From: Jack Saunders
To: Sarah
Subj: Virginia's Address
Sarah:
Next year is the 50th anniversary of my high school class at Seacrest. The Class
of '57. I am writing a book to celebrate the event. READFEST 2006. In that 50
years I went from loving bebop, abstract expressionist painting, and beat writing
to loving bluegrass music, folk art, and vernacular writing. I am going to a bluegrass
festival in Ojus in February, and will visit Delray Beach as part of that trip.
We used to live across the street from Old School Square, in my grandparents' house
at 52 North Swinton Avenue. Once, when The Delray Affair denied me a booth I held
a counterfair in my front yard and called it The Dreyfus Affair - Banned Books.
I had a book published last year called Bukowski Never Did This: A Year in the
Life of an Underground Writer and His Family. I commissioned a painting for
the cover from a friend, showing me rescuing Miss Weekiwachee from the Creature from
the Black Lagoon, filmed at nearby Wakulla Springs, but my publisher used another
painting on the cover.
This is my 35th year as a writer. READFEST 2006
is my 274th book. I still haven't sold a book to New York, Hollywood, or a major
regional or fine arts press. But Brenda and I are still together and the boys are
doing well.
Owen plays fiddle with the Warrior River Boys. He's married,
one daughter, another child on the way. Balder plays mandolin with the reggae-bluegrass
fusion band Dread Clampitt. His wife is pregnant and she had a son from a previous
liaison.
Brenda works at a mental health center keeping track of children
in state care. I worked as a technical writer for many years. I am on social security
and I cashed in an annuity I rolled my retirement over into when I got laid off to
give myself a year to promote Bukowski Never Did This and write books like
READFEST 2006.
When that money runs out I'll look for work again.
It never gets easier you just slow down and start forgetting.
I post my
books online, daily, as I write them. At The Daily Bulletin. My publisher,
LitVision Press, sells Bukowski Never Did This online.
Glad I could
help you get in touch with Virginia.
I went to your web page and looked
at your paintings. Nice stuff.
Keep up the good work.
Jack Saunders