family you have. Thank you so much for all the cheer. Love, Phyllis

Daniel replies:

We thank you! Lulu read your message. Maxine licked it.


esta

Post #2183 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

Just found your website. . . It is great that we can get in touch with Daniel, see how he responds to the many, and relive our own experiences (AND a compliment: this is one of the best websites I’ve come across in my ramblings!! long may you wave).

Daniel, do you still hear from Charity? e

Daniel replies:

I agree about the website. It is a work of art. I can say this, since I have practically nothing to do with it, especially the classy design, and general pleasantness. Sure, I hear from Charity from time to time. Another talented person it has been my privilege to work with.


Wes Glebe

Post #2187 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

Daniel – I’m not a kid – just have a question. I read a review which I cannot find again about a children’s book called (I think) Three Little Gefilltes. I thought if anyone had heard of it you would! It sounds absolutely great for a bed-time stories with Yiddish words and exclamations included. Please let me know as I’ve really tried to track it down and failed. Thank you in advance, Wes

Daniel replies:

have heard of it! That is, I remember seeing the title somewhere. Only, I can't remember where.
Maybe it's ""Five Little Gefiltes,"" by Dave Horowitz? -- Ed


Charles Wimemr

Post #2181 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

First of all thank you for the great stories and humor. “Lizard Music” remains one of my life-time favorite books. I am now enjoying and discovering your others.

I have been checking on the internet and have found a few titles connected to your name that are not listed on your site. Are these books out of print? by someone else? or just strange coincidences?

They are as follows:

  • “Dancing Larry” (2006)
  • “Sleeping Larry” (2006)
  • “Goose Night” (1996)
  • “The Muffin Fiend” (1991)
  • “Java Jack” (1980)

and very strangely

“I Snarked With A Zombie” and “Cosmic Classic Novel” both allegedly published in 1924 (a ways back for you).

Just wondering if these are “forgotten” works by you or what is the story?

Thank you,

Charles

Daniel replies:

Dancing Larry and Sleepover Larry are actual books, the latter not quite published yet. Goose Night, aka The Magic Goose, and The Muffin Fiend are out of print, probably, but copies can be found. Java Jack is not really co-authored by me...I was a sort of super-editor/rewrite man on that strange and in a way unpleasant book. Favor for a friend. I Snarked With A Zombie and Cosmic Classic Novel are quite rare and hard to find.


A-Guy

Post #2182 – 20070313

March 13, 2007

I love your books! In my opinion you’re the best author in the world. I love using the word barstucks, the only problem is that I can’t remember if I started using it before or after I read the book…

Daniel replies:

As far as I know that is not a word, and I am the best author in the world.


Eleanor Skinner

Post #2178 – 20070312

March 12, 2007

Hi,

I love all your books & now work for an independent scifi/fantasy bookstore with cats. Would you like to come do a reading/signing with us anytime after May? We are in Albany, NY and would feed you dinner. The invitation of course applies to Jill Pinkwater too.

Thank you very much,

Eleanor Skinner

Daniel replies:

Maybe. We haven't seen our Albanian friends for a long while. But it would have to be lunch. Send the details to the webmaestro.


Kira

Post #2177 – 20070312

March 12, 2007

I’m a librarian at the Murray Library and we are doing a program on you for grades K-3. For this, I need to find something for the kids to make or color that is related to something in your books. Do you have any ideas?

Daniel replies:

I always count on librarians to come up with ideas. Go for it!


hannah

Post #2179 – 20070312

March 12, 2007

Hey there Mr. DP!

So today our school began ISATS. Yes, fun standardized tests! Anyway, the very first story we have to read? The Hare and the Pineapple. It’s just a very short story you wrote, concerning a talking but immobile pineapple challenging a talking hare to a race. The story tragically ended with the pineapple being devoured. And [as stated by you in the story] a Moral: Pineapples dont have sleeves.

I have to tell you that our entire class was trying not to laugh at the insane, hilarious, and somewhat random story. We did anyway, and recieved a look from our teacher. Who decided that he (even though its against the rules) wanted to read it. He laughed. Our entire school was talking about “that story with the pineapple”. Now after looking at summaries of some of your other works, I am extremely interested…and curious *just* what is inside that author head of yours. Anyway just wanted to say that story had us eighth graders plus a 36 year old teacher giggling and now I’m going to have to check your stuff out at the library tomorrow!

Best wishes,

Hannah

PS-It kind of seemed like you got bored writing that story…and randomly through on an ending. But that’s what makes it great…so maybe your seemingly lazy ending is actually just your sense of random humor? 😀

Daniel replies:

Hey, guess what? That story is actually called ""The Rabbit and the Eggplant,"" and it occurs in a novel of mine called ""Borgel."" The people who make up those standardized tests, and sell them to school systems for huge sums of money, bought the right to use the snippet from the book, paid me a very small fee, and then went ahead and edited it within an inch of its life. Might be fun to get hold of the novel, find the story, and compare the test version with the original.


Sherril

Post #2176 – 20070311

March 11, 2007

My 26 year old single daughter thinks I am absolutely crazy to have have just purchased yet another book to read to some future grandchild (my 21 year old son has a steady girlfriend and is apt to be the first to give me said grandchild).

After hearing you and Scott Simon this morning, reading the book, “Mr. Pusskins a love story” by Sam Lloyd, I ran out to my favorite B&N and purchased it, to put alongside “Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart” by Vera B Williams, and “Henry Builds a Cabin” by D.B. Johnson, the other two books that caught my fancy many Weekend Editions Saturdays ago.

I told my kids to get busy, after all I would like for the grandkids to be able to write you personally and thank you for inspiring their grandma.

Sherril

www.sherrilsmyriadofmusings.blogspot.com/

PS Who’d a thought sam lloyd, the creator of this wonderful book and charming pictures, was a lady? And having read her short bio in the book, I now understand why Scott used a British accent for little Emily.

Daniel replies:

There is no actual age limit, up or down, on those books. You don't need a young child as an excuse to like them.


jack

Post #2175 – 20070311

March 11, 2007

Daniel i think your books are so good! They are the best books ive ever read! I’ve read Borgel, Yobgorgle, Looking for Bobowicz and i’m almost done with the worms of kukilima

Daniel replies:

My books _are_ good! And my readers are good! It's good when the good read the good, or when the good get read by the good. Good?


Brett Wheat-Simms

Post #2174 – 20070310

March 10, 2007

Daniel,

I have just stumbled across you on NPR and was intrigued by your humor and verve.

I have struggled all my life with being fat. Six years ago I love 50 lbs and felt SO great about myself. Of course, as usual, I gained it all back within in two years. The last four years I have been in a quasi-depression. I feel as though I have put my life on hold, just waiting to lose weight to pick up where I left off. Buying cloths, feeling sexy, etc. Hell, I only buy watches, hats and shoes any more because I just ‘know’ that the moment I buy some clothes that I really like I will lose a bunch of weight, hence making them obsolete.

Honestly, I can’t live like this anymore. Under the constant strain and pressure of longing to be thin again.

Finally I realize that I don’t have to settle for a second class life anymore. I can have the same life as a thin person.

I do have a question: would you say a little bit about your buddhism? I have been a buddhist for 8 years but have struggled with my weight and the proverbial ascetic buddhist lifestyle. I LOVE hot wings and have always felt a dissonance between my ‘religion’ and my body type.

Anyway, thank you so much. I am going out today to buy your book.

Warmly,

Brett

Daniel replies:

My ""Zen Buddhism"" is more Zen than Buddhist. As to being fat, Hotei, (look him up), was a pretty hefty fellow. Not long ago a film crew doing a PBS documentary, (supposed to air in April, called something like ""Fat, what no one is telling you""), interviewed me. I don't know if they wound up using me in the finished film. One of the things I told them was that I had this little thing, like a mole, like a tiny fibrous wart, no bigger than the head of a pin, on my chin--and I explained that I devoted more thought to that little wart than I do the the fact that I am fat. (I since had the thing removed, and now I don't think about anything at all). I have written a lot about fatness, chapters in Hoboken Fish & Chicago Whistle, Fat Camp Commandos, and my weird adult novel The Afterlife Diet. You can probably find a lot of material conveying my thoughts on the subject on the web. I'm not going to write about it here. I will just say I'd rather be a fat man than a fathead. I don't see how hot wings can hurt anyone.


Patrick Damon Rago

Post #2173 – 20070309

March 9, 2007

Mr. Pinkwater-

I am a performer, choreographer, & dance educator at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Upon reading Dancing Larry last year, I was inspired to created a dance/theatre solo for myself embodying the ideals that I think Larry holds dear.

The piece encourages the audience to “Find Your Larry.” The person who inspires us to be who we are. Someone who gives us the space, encouragement, and patience to develop into the whole person we all strive to be.

I am writing to thank you for Larry & the inspiration to dance and invite you and Mrs. Pinkwater to a performance in May 2007 in Santa Monica, CA. The solo will be the finale of an evening of dance/theatre work on the topic of self discovery.

I’ll continue to use dance and dance education to teach young people to follow their dreams and not let the Madame Swoboda’s of the world hold them back. Dancing Larry makes it all seem easy, even when it’s not.

Alas, I must go now, the laundry will not fold itself.

Thanks again,

Patrick Rago

(my friends call me Damon….middle name)

Daniel replies:

Laundry _will_ fold itself, if you are pure of heart. Dance on!


Linden Cady

Post #2172 – 20070308

March 8, 2007

Hello Daniel,

I am a sophomore at Oberlin College and among other things I am in a children’s lit reading club (which is remarkably also a one-credit class) in which we once a week drink tea, eat cookies and read our favorite kids’ books. It is great! This evening my contributions were The Big Orange Splot (an old favorite) and Ducks! (newly discovered on my part). I was wondering if you have ever met an honest duck, what your favorite color is, and if you have any books to recommend to our class to read in future weeks?

Thanks!

Linden

Daniel replies:

By me: Young Larry, At the Hotel Larry, Bongo Larry, Ice Cream Larry, Dancing Larry, Sleepover Larry, Irving and Muktuk--Two Bad Bears, Bad Bears in the Big City, Bad Bears and a Bunny, Bad Bear Detectives, Bad Bears go Visiting. You can also read my novel, The Neddiad, available a chapter a week on this very site. 
By D.B. Johnson: Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Henry Works, Henry Climbs a Mountain. 
 
I have heard of children's book reading clubs at a number of colleges, but never before one that carried credit.


Diane Till

Post #2171 – 20070308

March 8, 2007

After a great career working and eating and living in Italy, Australia and New York, I now live in Jacksonville, where I’ve written the first in a series of children’s books, “Here’s What I Know So Far.” It’s about the first year in an animal’s life, as told from the point of view of the animal. In the first book, “Doc’s Story,” a mixed breed pup shares what he knows so far, as in “You won’t believe the places where you’re not supposed to pee.” Anyway, i would love to send you a copy, but I don’t know where to send it. If I could have an address, please, I’ll let the book — and Doc — do their job. Thank you. Diane Till

Daniel replies:

Alas, I do not look at unpublished manuscripts. If your book is published, you can have the publisher send me a copy, which I will duly consider for review, but I do not otherwise comment or critique. This is not because I don't want to help or encourage other authors, but in order that I may have a life. Good luck to you and Doc.


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