What a terrific story! This reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson’s publisher putting him up at a motel room in San Francisco (the Seal Rock Inn, where anyone can now book themselves into the Hunter S. Thompson room) to finish Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail—his editor checked in on him daily & kept him stocked with alcohol & cigarettes.
My high school English teacher (Mobile, Alabama) had us read Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides. It blew me away. It was the first book that made me want to be a fiction writer. The conference sounds dreamy.
I'll say it again, The Doorman is one of the best books I've read for a long time. Way to cover all the 'stuff' of now within the characters. Brilliant piece of writing.
Thanks for your recent commentary. Like you, I worked long weeks as a Crown/Random House rep. I loved my time at Crown and would do lots of extra work because I wanted to (not so much with Random, more like corporate America). Lots of 50-60 hour (Mon-Sat) work weeks. Weeks at a time on the road. Crown was Family, With Random we were cyphers. Alan Mirken was a friend and mentor, not just a boss.
Chris, thank you for this.. It's more than advice; it's wisdom. What if everyone listened, carefully, to one another? Thanks, too, for being with us for the Festival in Beaufort!
What a terrific story! This reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson’s publisher putting him up at a motel room in San Francisco (the Seal Rock Inn, where anyone can now book themselves into the Hunter S. Thompson room) to finish Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail—his editor checked in on him daily & kept him stocked with alcohol & cigarettes.
My high school English teacher (Mobile, Alabama) had us read Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides. It blew me away. It was the first book that made me want to be a fiction writer. The conference sounds dreamy.
Thank you so much Michelle! Maybe that's where Doubleday's publisher got the idea.
The nostalgia! Thank you for sharing.
I'll say it again, The Doorman is one of the best books I've read for a long time. Way to cover all the 'stuff' of now within the characters. Brilliant piece of writing.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
Hi, Chris,
Thanks for your recent commentary. Like you, I worked long weeks as a Crown/Random House rep. I loved my time at Crown and would do lots of extra work because I wanted to (not so much with Random, more like corporate America). Lots of 50-60 hour (Mon-Sat) work weeks. Weeks at a time on the road. Crown was Family, With Random we were cyphers. Alan Mirken was a friend and mentor, not just a boss.
Jim
Thanks Jim!
What a story, love the full circle. And your writing, as ever!
Thank you Maria!
I like how even your real-life stories are full of suspense :)
Thank you Cynthia! That's very nice of you.
Great article, as always. Thanks. Michael
Thanks for sharing this piece of your history. Mentored by Pat Conroy, that's an experience, and I'm envious.
Honestly, I'm envious of me too .
Chris, thank you for this.. It's more than advice; it's wisdom. What if everyone listened, carefully, to one another? Thanks, too, for being with us for the Festival in Beaufort!
It was my pleasure! That was a fantastic festival, and I had a wonderful time.
What an amazing story!
Thank you so much!