Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
You have been one of my favorite writers ever since I read Lizard Music back when I was a little nerd. Now I am an older nerd, with a degree in English, and I still think you are the greatest.
The last place I lived was in Clinton Hills, Brooklyn, which often reminded me of your descriptions of seeking out the bizarre in Chicago. There was a strange architectural nightmare near the Salvation Army store off Gates Avenue. It looked like a castle for loons, with all sorts of haphazard turrets and stained glass windows. I think you would like it. I wish I had a photo of it to post here.
I took the ferry to Hoboken one day while I was reading “Chicago Days, Hoboken Nights,” and I saw the big hand pointing down to the clam house!! I loved the ferry ride and the big, goofy Colgate sign. The train station in Hoboken is nice, too.
Now I live in Punxsutawney, Pa, where I grew up, which is easily one of the strangest places on earth. Yes, it is the home of the groundhog, Phil. Would you ever consider writing a story about a groundhog? How about a loon who builds a castle?
I want to move, though. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Your fan,
April Irick
If I could live anywhere on earth, I'd live in Punxsutawney, PA. By the way, my father's name was Phil. But he never ate ground hog. And he had a shadowy past. These are the sort of amazing coincidences that led me to be an author of fiction.
