Re: JD
Tim O'Connor (tim@roughdraft.org)
Thu, 23 Dec 1999 23:26:25 -0500
At 7:43 PM -0800 on 12/23/1999, you wrote:
> Vonnegut actually wrote you? As in not just some junk
> letter from his publicist but an actual letter with
> ink and all from Vonnegut? How long did it take before
> you got a reply?
They were just typewritten letters, signed by hand. No, I don't
think KV would use a publicist anyway. Besides, it was not just a
"hi, how are you?" exchange. He replies quickly, though now he seems
to have slowed down a bit. He's sort of in retirement; at least he
swears he's not writing another book. 8-(
> I'm so jealous. JD wrote you back?
> What address? You must tell me. Haha. 18 year old
> girl?
It was a short note (also, like KV's, typewritten) with an ink
signature. I am afraid I, ummm, don't recall his address, but you
can always send mail to his agency, Harold Ober Associates. He
doesn't receive or accept much mail these days, though, so I wouldn't
get my hopes up much.
One has to wonder how writers feel about all the attention; an
acquaintence published a book recently, and it sold a zillion copies,
and it was nearly impossible for him to finish the next book because
of all the attention paid to him by the media. Margaret Mitchell,
when asked why she only wrote GONE WITH THE WIND, said something to
the effect of, "My dear girl, being the author of GONE WITH THE WIND
is a full-time job."
Another friend of mine, upon finishing a book, crawls into the
nearest cave until the storm is over.
Speaking of writers and contact and all that, when her publisher
decided to release an anniversary edition of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD,
they asked Harper Lee to write an introduction. She wrote back a
brief, brusque note that said she disliked introductions and that she
would decline the invitation. The editors published THAT as the
introduction. Talk about no respect!
--tim o'connor
P.S. To add to our belated list of books and movies: TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD (the movie) was a beautifully done adaptation. In my
small opinion.