I recently learned of a new story from my father’s childhood, and it has inspired me greatly. While speaking to him about writing, science fiction, and our favorite books, we came upon the topic of Robert A. Heinlein. Apparently, when my dad was around my age, 13, he began writing letters to this amazing author. My dad had been inspired to an amazing degree by the man, and wished to speak with this God-like figure of science fiction. For years and years, they corresponded, and became great friends through these letters.
You can probably see where this is leading.
It would mean so much to me if I could follow in my father’s footsteps, and write or email the greatest inspiration in my life within the field of literature. I realize Mr. Card must get thousands of requests for his contact information, but I would be much obliged if I could obtain either his email address or mailing address.
If this is public knowledge that I somehow missed when searching for it on the Hatrack site, I would be grateful if someone on the forum could give it to me, or direct me to where I might find it, and if it's not, perhaps I could receive this information directly from Mr. Card himself either or here or to my email, awaks@austin.rr.com, if I'm lucky enough.
And finally, if this is an innapropriate message to be placed on the forum, and should have instead been sent only via the "OSC Help Desk", simply tell me and I will delete this message.
Thank you all very much for your time.
[ March 11, 2005, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Andrew ]
Posted by Verai (Member # 7507) on :
Maybe Mr. Card will be more direct, but here is the Help Desk which (can) serve as a go-between.
Edit: Of course I might endeavor to read the whole message before leaping ahead.
[ March 11, 2005, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Verai ]
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
quote:And finally, if this is an innapropriate message to be placed on the forum, and should have instead been sent only via the "OSC Help Desk", simply tell me and I will delete this message.
But thanks!
Edit:
quote:Edit: Of course I might endeavor to read the whole message before leaping ahead.
Still thanks!
[ March 11, 2005, 06:55 PM: Message edited by: Andrew ]
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
I hate to bump, since I realize it is such a newbie thing to do, but this is truly important to me, and I would be forever in debt if someone could help me. Thank you.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Andrew, how did your dad originally get in touch with Heinlein?
[ March 11, 2005, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
Maybe he got it off his website...over 35 years ago...
I really don't know...perhaps it was in a book of his, or from a signing or the like. Or he could have searched for a long time, but I don't know how he would have gone about doing so.
He's out right now, but I'll be sure to ask him when he gets home in an hour.
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
Alright, I figured out he got it by mailing the publsiher, and I might try that, though I don't know how well that would work nowadays.
Also, it turns out he was only 10 when he started writing Heinlein. Drat, beaten again.
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
The problem with wanting to "have a correspondence" is that there's no apparent thought as to what it would be about.
I generally write only business letters - letters to accomplish something immediate. They're brief and to the point.
And when someone writes to me and they're clearly writing just to be "having a correspondence," I stop reading their letters and, of course, stop answering.
The conversations I have are live and in person and they are about something, and the conversation ends when the topic is exhausted. For me, writing is WORK, including writing letters. I don't welcome opportunities to do more of it, at great length, to no purpose. (Though I'm happy to write when there really is something to talk about that needs resolution through writing - as a large number of correspondents can attest.)
I realize this makes me the selfish scum of the earth and the dasher of other people's dreams, but that's how it is.
Posted by Echo (Member # 7513) on :
WELL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU FREAKIN' OOMAY! no, im just messing around. I see where OSC is coming from. For any of you that are, or have ever been in marching band, its the same situation. A lot of times the band director will try to get other band directors to come and help. Well....these guys do it for a living. They don't want to come help somebody else...unless you pay them. Hey andrew....maybe you can pay OSC to be friends with you! LoL Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
quote:I realize this makes me the selfish scum of the earth and the dasher of other people's dreams, but that's how it is.
Man, Scott, how do you live with yourself?
I know how you feel Andrew. Don't you think all of us here have had the same dream?
The thing is, if OSC answers all his fan mail he wouldn't have time to write his wonderful books. Would you rather read a new sequel to Pastwatch or a letter from OSC discussing his hatred for Gwyneth Paltrow's hammy acting abilities?
Besides, I think you get more of OSC on the pages of his books than you would from a regular letter anyway. Welcome to Hatrack. Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
Mr. Card, I understand.
All that happened is that you dropped down on my 1-10 coolness scale .01 points down to a 99.99.
Wait! He was cool about it!
Alright, back up to 100 out of 10.
Speaking of which, I really need to read Pastwatch. I was going to buy it, but I had forgotten my Barnes and Noble gift cards so my mom wouldn't let me get it since it would be a waste of money.
No, I repeat no book is a waste of money, especially not an OSC one.
Oh well, maybe I'll buy it tomorrow in New York since I'm going to finish SOTG on the plane.
Edit: Hey, you could make it up to me by coming down to Austin!
Anyways, I hope the tour is going well.
[ March 12, 2005, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: Andrew ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"I know how you feel Andrew. Don't you think all of us here have had the same dream?"
God. I hope you all aren't having the same dream about OSC, the one with the cheerleaders, mint ice cream, and lime jello.
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
O.o
*twitch*
o.O
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Don't be silly Tom. If you were a real fan you would know an OSC dream involves chocolate chip ice cream, not that mint monstrosity. Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I didn't say it was a dream OSC himself would find pleasant. Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
O.o
*continued twitch*
o.O
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
So you find cheerleaders rolling in mint ice cream pleasant?
I'm so going to tell Christy.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Nor did I say what, if anything, the cheerleaders were doing with the ice cream. Any details you supply are products of your own febrile imagination -- or your own dream, I suppose.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
quote: Would you rather read a new sequel to Pastwatch or a letter from OSC discussing his hatred for Gwyneth Paltrow's hammy acting abilities?
LOL
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
I decided never to go to Austin again after the great Brazilian restaurant they used to have back in the 80s closed down because Austinians (Austinites? Austiners? Austinettes? Austinoids?) didn't support it sufficiently.
But maybe I'll forgive them. I think the statute of limitations may have passed <grin>.
Posted by Judas (Member # 7355) on :
woah.. guys.. i've had those same dreams! - I think he's sending subliminal messages through his books. Everyone, grab a different book and read it backwards! We'll get to the bottom of this sicko's evil scheme... - With all due respect.
-Judas
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I've decided that an occasional conversation with his wife will have to suffice. Either way I still think Mr. Card, I would have called you Scott but that would have been rude, should visit St. Louis, Missouri. It is a beautiful place with tons of places you could visit when you aren't busy talking to people like me at bookstores.
Posted by Andrew (Member # 7502) on :
Mr. Card, I don't know of any other great Brazilian restaraunts (not exactly the easiest to come by), but Guero's is amazing Mexican food, and Dona Emilia's (tilde on the n, forgot how to do that on my laptop) is great for all sorts of South American foods. Guero's is just south of downtown, and Dona Emilia's is right downtown.
*does some cool jedi hand-wave*
You will come to Austin...you will!
Posted by AntiCool (Member # 7386) on :
My OSC dream is that my wife and I get to have dinner with Scott and Kristine. But half the time it turns into a nightmare where the Cards find us insufferable bores.
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
I can't recall ever dreaming about OSC as a person or author. I did have a dream that I watched him direct that short film he made a while ago, though.
[ March 13, 2005, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: Da_Goat ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
quote: God. I hope you all aren't having the same dream about OSC, the one with the cheerleaders, mint ice cream, and lime jello.
I have this dream, but instead of OSC it's you, Tom.
Always you.
Inspiration Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
*bows*
Thank you, Ralphie. You are kind beyond the measure of your sometimes questionable intent.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'm reminded of Brust's Taltos books and Brokedown Palace, in which a horse spirit and the Demon Goddess Verra both speak directly into the minds of their audience -- and are heard differently by many of the people in that audience, meaning that when one person hears Verra say something like "I have always admired your directness," another person might reply, affronted, "How dare you! She is not ugly!"
I often feel that alluvion is somehow experiencing the same phenomenon, and replying to posts that the rest of us cannot see.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
I often feel that my C1 - C(sub n) might slip or fracture if I bow too much. That's why I wear a brace.
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