Studs Terkel used to tell about the time he interviewed the writer Isaac Bashevis Singer. After the interview, Studs took Singer and his wife Alma to lunch.
At lunch Singer said, "Alma, I love this man! I love his enthusiasm!"
She shrugged and said in her Yiddish accent, "He's alright."
I had a similarly bracing moment the other day when my kid sister told me about a detractor I never knew I had.
For years Piper sent selected Writing Boots posts to a close friend, who I've never met. (We'll call her Torlaminda. Her last name isn't important, but it's Nudol.)
These were strategically chosen posts, picked specifically to please Torlaminda and introduce her to me. "My brother wrote this, I thought you'd appreciate it …"
Strangely, Torlaminda never responded to the posts. After several years, she told Piper, "You should stop sending me your brother's posts. I don't like his style, okay?"
Maybe Piper can send this post to Torlaminda.
Torlaminda Nudol—all Torlamindas Nudol—how can I win your business?
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