Russell Fletcher

November 30, 2000

Dear Mr. Pinkwater-

All over the Internet I see the following quote attributed to you. However, I cannot find a book by that title.

Is this really yours, and if so, what is it from so I can find the book or tape it is from.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you’ve done, or think you can do. There’s a confrontation with destiny awaiting you. Somewhere, there is a chili you cannot eat.”

Daniel Pinkwater, “A Hot Time in Nairobi”

Unlike so many quotes, and deeds, attributed to me, this is one I actually wrote. It's in an essay which appears in Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle. Why it's quoted all over the web I do not exactly know.